Sportsnet’s arrogance comes through in broadcast of NCC finale By Steven Sandor Posted on July 2, 2011 2 0 1,033 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Up until Saturday’s Nutrilite Canadian Championship finale, I have been hesitant to criticize Rogers Sportsnet’s handling of the tournament. I understand that Rogers is a big company that has an obligation to shareholders, first. Rogers owns the Blue Jays and wants to promote that property. Fair. So, we can’t complain when games are bumped to Sportsnet One, the specialty channel. And, the Jays were scheduled to play Roy Halladay and the Phillies this week, so there’s no doubt which game was going to be on the majority of the Sportsnet network. But what set me off today, and deserves mentioning, is the continued use of this graphic during the NCC broadcast: “WATCH NOW: Jays vs. Phillies.” Really? The most exciting match in the history of the NCC is unfolding before our very eyes, and Rogers comes off like it’s apologizing to viewers searching for the Jays’ game? Rogers is actually urging people to switch away from the Cup final to join the baseball broadcast? Argh. It was an arrogant and, to be perfectly honest, stupid move. It was an insult to fans watching the broadcast. It’s one thing to promote your property — the Jays — ahead of anything else. We all get that. But it’s another thing to treat the broadcast of the national soccer final as if the viewers have better things to do.
