CBC to ditch famous HNIC theme

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Every Breaking Wave

Every Breaking Wave

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Canadian Press said:
TORONTO - The famous Hockey Night in Canada theme that has introduced thousands of great games over the years may not be heard again when the puck drops next season.

The agency that represents the song's composer says the CBC will no longer use the familiar hockey anthem.

But CBC Sports executive director Scott Moore would not comment on the claim when reached at his Toronto office. CBC is expected to issue a release later today.

According to a statement on hockeytheme.com, the licence agreement CBC had with composer Dolores Claman ended with this year's Stanley Cup playoffs, which wrapped up Wednesday night.

The website says that CBC has been offered a new licensing agreement but has decided to go in a new direction. It costs the public broadcaster about $500 every time it uses the theme.

The hockeytheme.com website is operated by John Ciccone, whose company Copyright Music & Visuals controls use of the song.

In a statement on the website, Claman said she is saddened by CBC's decision to drop the jingle.

Claman wrote the song in 1968 and despite going through numerous rearrangements it has become one of Canada's most recognized tunes.
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Dammit.

And just earlier this season I was telling people the fact that they still had the classic theme was the best reason to watch hockey on CBC rather than the (french) sports networks.
 
Since I posted this story, the Premier of Alberta has blasted the CBC by saying that the song is just as iconic as the National Anthem (if not more so), and the CBC has denied the report, saying that negotiations are still underway.
 
For once, I find the premier of Alberta to be saying something sensible.
 
It's all over.

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Negotiations to keep the Hockey Night in Canada theme song have collapsed, meaning the CBC program is now in search of another anthem.

Copyright Music & Visuals, the Toronto agency representing the song's composer, Dolores Claman, said on Friday that the deal had fallen through.

That news came as a surprise to the CBC, said Scott Moore, executive director of CBC Sports.

"We're disappointed, as many Canadians are," Moore said, adding he found out about the deal falling through from CBC News.

"We have no real idea why the deal fell apart," he said. "We're not sure why because the other side hasn't communicated with us.

"You have to ask the other side what happened."

Copyright Music & Visuals said it had offered the public broadcaster a chance to renew its licence to use Claman's song - a staple on HNIC since 1968 - on terms that were "virtually identical to those that have existed for the past decade."

Previously, each use of the song cost the CBC about $500, the agency said.

After the first two years of a new agreement, the rates would rise about 15 per cent, an increase Copyright Music & Visuals president John Ciccone called an industry standard.

"We offered to continue paying the richest licence fee in Canadian television, which was the price they asked for," said Moore. "We also offered to buy it outright for a high six-figure sum."

A call made to Ciccone by CBCSports.ca was not returned Friday.

Claman, who has written about 2,000 jingles over her career, is also credited with the Ontario theme A Place to Stand, which she co-wrote with her husband, Richard Morris, in 1967.

Contest for new theme in works

Moore said Friday the two sides had agreed upon a price, but added an "unfortunate set of circumstances," including an outstanding lawsuit, hovered over negotiations.

A lawsuit filed against the CBC in late 2004 by the composer alleges that the broadcaster was overusing the Hockey Night in Canada theme and has not been settled. Copyright Music & Visuals said the litigation hasn't interfered with the CBC's use of music, nor was settlement of the suit a condition for the proposed new licensing agreement.

"We really can't do business with a lawsuit hanging over our heads," Moore said. "We feel that we've done everything we possibly can."

CBC Sports will now move on and launch a new national contest in conjunction with Nettwerk Music Group to find a new theme song, he said. Canadians will be invited to write and record an original song for Hockey Night in Canada, with fans and a jury of experts choosing the best new composition.

The winner will receive $100,000 and proceeds from any royalties will go to minor hockey across the country. More details on the contest will be revealed in the next week.

"We expect a lot of terrific music, and we expect that the new theme for Hockey Night in Canada will be as iconic as the last two themes have been," Moore said.

Earlier on Friday, Liberal heritage critic Denis Coderre told reporters in Ottawa that Conservative Heritage Minister Josée Verner must defend one of Canada's most famous musical traditions and do everything possible to ensure the CBC continues to broadcast the theme.

"The Hockey Night in Canada theme is a part of Canada's culture that goes beyond sport," Coderre said. "If the minister wants to show that she cares about Canadian heritage, this is her chance."
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I don't see how they could not let CBC use it. I bet more Canadians can whistle the theme rather than sing O Canada.
 
It would be the ultimate irony if the song they chose was "Die Winnipeg Die Die Die ****ers Die." And the sad part is, I can see that happening.
Bad Canada. No biscuit.
 
At least the theme will still be used for Hockey... and for the Olympics, no less.
 
Yep. On the whole, it's not such a bad thing.
 
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