This Will Piss Off Hockey Fans!

[Lesbian Hunter]

CBC dumps 'Hockey Night' theme

Bal Brach
The Ottawa Citizen


Thursday, June 05, 2008


What has long been known as Canada's "second national anthem," CBC's Hockey Night in Canada theme song, will no longer be used.

Thursday night's Stanley Cup final game six was the last time "dunt- da-dunt- da-dunt," was played, according to the song's composer. CBC has announced the corporation is moving in a "new direction."



The theme, one of the longest running in broadcast history, was composed by Dolores Claman in 1968. The current licence expired at the end of the 2007-2008 NHL playoffs and the news release said CBC has decided not to renew.

It costs the CBC $500 to use the theme for each game broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada.

 

[curmudgeon]

the CBC tried something like this about 8-9 years ago. They replaced the HNIC theme with a rock-n-roll theme.

I seem to recall the lyrics:

"All the big guns gonna shoot out the lights
Kids will be rockin' cause it's Saturday Night"

Or something like that.

It sucked.

They went back to the HNIC theme the next year.

 

[poontanghunter]

they would be better off keeping the song and ditching any future leafs coverage, there are other teams and provinces in Canada after all

 

[bcneil]

Its amazing, they play the song what twice each saturday?
and then during the playoffs, maybe 100 times a year max $50,000
CBC cant afford that?
Considering HNIC is the only program they have people actually watch

 

[mustangjoe]

blah blah blah....

Just like they said Don Cherry would not be back..

It's all in the name of business. It's not that they can't afford it, but it's the job of people working for the CBC to play games and get the best deal possible. It's all games people, so don't even think about it. The song will be back.

 

[seannachie]

I was reading the CBC blogs this afternoon and read about how the HNIC anthem was in jeopardy. It seemed that within a few hours the website had received hundreds of "recommendations" to writers who complained about the loss of the song. Just a few hours after that, HNIC officials were on the airwaves claiming that a deal was to be brokered with the composer as soon as the HNIC staff got back to Canada from Pittsburgh! Interesting how passionate people feel about this tune and how quick a response was gained by a few hundred complaints.

 

[wolverine]

Classic negotiating tactic is all it is. If HNIC kills the theme song, people will revolt until the streets of Canada are drenched with spilled blood and spilled Tim Hortons coffee.

 

[john-john]

Apparently there are lyrics to go with the HNIC song. Anyone know where they can be found?

 

[littlejimbigher]

You have to admit tho that $500 per game just to use that music is alot of bucks. The composer ( who lives in BC by the way) is noy going to be able to get any where near that much from any other source. I wonder what radio station pay to play a song? I bet it's only a few bucks per play. This is more about CBC and money than just getting rid of the music.

 

[CalgaryJenn]

Now if they could just get rid of Don Cherry, Hockey Night In Canada would be even better.

 

[MadBee]

Look in any music store that sells sheet music like Tom Lee.

Jenn - Don Cherry is the heart of HNIC and if you lose him you lose the heart of the game I love his passion and heart for the game We need more people like him. Hockey Night In Canada would be very boring with out him.

 

[wolverine]

CTV just bought the rights to use the song.

Yeah, they're going to use it for the 2010 Olympics.

 

[wpgguy]

CTV just bought the rights to use the song.

God the CBC is stupid, give up the rights to the theme of their highest rated show for what, the last 50 years. Is there anyone in Canada that doesn't know the theme for HNIC.

Then TSN picks it up in what had to be the easiest business decision they have ever made.

The only thing dumber would be for Ford to let the copy right on MUSTANG lapse and have Toyota register the name.

 

[Bartdude]

It's a song.

The asking fee was ridiculously high.

I dare say, if it were a private TV station, people would be chalking this up to "just business". But because it's the CBC, it's somehow a travesty.