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Monday, June 9, 2008

Hockey Night in Corporate-land

So the Hockey Night in Canada theme song has been bought by CTV; is there anything else the CBC can possibly screw up? Granted, the woman who wrote the tune lives a good life in London, England, a very expensive town, and she must continue to live a lifestyle to which her famous jingle has made her accustomed.

Renowned choral composer, Derek Holman, told me a couple of weeks ago about the occasional dime he makes from the British Novello Publishing Company. He's been writing music faithfully now for well over 40 years, which is about how long ago the Hockey Night theme was penned.

I suppose I'm trying to make a point here, but I'm not sure what it is.

Also 40 years ago, CBC television was doing wonders with its not insubstantial budget, and followed its national mandate beautifully, putting a great emphasis on live dance, theatre, music, and some earnest Canadian drama. Now, it just lies through its teeth about its mandate (some years ago, a top CBC TV producer told me, "yes, what we ARE doing and what we OUGHT to be doing are two completely different things") and tries to cater to absolutely everyone while forgetting its connection to the past.

The well-crafted, gladiatorial hockey fanfare - perhaps no more costly than Don Cherry's cravat collection - is a case in point.

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