The Toronto Maple Leafs and the rest of the MLSE previously owned by the Teachers Pension Plan (yes that is the education system at work in Canada, they own hockey teams) sold 75% stake for $1.32B to Rogers and Bell, both media providers.
Rogers had already owned the baseball team Toronto BlueJays (2000) and now they have part ownership in every professional sports team in Toronto (other then Toronto Argonauts football team and Toronto Rock lacrosse team)
The MLSE is
Larry Tanenbaum had already owned a 20% portion and scored another 5% of MLSE
Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment
I don't expect any of the teams to win championships over night, but what we as fans can take out of this is that content providers know wining teams create more eye balls on the screens.
Also think about those Canadians that fly south for the winter or abroad, now they know they will be able to watch their Leafs play on any product be it TV, phone, ipad etc.
As hyped up many people are about the deal, specially the media, it is not a done deal. There needs to be approval by the NBA and NHL...Bell owns 15% stake in the hockey team Montreal Canadians so a possible conflict of interest might be a concern.
..but do expect your cable bill to go up :/
Rogers had already owned the baseball team Toronto BlueJays (2000) and now they have part ownership in every professional sports team in Toronto (other then Toronto Argonauts football team and Toronto Rock lacrosse team)
The MLSE is
- Toronto Maple Leafs (hockey)
- Toronto Marlies (AHL hockey)
- Toronto Raptors (basketball)
- Toronto FC (soccer/football)
Larry Tanenbaum had already owned a 20% portion and scored another 5% of MLSE
Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment
~Nadir Mohamed, president and chief executive of RogersI look at it as being very simple — if you’re a fan, today, through the partnership, you will have access to every single game, wherever you are. We’d love them all to be filling up stadiums and the arenas. But if you can’t make it, you will have a terrific experience.
I don't expect any of the teams to win championships over night, but what we as fans can take out of this is that content providers know wining teams create more eye balls on the screens.
Also think about those Canadians that fly south for the winter or abroad, now they know they will be able to watch their Leafs play on any product be it TV, phone, ipad etc.
As hyped up many people are about the deal, specially the media, it is not a done deal. There needs to be approval by the NBA and NHL...Bell owns 15% stake in the hockey team Montreal Canadians so a possible conflict of interest might be a concern.
..but do expect your cable bill to go up :/