- Adds value to fans with more games, more content, more
choice and more flexibility -
- Positions Sportsnet to become Canada's #1 sports media brand -
- Bolsters Rogers' sports offerings and leadership across all
platforms -
TORONTO, Nov. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Rogers
Communications and the National Hockey League today announced a
landmark 12-year broadcast and multimedia agreement that includes
all national rights to NHL games on all platforms in all
languages. The agreement, the largest media rights deal in
League history, begins with the 2014-15 season and continues
through the 2025-26 season. This marks the first time a
premium North American-wide sports league has granted all of its
national (Canadian) rights to one company on a long-term basis.
(photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131126/TO817)
Rogers also announced today it has selected CBC and TVA for
separate sub-licensing deals for English-language broadcasts of
Hockey Night in Canada and
all national French-language multimedia rights, respectively.
The agreement is subject to approval by the NHL's Board of
Governors at its meeting on December
9-10.
"Sports content is a key strategic asset and we've been
investing significantly to strengthen our sports offering to
Canadians," said Nadir Mohamed,
President and Chief Executive Officer, Rogers Communications.
"Canadians are passionate about hockey, and through this landmark
partnership with the NHL we'll be able to bring hockey fans more
games and more content on their platform of choice."
"Our fans always want to explore deeper and more emotional
connections to NHL hockey, and that is precisely what Rogers has
promised to deliver over the next 12 years - channeling the reach
of its platforms and the intensity of its passion for the game into
an unparalleled viewing experience," said NHL Commissioner
Gary Bettman."The NHL is extremely
excited about the power and potential of this groundbreaking
partnership."
Canadians will receive more NHL games than ever before through
Rogers' wireless and cable assets, promotional vehicles, and
diverse media assets - including City and all Sportsnet platforms.
Highlights of the agreement include:
- National rights across TV broadcasts, TV Everywhere, wireless
and mobile tablets, Internet streaming, terrestrial and satellite
radio, and out-of-home;
- National rights to all regular season games, all playoff games
and the Stanley Cup Final, and all special events and non-game
events (i.e. NHL All-Star Game, NHL Draft) - in all languages;
- Out-of-market rights for all regional games;
- Ownership of all linear and digital highlights, including
condensed games and video archives;
- NHL broadcast assets: Rogers to operate NHL Centre Ice
and NHL Game Centre Live;
- Sponsorship rights to the NHL Shield logo as an official
partner of the NHL; and
- Canadian representation of ad sales for NHL.com.
"Our vision is to build on the NHL's legacy in Canada with an emphasis on storytelling,
innovation, and technology -- weaving the NHL, its teams and its
stars even deeper into the fabric of Canadian culture," said
Keith Pelley, President, Rogers
Media. "Today's announcement significantly increases the
value of our premium Sportsnet brand and reinforces our commitment
to making Sportsnet the #1 sports media brand in Canada."
Rogers will provide multiple game coverage on up to nine TV
channels plus digital and radio on any given night (see "Sample
Saturday Night" addendum). Expanded pre- and post-game
coverage, behind-the-scenes access, profiles of the league's Top 50
stars, first-to-market production technology, a state-of-the-art
high-tech studio, and a Hockey Production Centre of Excellence will
give Canadians a new way to experience the NHL like never before
(see "Programming & Production Philosophy" addendum).
Today's announcement strengthens Rogers' sports leadership in
Canada and complements the
company's existing NHL alliances. Sportsnet is the regional
broadcaster of the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Vancouver
Canucks, producing and airing 264 regional games per year (see
"Fact Sheet" addendum). Rogers has a 37.5% equity stake in
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, 100% ownership of the
Toronto Blue Jays and Rogers Centre stadium, strategic partnerships
with the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers, and long-term media
agreements with the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA, MLS, NCAA, Rogers Cup, UFC,
international soccer, and more.
This agreement is net present value positive for Rogers'
shareholders - it is expected to be accretive to Rogers Media
operating profit from the outset and significantly, will yield
additional benefits to the cable and wireless operations. The
financial terms comprise annual payments commencing at just over
$300 million in the first year, with
gradual annual escalations, increasing to approximately
mid-$500 million in the final year of
the contract term. These payments, together with an upfront payment
amount of $150 million spread over
the first two years of the contract, will amount to $5.2 billion in total payments to the NHL over
the 12-year term. The annual rights costs will be offset by
consideration received under the CBC and TVA sub-licenses
referenced above.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,
Risks and Assumptions:
This release includes "forward-looking information" within the
meaning of applicable securities laws and assumptions concerning
the closing of an acquisition as detailed above. We caution that
all forward-looking information is inherently subject to change and
uncertainty and that actual results may differ materially from
those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. A
number of risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual
results and events to differ materially from those expressed or
implied in the forward-looking information or could cause our
current objectives, strategies and intentions to change, including
but not limited to approvals by the NHL's Board of Governors. Many
of these factors are beyond our control and current expectation or
knowledge. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or
other factors materialize, our objectives, strategies or intentions
change, or any other factors or assumptions underlying the
forward-looking information prove incorrect, our actual results and
our plans could vary significantly from what we currently foresee.
Accordingly, we warn investors to exercise caution when considering
statements containing forward-looking information and that it would
be unreasonable to rely on such statements as creating legal rights
regarding our future results or plans. We are under no obligation
(and we expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter
any statements containing forward-looking information, the factors
or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
All of the forward-looking information in this release is qualified
by the cautionary statements herein.
About the NHL:
The National Hockey League®, founded in 1917, is the second-oldest
of the four major professional team sports leagues in North America. Today, the NHL® consists
of 30 Member Clubs, each reflecting the League's international
makeup, with players from more than 20 countries represented on
team rosters. According to a Simmons Market Research study, NHL
fans are younger, more educated, more affluent, and access content
through digital means more than any other major professional sport.
The NHL entertains more than 250 million fans each season in-arena
and through its partners in national television (NBC Sports
Network, NBC, TSN, CBC, RDS, and NHL Network™) and radio (NHL
Radio™, Sirius XM Satellite Radio). Through the NHL
Foundation, the League's charitable arm, the NHL raises money and
awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer™ and NHL Youth Development, and
supports the charitable efforts of NHL players. For more
information on the NHL, log on to NHL.com.
About Rogers:
Rogers is a leading diversified Canadian communications and media
company. We are Canada's
largest provider of wireless voice and data communications services
and one of Canada's leading
providers of cable television, high-speed Internet and telephony
services. Through Rogers Media we are engaged in radio and
television broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade
publications, and sports entertainment. We are publicly
traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B)
and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI).
PDF available at:
http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2013/11/26/20131126_C4924_DOC_EN_33833.pdf
PDF available at:
http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2013/11/26/20131126_C4924_DOC_EN_33834.pdf
SOURCE Rogers Communications Inc.