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[Socreges]

Idiots

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050223/CUTHBERT23/TPNational/Canada

 

[Richiban]

I'm sure that he'll just walk down the street and get in with TSN.

 

[darscot]

There is something here that stinks.

Chris does a lot more then Hockey he was the voice of the Grey Cup, Figure Skating, and other things. These are huge money events for CBC. WHy get rid of Chris when you need him for other thigns then Hockey. Putting Bob Cole to pasture I would be pissed but understand. This makes no sense and there is more to the story.

 

[Richiban]

The entire face of Canadian sports broadcasting has completely changed this year.

Sportsnet emerged as a major player that rivals TSN and CBC sports. Sportnet grabbed a major market share with showing AHL and WHL hockey, which both TSN and CBC lacks. TSN shows European Elite League hockey, but most people I know aren't interested in that game and stick closer to home.

CBC took a shot in the balls losing the Olympics, that's for sure.

I've a feeling that we're going to see CBC sports go the way of the dinosaur someday soon, which is a shame because working for CBC has been something I've set as a career goal.

CBC firing Cuthbert is a major nail in building that coffin.

 

[theo]

CBC sports is slowly turning into NBC sports (the home of the kentucky derby and indoor football!)

 

[FightyF]

What.
The.
F*ck.


If TSN doesn't pick him up, they'd be idiots.

On the bright side, maybe we can hear Chris doing the Olympics again?

 

[bishoptl]

How is it Bob Cole and Harry Neale still have jobs then? Ridiculous, but you can rest assured that Cuthbert will land on his feet.

Mr. Cuthbert learned of his termination from Mr. Kerr, his agent. Despite working for the CBC for more than 20 years, he didn't get a telephone call from the network.

Ms. Lee said she assumed that's the way he wanted it.

"Chris was a contract employee," she said. "All of Chris's contractual issues go through his agent.

"And I say again, this was a very, very difficult decision."

Incredible. Just incredible.

 

[OpinionatedCyborg]

The only reasonable conclusion that can come from this is that CBC's completely fucking insane. They have a shitload of funding, a large talent pool, yet they continue to destroy their chances at competing with the other networks in the future. If CBC continues down this path, there really isn't any need for a government funded broadcaster because no one will care enough to watch them anyways. GG FGTs.

 

[fallout]

I was reading in The Toronto Star today about it, almost choked on my bagel in Timmy's. Here's most of the arcticle:

Nancy Lee, executive director of CBC Sports, cited the NHL lockout for the dismissal, but Cuthbert worked a number of sports for CBC and the feeling there was that he was fired because of a personality conflict with Lee.

"It's a regrettable decision," said Lee. "Chris has an extremely good reputation and he's a consummate professional.

"But it's important to remember that 30 people have been affected by hockey."

But one CBC staffer said Cuthbert and Lee often clashed and he paid the price for his principles.

"Chris was unafraid to stand up to management on issues that mattered to him.''

The staffer also said the news came as "an absolute shock" to everyone at the broadcasting corporation and, "it's very fair to say that people are angry."

The source also said staffers don't believe he was fired because of the lockout.

 

[Socreges]

^ figures

It IS comforting to know that he'll undoubtedly get work elsewhere. I can just imagine TSN and Sportsnet managers scrambling right now to hire him.

 

[Shinobi]

Yeah, Cuthbert will pretty much be given a blank cheque by Rogers or Bell Globe Media...he's that good.

As for CBC, they got an additional $60 million in funding in the budget today. So the "we cut him cause hockey is gone" line simply doesn't fly.

And based on the recent Olympic commitment by rivals Rogers and Bell Globe Media to basically get into bed, I wouldn't be surprised if they made a combined play for the NHL rights in a couple years, including the Hockey Night in Canada stuff. They could show that on CTV, while Sportsnet and TSN shows hockey every night of the frikken' week. Really wouldn't be anything CBC could do about it if such a bid was put forward, even with their funding boost.