You've heard it before, but this time a TSN2 deal may be near

Rogers Cable has been hinting for some time that a deal is near regarding its eight-month standoff over TSN2. Needless to say, people took them as about as seriously as those villagers took the boy who cried wolf.

But a development today may indicate that settlement is at hand. The Toronto Blue Jays have placed five games on TSN2 starting May 19, meaning a Rogers-owned property is scheduled to be carried on a channel that Rogers doesn't carry.

How embarrassing would it be for  Rogers to tell its Southern Ontario customers that its team's games are available only on Bell TV, Star Choice and Cogeco? A lot more embarrassing than telling irate subscribers that Raptors games are available only on its competitors' systems, that's for sure. Especially when the only place to watch a Jays-Red Sox series next month is on TSN2.

If a deal isn't done by then, somebody should do a reality show on the Rogers customer service desk for that series.

But before we get too far into reading these chicken entrails, both sides are being cautious lest hopes get raised too high.

``The two issues are unrelated," said Rogers Cable spokesperson Nancy Cottenden. ``We want to carry the channel and are continuing to work towards a deal."

TSN echoed that.

 ``We think we are getting closer to a deal," TSN president Phil King said. ``Do we think it will be launched by the middle of May? It's not impossible, but you'll have to talk to Rogers."

The five games are in addition to the 20 TSN is already slated to carry. The games in question are part of the package that probably would have ended up on the Rogers preview channel, or not broadcast at all.

What King did say is that the addition of five Jays games is part an overall plan to boost the digital channel.

``We will continue to build TSN2 until it's the second most popular sports channel in the country," he said.

Hmm. Wonder who the current No. 2 is? Oh yeah, Rogers Sportsnet.

Interesting, no?

Comments

[Josh O'Donnell]

You would hope they will have a deal in the next month, after all most Jays fans are in Southern Ontario, and there are a lot of Red Sox fans in New Brunswick. Both have Rogers Cable.

[Patrick]

This has dragged on for so long. It really shows how little regard Rogers have for their customers.

[gargalen]

Rogers is foolish for trying to make a deal for TSN2. They should just come out and refuse to carry the channel. In addition all they would have to do is make sure any popular programming (Raptors, Jays) would not be shown on TSN2. For the Jays it'll be easy as they own the Jays rights. For the Raptors if you come out and state you'll never carry TSN2 and the pressure shifts to MLSE to ensure that Raptor games are not on TSN2.

Rogers Sportsnet is a weak network with little identity as it is. Why help your competitor to build upon the most viewed sports channel (TSN) as it is? It'll be ESPN vs. Fox Sports, Canadian Edition. Why dig your own grave?

[Adam Harmon]

As far as I'm concerned, there is nothing Rogers can possibly do to win me back as a customer. This news is too little too late after dealing with years of substandard customer service and questionable business practices.

Sure, TSN has had a hand in this. But ask yourself why other providers such as Shaw and Cogeco were able to add TSN2 to their lineups without any fanfare. This is Rogers once again using its own customers to improve their short term bottom line.

I guess time will tell how this will affect them in the long run.

[gord chow]

This is absolutely incredible. I'm so sorry I'm in the Roger's
area. Couldn't watch Raptors games and now the "Jays". Lemme see, Roger's owns the Team/Rights but sells it to the it's own competitor. Makes perfect sense to me !!

[JimiJenga]

I'd be curious to know: does Rogers sell games knowing they will be broadcast on such-and-such a network? Or are these games TSN had already purchased from Rogers and decided to put on TSN2 for the sake of making a point?

[Josh O'Donnell]

TSN2 picked them up at the last minute for TSN2, not TSN. TSN already owned the 20 they already air, then these were added just this week. They went exclusively to TSN2, even people from Rogers said that.