There's only a little bit of Toronto in the Toronto Indy

The Toronto Indy is back after a brief pit stop, but Canadian television coverage will not return.

TSN president Phil King says the specialty channel will not buck the trend and go back to the days when Canadian networks produced their own coverage of what used to be this country's biggest auto race.

Instead, TSN will pick up ABC's version of the July 12 spin around the Ex.

In past years, I would have gotten my Calvin Kleins in a knot and fussed about more Canadian treasures being handed over to Americans to save a few bucks. In fact, if memory serves, I did just that a few times.

But that was then, before whatever racing circuit that controls the event fell into a death spiral. Back when CBC used to cover the Toronto Indy, it drew upwards of 500,000 viewers and was a true national event. 

But when Champ Car (CART, whatever) and the IRL did their best to kill interest, there really was little sense in Canadian networks losing money on a race that few cared about. The event struggled to attract 200,000 viewers the last time it was on.

As much as Canadian networks should be producing Canadian events, it's hard to justify mounting an expensive production that will have to go up against ABC's in hopes of sharing 150,000 or 200,000 viewers.

Now, the only Canadian content on the broadcast will be the analysis provided by Toronto native Scott Goodyear. And he works for ABC. 

OTHER STUFF: Despite the best efforts of Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke -- or Burkie has his buddies in the electronic media affectionately call him -- the Sedins won't be coming to Toronto. Too bad.

Leaf fans don't know what they're missing ...

Comments

[moosy]

Indy as Canada's biggest auto race???

Not sure how this is being defined - but when the F1 was in Montreal, it's global reach certainly surpassed Toronto's race that only some North Americans were interested in.

[Terri]

Um, Moosy check the TV ratings of the F1 Montreal race here in Canada (when it was being run). In recent years, it was always far below whatever NASCAR Cup race that took place on the same weekend.

It's irrelevant to Canadians and Canadian media what people in Europe or other overseas nations think or care about. Otherwise, stuff like cricket, team handball, and netball would be on the sports pages instead of baseball and ice hockey.

[Kyle H]

Ok the race is taking place in a Canadian city but that's about the only thing making it a Canadian event. Other than that the race content isn't much different than if it were taking place in Milwaukee or Chicago or somewhere. Maybe the race draws a little better audience when it takes place on Canadian soil, but I guess TSN figures it isn't worth mounting their own production when it'll only be the hardcore IRL fans watching anyway. I think they only pick up the ESPN feed of the NASCAR Nationwide race when it comes to Montreal later in the summer as well.

Same with when F1 would come here. I remember TSN used to give the F1 Canadian Grand Prix special treatment by setting up their show in Montreal and having special features and whatnot. But the last couple years before it disappeared they treated it like it were any other stop on the schedule like Japan or Malaysia and wouldn't even bother to send Vic Rauter down and left him in the Toronto studio.

[905 Dude]

Again CTV/TSN opt for a US feed instead of providing Canadian coverage. Once again CTV/TSN are cheap

[justin]

If you're ever were in Mtl for a F1 race, it certainly takes over the city that the Indy never has in TO.

[W]

At least it isn't Global who had the Worst. Coverage. Ever. Say what you will, but ABC will have much better production values.

[Gord Vernon]

I have no problem with a US feed being used. The Canadian media simply don't cover auto racing enough to have anyone remotely close to being an expert analyst or play by play person. If TSN is doing an ABC or SPEED feed I always prefer to watch the American broadcast .. I don't have confidence that TSN won't cut it up to bring us up to minute information on hockey or the Blue Jays. How many of us prefer to watch American broadcasters do hockey when it is played in the USA .. Canadian networks can do hockey better and you want the best doing the job. The same principle applies to auto racing !