The Hockey Night in Canada brand is owned by the CBC[1] and was exclusively used by CBC Sports through the end of the 2013–14 NHL season. Beginning in the 2014–15 NHL season, the brand is being licensed to Rogers Communications for Sportsnet-produced Saturday NHL broadcasts airing on CBC Television as well as the Rogers-owned City and Sportsnet networks. Rogers had secured exclusive national multimedia rights to NHL games beginning in 2014–15, and sublicensed Saturday night and playoff games to CBC.[2] This sub-license agreement runs through the end of the Rogers deal with the NHL.
In response to the huge response to Don Cherry, they released this today:
I am really glad they did this. Ron McLean, who sat beside Don Cherry and never disagreed or said anything wrote a huge apology. Here is part of it:
Ron MacLean, who hosts Coach’s Corner with Don Cherry, apologized on Sunday for the comments Cherry made suggesting immigrants new to Canada were not wearing poppies, saying the words were “hurtful and discriminatory.” MacLean went on to say he owed an apology as well for not doing anything or responding at the time.
I read the entire apology and it was heartfelt. Today #firecherry is trending on Twitter. As of tonight there has been no apology from Don Cherry. He is still working at Sportsnet but we'll see what the next few days bring. I would like him to apologize to all the people he offended!
