Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Montreal
Posts: 2984

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Ron MacLean, after 17 years with the CBC, has decided to leave his post as the host of Hockey Night In Canada.


Nancy Lee, the head of CBC Sports, announced Monday that contract negotiations with MacLean had reached an impasse.



"We made an offer, he didn't accept it," said Lee when asked why MacLean had decided to leave the CBC.
"It didn't meet his expectations."

In a call from Calgary, MacLean told CBC Sports Online that he was disappointed that a deal couldn't be reached.

"I'm sorry it broke down — didn't expect it, obviously. At the end of the day I don't think anyone at HNIC, including me, wanted to see it happen.

"I think elsewhere in the company a decision was made to take a stand, and I respect that."

It was reported that MacLean wanted to be paid $600,000 annually — up $200, 000 from his previous salary. Don Meehan, MacLean's agent, said that figure was inaccurate.

MacLean and Meehan also said a deal was reached with Lee deal last week, but when the new contract was taken to CBC's management for ratification, it was rejected.

Lee called those media reports on the contract discussions "erroneous."

Lee also felt Meehan's presence had no impact of the tenor of discussions. MacLean hired Meehan, an NHL player agent, to negotiate the new contract earlier this year.

"No hard feelings," said MacLean, adding, "don't fear the unknown when you're doing the right thing."

While what was on the table has not been released, CBC's head of media relations Ruth-Ellen Soles said the broadcaster's offer was both "fair and respectful."

"Our offer recognized and rewarded (MacLean's) contribution to CBC Sports," Soles said in a release.

"CBC Television must use its funds responsibly to produce high-quality sports programming, such as Hockey Night in Canada, while remaining a well-managed company."

While there is no word yet on a replacement, Lee said one would be in place by HNIC's season debut on Oct. 12.

Earlier this month, CBC finalized a deal with its other top hockey personality, Don Cherry.

Financial details of Cherry's contract weren't made public but it is believed to be a multi-year deal with a raise in salary. Cherry was reported to have earned $700,000 on his previous contract.

For his part, Cherry expressed hope that a deal could still be reached.

"All I'm going to say is I can't believe it and I really believe that they both will get back together," Cherry told The Canadian Press. "I didn't think it would get this far."

"I'm thinking positive that Ron will be there."

Lee herself, left the door open for MacLean's return.

"I'll never say never," she said when asked whether MacLean could comeback next season.

MacLean's broadcasting career began in 1978 when he took a part-time position at CKRD Radio in Red Deer, Alberta.

In 1984, a producer saw MacLean doing an ad-lib weather forecast and hired him to host the Calgary Flames telecasts on CFAC, an independent TV station in Calgary. MacLean then became the sports anchor on the local evening news.

After joining the network in 1986, MacLean hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs' telecasts on Hockey Night in Canada before becoming the full-time national host in 1987.

His role expanded over the years to include hosting CBC's Olympic coverage.

MacLean also anchored CBC's coverage of the Commonwealth Games, Pan Am Games and Calgary Stampede.


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That's crazy fucking shit... Since i was old enough to remeber hockey this guy has hosted Hockey Night in Canada. It's going to make veiwing this season really really strange.

Who is Don Cherry gonna make fun of now?

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location: 0.50
Posts: 9355

boo, i liked him. i don't think i'll accept a replacement.
well, no. maybe hrudey.

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Registered: Oct 2001
Location: toronto
Posts: 1612

this is a fucking travesty of justice is what it is.

get domi in the booth

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Registered: May 2001
Location:
Posts: 2701

Fuck that? Whos gonna do Coaches Corner with Don Cherry?

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: zanzibar
Posts: 10413

I wonder if ABC/ESPN will pick him up. We take all your hockey stuff that you can't afford anyway.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Montreal
Posts: 2984

TORONTO - Ron MacLean will be back in his familiar places, both as Don Cherry's sidekick and as host of Hockey Night in Canada, after he and the CBC reached agreement on a new contract on Thursday. We're delighted to have reached a compromise with Ron, one based on mutual respect and fairness," said Nancy Lee the head of CBC Sports.

For his part, MacLean said he had to thank the many fans who spoke out on his behalf. "I felt a great overhwelming sense of appreciation from the viewer," said MacLean at a news conference held in the Toronto Broadcasting Centre.

On Monday, the CBC announced it was looking for a new host after talks between the two sides failed to reach a deal. But pressure from hockey fans, politicians and major corporate sponsors drew the two sides back together for another round of negotiations, which ended in a deal being reached.

"I won't watch Coach's Corner this year if I have to watch anyone other than Ron MacLean," said one angry fan.

Radio phone-in shows across the country were also flooded with irate callers. They said the CBC should do whatever it takes to make sure MacLean is the host of Hockey Night in Canada when it starts its new season on Oct. 12.

The CBC Web site was inundated as well. CBC News Online had received more than 11,000 e-mails by Thursday afternoon.

Brewing giant Labatt said earlier in the week it was "surprised ... and disappointed" at MacLean's departure. "We'd like the situation resolved. We would love to see Ron MacLean back on the show," said Labatt spokesman Nigel Williams.

Lee said there was "no pressure from the sponsors" to reach a deal.

Details of MacLean's new contract were not revealed.


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The Fans get the last word! I wasn't worried for a second.

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