Please sign the petition using the link below;
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cflonustv/index.htmlJust out of curiosity. To whom will you be sending that petition?
And BTW
Geo already started one
Apparently, the Versus Network.
Its the same petition and it going to the Versus Network.
Pass it on !!
I dont know if it will help, but I signed the petition; and hope it produces CFL TV coverage on an American TV network that is readily accessible on at least some popular basic cable network. Something like 90% or even more of all Canadians live within 100 miles of the US-Canadian border. A market 10 times the size of Canada that close, I cant even fathom why the CFL Commissioners Office doesnt have a full time employee (or employees) in pursuit of a TV deal in the American Market. Even if all they did was put together a syndicated TV deal just in border city markets, the same ones often suggested (including by me, in the past) by many fans who favor giving a controlled, rational expansion to logical US border cities (This Time !!) another try; that would make sense in growing the league, growing interest, selling merchandise, etc. (A syndicated regional border area TV deal, not talking expansion on this thread.)
I hope my first choice happens, that someone like USA Network or other widely carried cable channel will cut a deal, because I want to be able to follow the CFL on TV in the same manner that I follow the NFL. And if I could, it only helps the league grow interest in the game. A Win-Win all the way around.
The CFL is considered bush league in the USA. The don't understand it. The don't understand why there was 2 rough riders, they don't understand how an 8 team league only pays their players 100k per year.
The majority of American football fans tune into the CFL for the same reason that a lot of us turned on Arena Football. We want to see if we know anybody on the teams that are playing.
There is no attachment in the USA to the CFL. Somebody in Texas cares about the Ticats??????? I don't think so.
I know there are Canadians living in the USA but you can't sell something to 100,000 people if the 300 million people in the country don't care about it.
Taking this post point by point, line by line.
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Bush ? Yes, some Americans and even some misguided radio sports talk hosts do feel that the CFL is “Bush”. I dont feel that way, Chris Berman doesnt… but some do… all the more reason for a good US TV Package. To combat that false perception.
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We dont understand it? Come on, its still football… Give me a break here. Sure some of the rules are different. Sure a short primer section on critical rules differences would be a very good idea on each broadcast. But exposure to the Canadian game might cause some Americans to appreciate the differences… even enjoy them, even if only as a change of pace.
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Most Americans dont know why there were 2 teams called the “Rough Riders / Roughriders.” I do. The Regina Roughriders and Ottawa Rough Riders developed 1,500 miles apart (a guess) in a day with no mass media and very minimal if any at all “inter-league” play between the WIFU and the “Big Four” of the East. If I were a veteran Ottawa RR’s fan I would want the new team to be called the Rough Riders again, VERY MUCH. I understand that totally. But… If I am the CFL Commissioner… I want the old joke, “all the teams are called the RR’s” to be gone forever. I would encourage the owners to call the team the Renegades or Rebels or Riflemen etc… and adopt the old Riders logo “R” and the color schemes.
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Different pay scales? Lets see… an 8 team gate driven league in a country 1/10 the size of the USA in population terms. The NFL, a 32 team TV and mass media driven league in a nation of 300,000,000 +. I think anyone can see the reasons for different pay scales with crystal clarity myself.
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I personally watch the game of Football for the GAME. I dont care much about seeing ex-college or NFL stars playing. I wont speak for anyone else, but the action and strategy of the GAME itself is enough for me.
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This point is probably true. No one in Texas knows much or even cares about the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. This is why the CFL expansion to mostly Southern cities in the 90’s was a fiasco. If I were negotiating a TV deal for the CFL, I wouldnt call the Nashville Network first. I wouldnt try to team up with NASCAR on a package. If I cant get a readily accessible nationwide main stream basic cable channel deal, I would try to set up a syndication package in northern and border cities at least, places with some affinity for and knowledge of, Canada.
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You dont need to sell your game to just the Canadians in the USA. I know all 300.000.000 + million of us arent going to like CFL. Hell, that mass of people doesnt all watch the Super Bowl either. But, there are places where there is interest, and its in the leagues best interests to reach out, and try to tap that, to grow interest in the game, sell merchandise, If I were CFL Commissioner getting some sort of network deal or a logical syndication package, if I had to settle for just that; would be one of my top priorities. The NFL isnt settling for IT’s American fan base, they are ALWAYS trying to grow it. The CFL should take a tip from that and do the same.
i live in alberta, but happen to also get dish network. there is definately sports being shown that gets way fewer viewers then cfl in the states would. most american i know dont refer to it as bush, but just admit they dont kno wmuch about it. cfl got a fair bit of publicity on monday night football half time this year... especially a nice piece about milt from winnipeg. also some nice mention of the calgary stampeders and the qb's from calagry down into the nfl. sometimes we view the nfl as "the evil empire that wants us gone" but i dont get that impression. i too agree boarder states is the way to go, at least to start. many people from usa and canada watch soccer, or european hockey... so watching a sport outside your own country isnt rare by any means. i think now as well, its almost become trendy to like the things that are not mainstream... that statement almost sounds ironic. i think the usa viewership is there, just not on the grand scale of the nfl. too many times its the league itself that keeps itself down.
Man, I hope Ro1313 doesn’t see your quote hothead, or you might be deported to the USA for making such sacreligious (but totally on point) comments!
The fans ARE down here (in the States), NOT in the numbers that the NFL enjoys, but there are, or would be, fans here in the States. Count up the import players alone and imagine at least 2-3 relatives per player that would be interested in watching their professional athlete son, nephew, grandson, etc. play. Think about the Canadian ex-pats here in the States (there are a TON of Canadians in Phoenix, AZ during the winter, but most of them are smart enough to get out of the heat and back to Canada once the CFL season rolls around).
The sad thing is that we can post until we’re blue in the face, but it’s up to the league and the American networks to try to work something out. I’m a bit concerned about the ESPN’s over-arching influence on TSN (is TSN a subsidiary?). There may be some exclusivity there on that deal that the CFL signed with TSN 2 years ago.
I am going to do the same thing.
Taking this post point by point, line by line.
- Bush ? Yes, some Americans and even some misguided radio sports talk hosts do feel that the CFL is "Bush". I dont feel that way, Chris Berman doesnt... but some do... all the more reason for a good US TV Package. To combat that false perception.
Berman likes the CFL and maybe a handful of other personalities do but the CFL will never work in the NFL.
- We dont understand it? Come on, its still football... Give me a break here. Sure some of the rules are different. Sure a short primer section on critical rules differences would be a very good idea on each broadcast. But exposure to the Canadian game might cause some Americans to appreciate the differences... even enjoy them, even if only as a change of pace.
They don't understand it. They grow up with 4 down football on a 100 x 50 yard field. This is the football Americans likes. What has happened to the CFL, XFL, USFL, WFL and the AFL? IF, IF, IF, the Americans supported these leagues, they would still be in business. Americans don't like the game.
- Most Americans dont know why there were 2 teams called the "Rough Riders / Roughriders." I do. The Regina Roughriders and Ottawa Rough Riders developed 1,500 miles apart (a guess) in a day with no mass media and very minimal if any at all "inter-league" play between the WIFU and the "Big Four" of the East. If I were a veteran Ottawa RR's fan I would want the new team to be called the Rough Riders again, VERY MUCH. I understand that totally. But... If I am the CFL Commissioner... I want the old joke, "all the teams are called the RR's" to be gone forever. I would encourage the owners to call the team the Renegades or Rebels or Riflemen etc... and adopt the old Riders logo "R" and the color schemes.
You do but Americans don't. This is what we are talking about, right? Americans. That's probably the 1 thing Americans knows, besides the 3 down and the rouge, is that 2 teams have the same name. Yes one is gone and yes one does have a space in their name.
- Different pay scales? Lets see... an 8 team gate driven league in a country 1/10 the size of the USA in population terms. The NFL, a 32 team TV and mass media driven league in a nation of 300,000,000 +. I think anyone can see the reasons for different pay scales with crystal clarity myself.
Americans put their sports heroes on pedastils. They like people who make big money. They love the A-Rods of the world. They don't understand athletes making 100,000/year. The AFL, (Arena) has barely survived over the last 20 years. The salaries were terrible, their ratings were super low on TNN which is why they were only on there for a season or two and they played in the spring summer. Americans like the NFL, anything other than that they won't accept. With Americans, you have to have a connection or they won't watch. We get the NFL up in Canada and we all cheer for a different team. We have no connections to them but that's where all of the best players in the world go.
- I personally watch the game of Football for the GAME. I dont care much about seeing ex-college or NFL stars playing. I wont speak for anyone else, but the action and strategy of the GAME itself is enough for me.
Football to Americans is 4 downs. No other league has worked going up against the NFL. They have the best players and a game everyone grew up with. I love football too but the Arena league was boring as was the XFL.
- This point is probably true. No one in Texas knows much or even cares about the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. This is why the CFL expansion to mostly Southern cities in the 90's was a fiasco. If I were negotiating a TV deal for the CFL, I wouldnt call the Nashville Network first. I wouldnt try to team up with NASCAR on a package. If I cant get a readily accessible nationwide main stream basic cable channel deal, I would try to set up a syndication package in northern and border cities at least, places with some affinity for and knowledge of, Canada.
It's all about connection. You have to connect with your fans. A place like Pittsburgh might be a place the Cats could market but they have the Super Bowl champs to cheer on. With Americans it's tough. It's not what they grew up with and just getting a game once a week is tough. You look at Sportscentre, every day there is something about the CFL. Maybe ESPN2 could get the games and have something mentioned on Sportscenter. It's tough because people will remember these guys from college and say that they couldn't hack it in the NFL.
- You dont need to sell your game to just the Canadians in the USA. I know all 300.000.000 + million of us arent going to like CFL. Hell, that mass of people doesnt all watch the Super Bowl either. But, there are places where there is interest, and its in the leagues best interests to reach out, and try to tap that, to grow interest in the game, sell merchandise, If I were CFL Commissioner getting some sort of network deal or a logical syndication package, if I had to settle for just that; would be one of my top priorities. The NFL isnt settling for IT's American fan base, they are ALWAYS trying to grow it. The CFL should take a tip from that and do the same.
If you want to get certain markets in the USA, then unfortunately you have to expand to the states. That's how you get people interested. You have to have a connection with the fans. It worked in Baltimore. Now if you go to Baltimore there may be 5,000 people who really care about the CFL.
The CFL is a great game and there is nothing wrong with keeping it Canadian. Americans don't care for our game, that's fine. Our league goes on fine without the USA. We can survive without them.
Despite the negativity of Mr. Dirt. I started this petition soley for the American FAN of the CFL. And believe it or not there are many. I've spoken to them...they exist...and they would like to have a choice of what they watch on tv regarding sports. I didn't really intend for my petiton to be a forum on what Americans would/wouldn't watch or what they understand/don't understand about the CFL. I simply asked the American fans on this site to please help and they have done so by signing.
And...if there is anything they could do to spread this petition and get more signatures, i'm all for it. I'm doing what i can. I've posted this in the sports sections of 'Craiglist' for many states that border Canada. If anyone else can think of other ways to get this thing out there. Please feel free to do so.
Thanks.
"Berman likes the CFL and maybe a handful of other personalities do but the CFL will never work in the NFL."
WTF that is supposed to mean is anybody's guess.
There are several million Canadians in the U.S., not 100,000.
Many Canadians in the U.S. are also Americans.
Many Americans are very knowledgeable about both history and football.
Many Americans, even in Texas, have deep connections to Canada.
Show the game here, widely, over a long period of time, and the popularity will grow.
I am a texan living currently in Texas. One of the guys I played high school ball with signed with the Roughriders, so I will be looking to watch the games and looking forward to watching some good football games!
Personally I wish the CFL would be available on Canadian TV.
As it is now one has to subscribe to cable TV to watch any games, I just don't get it at all.
Oh oh I'm wrong we're supposed to be able to watch Friday games online lol....supposed to.
The last time I turned my TV on was the day the Riders won the cup...now really would it make any sense whatsoever for me to subscribe to cable TV?....Not in my mind.
I grew up in the 70's listening to the games on the radio....I continue to listen to the games on the radio.
Hmmm how does one define bush?
So how does one go about starting a petition?
By the way I live in Saskatchewan.
sorry, i wasnt trying to be offensive. i just want anyone who likes the cfl to wach it. and anyone who might want to give it a chance also have the opertunity. i dont want to catagorize all americans and say they will or will not like it. some will, some wont. just like nfl, nhl, mlb, mls, ext. it feels like the cfl and some of its fan are so scared of failing internantionaly again, they sell the game short before its given a chance.