Bell Globemedia to offer $1.4B for TV hockey rights: report

The parent company for CTV and TSN is hoping a $1.4-billion bid will give them exclusive television rights to National Hockey League games in Canada, according to a story in the Globe and Mail.

Bell Globemediais reportedly considering paying the league $140 million a year for 10 years for the deal inan attempt tooutbid the CBC, which has been broadcasting Hockey Night in Canada since 1952.

The CTV-TSNproposal wouldcover Canadian English-language broadcasts, French-language rights, cable rights and ownership of internet streaming, sources told the newspaper.

The current television deal expires at the end of the 2007-08 NHL season.

Bell Globemedia, which also owns the Globe and Mail, would also gain the right to broadcast hockey games on Saturday —a coveted prize due to the success of Hockey Night in Canada, a staple of sports programming on the CBC.

CBC spokesman Jay Walsh said the network's focus is with the season at hand.

"We have two years left on our agreement and we're focused on the current season," said Walsh.

"We recognize how important hockey and Hockey Night in Canada is to the CBC, and we're really proud of our relationship with the NHL, a relationship which stretches back over 50 years."