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{{short description|Syndicated broadcasts of the Canadian Football League}}
⚫ '''''The Canadian Football Network''''' (or '''CFN''') was a ] service that provided games from the ].
{{refimprove|date=September 2014}}
⚫ The '''Canadian Football Network''' ('''CFN''') was the official ] service of the ] from 1987 to 1990.


==Background== == History ==
⚫ CFN broadcasts mainly aired on stations via the ] and future ] affiliates. CFN existed from ]-] and was formed by the CFL themselves, who in return, provided much of the funding. It was created directly in response to ] completely dropping CFL coverage following the ]. CFN was conceptualized by then ] ].


=== Background ===
==Hamilton and Toronto==
⚫ CFN broadcasts mainly aired on stations via the ] and future ] affiliates, in addition to at least one station in the United States (] affiliate ] in ], which serves the larger, nearby ] English-language television market, which did not have a Global station at that time). As CFN was formed by the CFL itself, the league provided much of the network's funding. It was created directly in response to ] completely dropping ] following the ]. CFN was conceptualized by then ] ].
⚫ In its ], the CFL experimented with the TV ] policy as four games (two in ] and two in ]) were televised in the ]-] market.


==CFN in the United States== === Hamilton and Toronto ===
⚫ In its ], the CFL experimented with the TV ] policy as four games (two in ] and two in ]) were televised in the ]-] market.
⚫ From ]-], a weekly CFN game telecast aired in the ] on a ] basis on ].


=== CFN in the United States ===
⚫ ==Grey Cup coverage==
⚫ In addition to being shown on the above-mentioned Burlington, Vermont station, from ]-], a weekly CFN game telecast, including playoffs and the ] championship, aired in the ] nationally on a ] basis on ].
⚫ CFN's ] coverage was completely separate from ]'s coverage (whereas from ]-], CBC and CTV fully pooled their commentary teams for the game; CBC's commentators called the first half of the game while CTV's crew called the rest of the game or vice versa).


⚫ === Grey Cup coverage ===
⚫ During its broadcast of the ] game, CFN reported that its telecasts that season were seen in 14 countries, including the ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].
{{main article|List of Grey Cup broadcasters}}


⚫ CFN's Grey Cup<ref>{{citation |last=Anderson |first=Bill |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/514460041.html?FMT=ABS |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130111075040/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/514460041.html?FMT=ABS |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 11, 2013 |title=Grey Cup still has some shine: Large TV audience expected |work=Kitchener-Waterloo Record |date=1990-11-24 |access-date=2012-07-12 |page=E10 }}</ref> coverage was completely separate from ]'s coverage (whereas from ]-], CBC and CTV fully pooled their commentary teams for the game; CBC's commentators called the first half of the game while CTV's crew called the rest of the game or vice versa).
⚫ The 1988 Grey Cup was the last game for veteran ] offensive lineman ]. The ], he joined the CFN crew as a color commentator. Former ] fullback ] was CFN's primary color man, while ] and ], a long-time voice of the Blue Bombers, provided play-by-play.


⚫ During its broadcast of the ] game, CFN reported that its telecasts that season were seen in 14 countries, including the ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].
⚫ ==The end of CFN==
CFN was critically acclaimed, credited for raising the production quality of CFL telecasts (sorely lacking in the mid- to late-1980s) to near-NFL levels. However, it did not do well financially and folded after the ]. CFN was also supposed to work like a normal television network in that it was meant to get its money solely from sponsors.


⚫ The 1988 Grey Cup was the last game for veteran ] offensive lineman ]. The ], he joined the CFN crew as a colour commentator. Former ] fullback ] was CFN's primary colour man, while ] and ], a long-time voice of the Blue Bombers, provided play-by-play.
⚫ ==Commentators==

⚫ *]
⚫ === The end of CFN ===
CFN was critically acclaimed. The production quality of CFL telecasts had noticeably fallen behind the standards of the other North American ]s by the mid- to late-1980s. CFN was widely credited with raising CFL production values to a calibre comparable to contemporary ] broadcasts.

However, CFN did not do well financially. CFN was supposed to operate like a normal television network, which meant that it was to earn revenue solely from advertising and other such sponsorship. Unfortunately for CFN, the aforementioned effort to improve production quality was a costly endeavour, and most of the rights fees the CFL earned from CBC and ] were diverted to cover CFN expenses.<ref name=beyondrescuing>{{cite web |url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/1987/11/08/cfl-may-be-beyond-rescuing/ |title=CFL May Be Beyond Rescuing |last1= Hickey |first1=Pat |date=November 11, 1987 |work=Montreal Gazette |via=Chicago Tribune |access-date= January 2, 2014}}</ref> The league discontinued the network after the ]. After CFN shut down, all playoff and Grey Cup games would be exclusively broadcast on CBC Television from 1991 to 2007 and TSN since 2008.

⚫ == Commentators ==
'''Play-by-play/pregame hosts'''
*] *]
*] *]

'''Colour commentators/Pregame analysts'''
⚫ *]
*]
*]
*]
*] *]
*]
*] *]
*] *]
*]
*]


The theme music package for CFN was provided by ]. The theme music package for CFN was provided by ].


==See also== == See also ==
{{see also|1987 CFL season|1988 CFL season|1989 CFL season|1990 CFL season}} * ]
* ]
* ]
* ]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

⚫ == External links ==
⚫ *
⚫ *
⚫ *


{{CFL}}
⚫ ==External links==
{{Sports television in Canada}}
⚫ *
{{Canadian Football Network}}
⚫ *
⚫ *


] {{DEFAULTSORT:Canadian Football Network}}
]
⚫ ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
]
] ]
]
]
⚫ ]
]

Latest revision as of 19:04, 9 September 2024

Syndicated broadcasts of the Canadian Football League
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The Canadian Football Network (CFN) was the official television syndication service of the Canadian Football League from 1987 to 1990.

History

Background

CFN broadcasts mainly aired on stations via the Atlantic Satellite Network and future Global Television Network affiliates, in addition to at least one station in the United States (ABC affiliate WVNY-TV in Burlington, Vermont, which serves the larger, nearby Montreal English-language television market, which did not have a Global station at that time). As CFN was formed by the CFL itself, the league provided much of the network's funding. It was created directly in response to CTV completely dropping their CFL coverage following the 1986 season. CFN was conceptualized by then CFL Commissioner Douglas Mitchell.

Hamilton and Toronto

In its first year on the air, the CFL experimented with the TV blackout policy as four games (two in Hamilton and two in Toronto) were televised in the Hamilton-Toronto market.

CFN in the United States

In addition to being shown on the above-mentioned Burlington, Vermont station, from 1987-1989, a weekly CFN game telecast, including playoffs and the Grey Cup championship, aired in the United States nationally on a tape-delay basis on ESPN.

Grey Cup coverage

Main article: List of Grey Cup broadcasters

CFN's Grey Cup coverage was completely separate from CBC's coverage (whereas from 1971-1986, CBC and CTV fully pooled their commentary teams for the game; CBC's commentators called the first half of the game while CTV's crew called the rest of the game or vice versa).

During its broadcast of the 1988 Grey Cup game, CFN reported that its telecasts that season were seen in 14 countries, including the U.S., Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain, West Germany, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

The 1988 Grey Cup was the last game for veteran Winnipeg Blue Bombers offensive lineman Nick Bastaja. The next season, he joined the CFN crew as a colour commentator. Former Edmonton Eskimos fullback Neil Lumsden was CFN's primary colour man, while Dave Hodge and Bob Irving, a long-time voice of the Blue Bombers, provided play-by-play.

The end of CFN

CFN was critically acclaimed. The production quality of CFL telecasts had noticeably fallen behind the standards of the other North American major professional sports leagues by the mid- to late-1980s. CFN was widely credited with raising CFL production values to a calibre comparable to contemporary National Football League broadcasts.

However, CFN did not do well financially. CFN was supposed to operate like a normal television network, which meant that it was to earn revenue solely from advertising and other such sponsorship. Unfortunately for CFN, the aforementioned effort to improve production quality was a costly endeavour, and most of the rights fees the CFL earned from CBC and TSN were diverted to cover CFN expenses. The league discontinued the network after the 1990 season. After CFN shut down, all playoff and Grey Cup games would be exclusively broadcast on CBC Television from 1991 to 2007 and TSN since 2008.

Commentators

Play-by-play/pregame hosts

Colour commentators/Pregame analysts

The theme music package for CFN was provided by Donald Quan.

See also

References

  1. Anderson, Bill (1990-11-24), "Grey Cup still has some shine: Large TV audience expected", Kitchener-Waterloo Record, p. E10, archived from the original on January 11, 2013, retrieved 2012-07-12
  2. Hickey, Pat (November 11, 1987). "CFL May Be Beyond Rescuing". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved January 2, 2014 – via Chicago Tribune.

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