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Sunday, July 4, 2010

Why Not Canada?





In a joint venture between TSN and The Globe and Mail, sister operating divisions at CTVglobemedia, a six part multi-platform investigative series will examine the viability of a new NHL hockey franchise in Canada.

Led by veteran journalist Dave Naylor, the series, called Why Not Canada?, appears in print, on TV and online. It promises to look at new wide-ranging and in-depth socio-economic data that program producers say clearly illustrates the viability of an NHL franchise expanding or relocating in the Winnipeg, Hamilton, the Greater Toronto Area and Quebec City markets.

The multi-platform investigation includes a six-part TV series on TSN's Sportscentre beginning Monday, July 5. Daily features appear in The Globe and Mail and online at http://www.globeandmail.com.
TSN.ca will also post a new page dedicated to the series, with written features, extra video and in-depth statistical breakdowns for the Winnipeg, Hamilton, the Greater Toronto Area and Quebec City markets.

Naylor has spent months examining the case for an NHL franchise in four Canadian markets looking at as many angles as possible. Naylor turns to a host of leading economists, market research specialists, potential owners, competition lawyers and fans for input. Other important factors taken into consideration for each market include existing arenas, corporate presence, regional interest in hockey and demographics. Based on Naylor's research, a formula was developed based on quantitative facts that assign a grade based on the realistic viability of an NHL franchise in each of the four Canadian markets in question.

"Six of the league's 30 teams are located here, yet estimates are that more than 30 per cent of NHL revenue comes from Canada," Naylor said in a release. "Many Canadians ask themselves: if U.S. franchises are struggling, why not Canada? We will look at that question and try to separate the emotion from the facts to definitively answer if another franchise could survive in Canada."

As part of the series, Naylor sits down with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman for his opinion and reactions to the research regarding each of the potential Canadian NHL markets considered.
The TSN Why Not Canada? broadcast schedule is as follows:

Monday, July 5 - Part 1: Introduction
Tuesday, July 6 - Part 2: Winnipeg
Wednesday, July 7 - Part 3: Hamilton
Thursday, July 8 - Part 4: Greater Toronto Area
Friday, July 9 - Part 5: Quebec City
Saturday, July 10 - Part 6: Conclusions

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