NHL on Global

{{short description|Coverage of the 1987 and 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs in Canada}} {{Infobox television | image = | caption = | alt_name = ''Stanley Cup '87'' ''Stanley Cup '88'' NHL Friday | genre = Sports | creator = Global Television Network Carling O'Keefe | writer = | creative_director = | developer = | presenter = Dave Hodge | starring = John Davidson Dan Kelly Jim Robson Jim Tatti | voices = | narrator = | theme_music_composer = | open_theme = | end_theme = | composer = | country = Canada | language = English | num_seasons = 2 | num_episodes = | list_episodes = | executive_producer = Doug Bonar | producer = John Shannon<ref>{{Cite news|title=If Canada has chance for gold Sunday match may be telecast|date=May 1, 1987|first=Ken|last=McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=F8}}</ref> | director = Henry Pasila | editor = | location = | cinematography = | camera = | runtime = 150 minutes or until the game ends | network = Global | first_aired = {{start date|1987|4|24}} | last_aired = {{end date|1988|5|20}} | related = ''NHL on CTV'' }} '''''NHL on Global''''' is the de facto name of a television program that broadcast National Hockey League games on the Global Television Network. The program aired during the 1987 and 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs under the titles '''''Stanley Cup '87''''' and '''''Stanley Cup '88''''' respectively.

==Background==

=== About CTV's NHL coverage=== For the 1984–85 and 1985–86 seasons, CTV aired regular season games on Friday nights (and some Sunday afternoons) as well as partial coverage of the playoffs and Stanley Cup Final. While Molson continued to present ''Hockey Night in Canada'' on Saturday nights on CBC, rival brewery Carling O'Keefe began airing ''Friday Night Hockey'' on CTV. This marked the first time since 1974–75 that CBC was not the lone over-the-air network broadcaster of the National Hockey League in Canada. CTV's 1965-75 NHL package consisted of Wednesday night games produced by the McLaren advertising agency, which also produced CBC's Saturday night ''Hockey Night in Canada'' telecasts.

The deal with CTV was arranged by the Quebec Nordiques (who were owned by Carling O'Keefe<ref name="NewYorkTimes2">{{cite news |date=July 25, 1984 |title=SPORTS PEOPLE; Hockey-TV Suit |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/25/sports/sports-people-hockey-tv-suit.html |access-date=February 9, 2016 |newspaper=New York Times |page=B8}}</ref>) and all 14 U.S.-based NHL clubs,<ref name=":22">{{Cite news |last=Eskenazi |first=Gerald |date=1984-08-17 |title=SUITS OVER TV SPLIT N.H.L. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/17/sports/suits-over-tv-split-nhl.html |access-date=2023-12-31 |work=New York Times |page=A17 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Kelly |date=September 25, 1984 |title=Great hockey/beer war takes to the ice in Chicago |url=https://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/image/202524680/ |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |page=B1 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":322">{{Cite news |last=Jr |first=Robert Mcg Thomas |date=1984-12-07 |title=N.H.L. TEAMS SIGN TV DEAL |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/07/sports/nhl-teams-sign-tv-deal.html |access-date=2023-12-31 |work=The New York Times |page=D26 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":42">{{Cite web |date=December 18, 1984 |title=The National Hockey League and Molson Breweries announced Tuesday... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/12/18/The-National-Hockey-League-and-Molson-Breweries-announced-Tuesday/2531472194000/ |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref> who sought to break Molson's monopoly<ref>{{cite news |last=Hadekel |first=Peter |date=1984-12-18 |title=NHL, Molson Sign Contract to Settle TV Rights Battle |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8g0vAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA53 |access-date=2010-06-18 |work=Montreal Gazette |page=53}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McKee |first=Ken |date=Oct 2, 1985 |title=Ziegler, Molson's meet over TV rights |newspaper=Toronto Star |page=F2}}</ref> on NHL broadcasting in Canada. All of the CTV's regular-season telecasts originated from Quebec City or the United States, as Molson shut them out of the other six Canadian buildings (as Carling did to them in Québec City).

The deal ended following the 1985–86 season. CTV's limited access to Canadian-based teams (other than Québec, whose English-speaking fan base was quite small) translated into poor ratings.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last=McKee |first=Ken |date=April 16, 1986 |title=CTV's hockey games on thin ice Network reportedly unhappy with NHL's Friday night schedule |newspaper=Toronto Star |page=E5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=CTV won't renew NHL contract|date=April 19, 1986|first=Ken|last=McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=D8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Boone |first=Mike |date=1986-04-19 |title=CTV will halt NHL season broadcasts |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=S4s0AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA88 |access-date=2010-06-18 |work=The Montreal Gazette |publisher=The Canadian Press |page=88}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 15, 1986 |title=SCOUTING; Hockey TV War Is Brewing Again |language=en-US |page=D30 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/05/15/sports/scouting-hockey-tv-war-is-brewing-again.html |access-date=February 9, 2016 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> on the venture.<ref>{{cite news |last=McKee |first=Ken |date=September 12, 1986 |title=Marketing mystery: Argos off the TV 38 days |newspaper=Toronto Star |page=F8}}</ref>

===''Stanley Cup '87'' and ''Stanley Cup '88''=== Despite CTV pulling the plug on their two-year-long venture with the NHL, Carling O'Keefe retained their rights (two years were remaining on the contract with or without CTV).<ref>{{Cite news|title=Brian Propp determined to make Team Canada|date=August 5, 1987|first=Rick|last=Matsumoto|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=F1}}</ref>

Things became problematic when the 1987 Stanley Cup playoffs opened with Carling O'Keefe still without a network of some sort. The problems arguably peaked when the Montréal-Québec second-round playoff series opened without Molson being allowed to broadcast from Quebec City, leaving Games 3 and 4 off of English-language television altogether. This led to a hastily arranged syndicated package on a chain of stations<ref>{{Cite news|title=No game for fans in north|date=May 6, 1987|first=Ken|last=McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=C4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 22, 1987 |title=Not many fans will see Montreal-Quebec series |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D0VgAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA52 |access-date=2010-06-18 |work=The StarPhoenix |publisher=The Canadian Press |page=53}}</ref> that would one day form the basis of the Global Television Network. The deal between Carling O'Keefe and the Canwest/Global consortium (with a few CBC and CTV affiliates sprinkled in for good measure) came just in time for game six of this series on April 30.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 29, 1987 |title=West to see Leafs-Wings |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FUVgAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA82 |access-date=2010-06-18 |work=The StarPhoenix |publisher=The Canadian Press |page=53}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 30, 1987 |title=Sask Fans Blacked Out Tonight |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FkVgAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA54 |access-date=2010-06-18 |work=The StarPhoenix |publisher=The Canadian Press |page=54}}</ref>

It must be stressed that Global, technically, didn't become a national network until 1997. During the 1980s, Global consisted of a single station in Toronto with numerous rebroadcast transmitters throughout Ontario, CanWest was a chain of independent stations in Western Canada (and at the time a part-owner of Global), and the two often combined to carry syndicated programming, such as this NHL package and the Canadian Football Network, which would also begin in 1987. These NHL broadcasts were aired under the names ''Stanley Cup '87'' and ''Stanley Cup '88'', before a merger between Carling O'Keefe and Molson (the presenters of ''Hockey Night in Canada'' on CBC as previously mentioned) put an end to the competition.

In 1987, coverage also included all five games of the Campbell Conference Final<ref>{{Cite news|date=April 29, 1987|title=Habs-Nordiques are on Global|first=Ken|last=McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=C5}}</ref> between the Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings,<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 13, 1987|title=Oilers, Wings on tube|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=E3}}</ref> and Games 3–5<ref>{{Cite news|date=June 14, 1987|title=Let's put an end to goon hockey|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=G6}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=May 15, 1987|title=Where were commentators when NHL was on fence?|first=Ken|last=McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=F10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Global network to share coverage for NHL playoffs|date=February 7, 1987|first=Ken|last=McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=D5}}</ref> of the 1987 Stanley Cup Final between the Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers.

In 1988,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Former goalie knows how to put it in the net before the cameras|date=April 2, 1988|first=Jonathan|last=Gross|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=S6}}</ref> coverage included select regular season games on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons from January 31 to the end of the regular season, the Smythe Division Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames (which Global carried nationally, except for the Edmonton and Calgary markets, where the CBC retained exclusive rights),<ref>{{Cite news|title=Global has the Oilers|date=April 28, 1988|first=Ken|last=McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=C8}}</ref> game five of the Norris Division Final between the Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Leaf fans have case of blues|date=April 8, 1987|first=Ken|last=McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=B5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=May 1, 1988|title=Red Wings Yzerman Goes Through Workout|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=upQsAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA18|access-date=2010-06-18|work=Toronto Star|page=18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Yzerman works out with Wings|date=May 1, 1988|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=G3}}</ref> the Campbell Conference Final between the Oilers and Red Wings, and the first two<ref>{{YouTube|title=Intro to game one of the Stanley Cup Final (May 18, 1988)|id=tgF0cQXJ0Gs}}</ref> games of the Final between the Oilers and Boston Bruins.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Most of Canada able to tune in on Stanley Cup|date=May 17, 1988|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=H1}}</ref> They also had the rights to games six and seven of the Final, which were not necessary.

Unlike the split CTV/CBC coverage of {{NHL Year|1984}} and {{NHL Year|1985}}, the Canwest-Global telecasts were network exclusive, except for game seven of the Stanley Cup Final if it was necessary. When CBC and Global televised game seven of the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals,<ref>{{YouTube|title=1987 Stanley Cup Final post-game (part 1) from Global|id=NADk2pQDiBo}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=1987 Stanley Cup Final post-game (part 2) from Global|id=-b6YOKLpZEM}}</ref> they used separate production facilities and separate on-air talent.

==Commentators== {{see also|List of Global Television Network personalities}}

*Dan Kelly:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=391068|title=The Doc is in|date=November 7, 2008|first=John|last=McGourty|work=NHL.com}}</ref> lead play-by-play *John Davidson:<ref>{{Cite news|title=TV SPORTS Fischler's Simply the Best|date=April 26, 1988|first=Stan|last=Issacs|newspaper=Newsday|page=114}}</ref> lead colour commentator *Mickey Redmond: fill-in colour commentator *Dave Hodge: host *Jim Robson: fill-in play-by-play (called the 1988 Smythe Division Final between the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers with John Davidson due to Kelly had commitments to St. Louis Blues regional broadcasts.) *Jim Tatti: ice level reporter/host

==See also== *Allarcom Limited (provided facilities) *Global Television Network

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nhl On Global}} Category:Global Television Network original programming Category:National Hockey League on television Category:1987 Canadian television series debuts Category:1988 Canadian television series endings Category:1980s Canadian sports television series