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Reality has just checked in as the Montreal Canadiens started their 2013-2014 NHL season and so did many other NHL clubs. Sports media, fans, observers are all tuned in to the "Habs" and it's only normal in a country, province and town that has a deep hockey culture.
The disconcerting news around the start of the NHL season is what TVA Sports announced earlier this week. As the official TV broadcaster of the Montreal Impact, TVA Sports has "loaned" 2 games of les Bleus to competitor RDS. Due to a scheduling conflict, TVA Sports could not show the Impact game on live TV.
The games on the October 4th against the Houston Dynamo and on October 19th against the Philadelphia Union will be broadcasted on RDS Info.
RDS is the official MLS broadcaster in the province, by extension of TSN being the MLS broadcaster in the country. Something we already knew is that RDS was going to be broadcasting all of the Impact games in the playoffs up until the MLS Cup, if it gets there.
Richard Legendre, Executive VP of the Montreal Impact
We wish to acknowledge the excellent cooperation shown by our partner RDS, who has agreed to take over and help us solve this unexpected problem. Fortunately, our fans will continue to see all of our live games without missing anything from this race that looks very exciting
What is disconcerting is that the conflict in schedule is with the Ottawa Senators as TVA Sports broadcast some games of the Ontarian NHL club. We can talk numbers and money and ratings as the Senators would be more attractive in ratings, sponsorship money and such. I will never win an argument based on the only thing that matters at the end: Money.
RDS has three channels : RDS, RDS 2 & RDS Info. What makes me even more sad and confused is that only those 2 games are not only not being broadcasted due to the Ottawa Senators but they will be shown on RDS Info.
More from Mount Royal Soccer:
- Reality of Soccer Culture in NHL heavy town and province: TVA Sports, RDS and the Montreal Impact
- Mid-Week Montreal Impact Fodder: New Training Field and Schallibaum's Contract
- ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’: Point Taken
- When Marco Di Vaio does a #DiVaye , Davy Arnaud becomes Neymar and Troy Perkins' Blunder
- Chicago Fire vs Impact de Montreal : Bulletin de Notes du Professeur Brouillard + Analyse