CFL on CTV
Encyclopedia
CFL on CTV was a presentation of Canadian Football League
football aired on the CTV Television Network
from 1962
to 1986
. CTV dropped coverage of the CFL after the 1986 season. CTV's coverage was replaced by TSN
and the newly created Canadian Football Network
.
, John Bassett
, Chairman of CFTO-TV
, outbid the CBC for the Eastern Conference regular season and playoff television rights, and a first refusal for the Grey Cup
, with an offer of $375,000 a season for two years.
, was trying to persuade new private stations to sign affiliation agreements with him so that he could form a network. Bassett initially refused, but when several stations had given Caldwell signed letters of intent to become affiliates and Bassett failed to get a temporary network licence from the Board of Broadcast Governors
, he agreed to join the new network. Caldwell went to the BBG and was granted his network licence, which gave Bassett access to a network on which to broadcast his CFL games.
After the 1986 season, CTV dropped its coverage of the CFL and the Grey Cup.
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
football aired on the CTV Television Network
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
from 1962
1962 CFL season
The 1962 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 9th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 5th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1962:The Canadian Football Hall of Fame was established in Hamilton....
to 1986
1986 CFL season
The 1986 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 33rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 29th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1986:...
. CTV dropped coverage of the CFL after the 1986 season. CTV's coverage was replaced by TSN
CFL on TSN
The CFL on TSN is TSN's presentation of the Canadian Football League. TSN has broadcast CFL games since the 1987 season, and as part of a new broadcast contract with the league, became the exclusive broadcaster of all CFL games beginning in the 2008 season...
and the newly created Canadian Football Network
The Canadian Football Network
The Canadian Football Network was the official television syndication service of the Canadian Football League from 1987 to 1990.- Background :...
.
Background
In February 19611961 CFL season
The 1961 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 8th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 4th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1961:...
, John Bassett
John Bassett
John White Hughes Bassett, was a Canadian publisher and media baron.Born in Ottawa, Ontario, he was the son of John Bassett , publisher of the Montreal Gazette, and Margaret Avery. Bassett attended Ashbury College and graduated from Bishop's University with a BA in 1936...
, Chairman of CFTO-TV
CFTO-TV
CFTO-DT, broadcast on channel 9 and cable 8, is a television station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, owned by Bell Media. Currently branded as CTV Toronto, it is the flagship station of the CTV Television Network, and was one of the charter members of the network when it was launched in 1961. It...
, outbid the CBC for the Eastern Conference regular season and playoff television rights, and a first refusal for the Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
, with an offer of $375,000 a season for two years.
Affiliation agreements
Meanwhile, Spence CaldwellSpence Caldwell
Spencer "Spence" Wood Caldwell is a pioneer in the history of Canadian broadcasting.Amongst his notable achievements are as manager of the Dominion Network, S.W. Caldwell Ltd...
, was trying to persuade new private stations to sign affiliation agreements with him so that he could form a network. Bassett initially refused, but when several stations had given Caldwell signed letters of intent to become affiliates and Bassett failed to get a temporary network licence from the Board of Broadcast Governors
Board of Broadcast Governors
The Board of Broadcast Governors was a Canadian arms-length government agency created in 1958 to regulate television and radio broadcasting, originally taking over that function from the CBC. It was replaced by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission in 1968....
, he agreed to join the new network. Caldwell went to the BBG and was granted his network licence, which gave Bassett access to a network on which to broadcast his CFL games.
Grey Cup coverage
From 1962 until 1986, CBC and CTV similcast the Grey Cup. In 1962, 1965, 1967, 1968 and 1970, CTV commentators were used for the dual network telecast. In 1963, 1964, 1966 and 1969 CBC announcers were provided. From 1971 until 1986, the two networks fully pooled their commentary teams for the game.After the 1986 season, CTV dropped its coverage of the CFL and the Grey Cup.
Commentators
- Johnny EsawJohnny EsawJohnny Esaw, CM is a retired Canadian sports broadcaster and television network executive. He was a pioneer of sports broadcasting in Canada, best known for his involvement with figure skating, football, and international hockey....
- Play-By-Play (1962–1973), Host (1974–1986) - Pat MarsdenPat MarsdenPatrick Francis Marsden was a Canadian sportscaster and voice of the Canadian Football League play-by-play coverage in the 1970s and 1980s. He also worked as host for the historic 1972 Canada-Soviet Union hockey Summit Series sports telecasts.Marsden was born in Ottawa and attended St...
- Sideline Reporter/Host (1968–1973), Play-By-Play (1974–1986) - Al McCann - Play-By-Play/Host/Reporter (1963–1986)
- Dale Isaac - Play-By-Play
- Don ChevrierDon ChevrierDon Chevrier was a television and radio sports announcer. He was born in Toronto, Ontario.-Early life and career:...
- Play-By-Play (1981–1986) - Gene Filipski - Colour Commentator/Host (1967-1968)
- Bill Bewley - Colour Commentator (1968)
- Dick ShattoDick ShattoDick Shatto was a professional Canadian football player for the Canadian Football League Toronto Argonauts. Shatto also served as the Argonauts general manager after his playing days with the club ended.Shatto's playing career with the Argos lasted twelve seasons, from 1954 to 1965...
- Colour Commentator (1970–1973) - Wally GablerWally GablerWallace "Wally" Gabler is a retired professional American football player. He was the starting quarterback for the 1965 Michigan Wolverines football team and played seven seasons in the Canadian Football League.-Early years:...
- Colour Commentator (1974) - Mike WadsworthMike WadsworthMike Wadsworth was an all-star Canadian Football League defensive lineman.Wadsworth, a native of Ottawa, Ontario, played high school football at De La Salle High School in Toronto before attending the University of Notre Dame...
- Colour Commentator (1975–1981) - Frank RigneyFrank RigneyFrank Rigney was an offensive tackle for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League.-College:Rigney played college ball with another Blue Bomber great, quarterback Ken Ploen at the University of Iowa.-CFL:...
- Colour Commentator (1979–1986) - Leif PettersenLeif PettersenLeif Pettersen was a former receiver who played eight seasons in the Canadian Football League for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats...
- Colour Commentator (1982–1986) - Annis StukusAnnis StukusAnnis Paul Stukus was a Canadian football player, coach and general manager, and ice hockey general manager....
- Colour Commentator (1965) - Jack GottaJack GottaJack Gotta is a former professional football player, coach, and general manager.Gotta played Tight End at Oregon State in 1952 and Hamilton Air Force Base from 1954-1956. He signed with the Cleveland Browns in 1956, but was cut and played with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football...
- Colour Commentator (1984) - Tom McKee - Host (1975–1986)
- Bill Stephenson - Sidleine reporter (1972–1986)
- Terry Lynne Meyer - Sideline Reporter
- Dan MathesonDan MathesonDan Matheson is a Canadian journalist and news anchor currently presenting the news in the primetime hours on CTV News Channel, since September 2001.-Early life and career:...
- Host - Joe Spence - Colour Commentator
- Jack WellsJack WellsJohn Hampson "Jack" Wells , also known as Cactus Jack, was a Winnipeg-based radio and television broadcaster specializing in sports....
- Play-By-Play - Bob Gillingham - Sideline Reporter