The Score Television Network
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Score | |
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| Type | Cable television specialty channel |
|---|---|
| Country |  Canada |
| Availability | National |
| Owner | Score Media Inc. |
| Launch date | May 1997 |
| Past names | Sportscope Headline Sports |
| Website | www.thescore.ca |
The Score Television Network (often referred to only as The Score) is a Canadian cable television sports news specialty channel launched in 1997. It is available to over 5.4 million households and provides the scores of major sporting events 24/7 on a ticker, hence the name. The channel is wholly owned by Score Media Inc. It broadcasts from Toronto, with its studio located on the 3rd floor of the Holiday Inn hotel at 370 King Street West.
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[edit] Sportscope
Originally launched as "Sportscope", it was a cable-based sports score network airing in seven Canadian provinces. Sportscope's "programming" was a non-content-based, alphanumeric text format of sports scores and news, and did not require a CRTC licence.
[edit] Headline Sports
Sportscope was granted an English-language specialty channel license by the CRTC in 1996, provisionally titled "Sportscope Plus". The relaunched channel, titled "Headline Sports", debuted in May 1997. Headline Sports was initially a national 24 hour anchor-at-desk sports news service operating on a rotating 15 minute newswheel of sports news scores. All programming contained a continuous bottom-section ticker of current sports scores. It was soon available to close to 2 million cable TV subscribers nationally.
Initial plans to air a regionalized ticker and additional streams of alphanumeric data (perhaps via an alternate channel) were apparently abandoned.
[edit] The Score
In March 2000, Headline Sports' license was amended by the CRTC to allow live sports programming. As a result of this — as well as legal issues with CNN Headline News, which had its own "Headline Sports" segment — the station was re-branded as "The Score". Not only was it the usual source for sports scores and news, it was now able to compete on a limited basis with Canadian sports stalwart TSN, and the then-fledgling Rogers Sportsnet. The Score promotes itself as a source to check the score of any sport. The Score is also Canada's home to WWE SmackDown! as well as WWE Raw which joined The Score on August 7, 2006 [1].
On June 6, 2006, The Score revamped its ticker with a look that was more closely related to the new network graphics. Also in 2006, The Score picked up the rights to the NCAA Basketball Tournament and English Premier League soccer after out-bidding Sportsnet, though experts believe The Score overpaid for the EPL.[citation needed]
[edit] Hardcore Sports Radio
The Score launched a 24/7 sports radio station on Sirius Satellite Radio named Hardcore Sports Radio (Channel 186), that features sports news and scores as well as coverage of some of The Score's original programming. In January 2007, HSR relaunched with exclusive live shows and an edgier sound.
[edit] Personalities
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[edit] Programs
The following is a list of original or partly-original programs currently airing on The Score:
[edit] News shows
- NFL Blitz is the daily afternoon news show held on Sundays during the National Football League season, hosted by Adnan Virk. It is similar to Score Today, but with a particular emphasis on American football.
- Score Today is the daily afternoon news and highlights program. It keeps people in tune with the news of the day and also when needed, brings in live press conferences. There are interviews with Digger Turnbull (our fantasy expert,) weekly hockey talk with Pierre Lebrun of the Canadian Press, and other interviews throughout the week. Features such as the Lab and Branded as well as previews of the nights games are on the show on a regular basis.
- Score Tonight is the the flagship news and highlights program that airs weeknights on the network. Originally hosted by Greg Sansone and Martine Gaillard, it is now hosted by Sid Seixeiro and Tim Micallief, except during the American football season where Adnan Virk and/or Derek Snider fills in for Micallief. Score Tonight also features regular segments Cabbie on the Street, Branded, and The Lab, each of which have been spun off into separate shows. Score Tonight also hosts the Score Year in Review, which reviews the past year's events, during which the Score Ticker will also change accordingly. The Score Year in Review is also the only time of the year in which Score employees are credited for their contributions during the year, and is notable for airing bloopers and other outtakes in their coverage.
- Sportsworld is a news show hosted by James Sharman (and Derek Snider when Sharman is absent) focusing on international sports such as soccer, rugby, and cricket. Highlights from tennis and Formula 1 racing on other Score news shows are co-branded with Sportsworld.
- The Spin is the late-night news and highlights program hosted by Steve Kouleas. During the National Hockey League season The Spin offers analysis on the NHL season, and will stop discussion whenever a goal is scored.
[edit] Analysis
Much of the Score's analysis is detailed in The Score on (sport) segments that may be seen at various times of the week. The Spin, during the NHL season, also serves as the network's hockey analysis show. The following are other full shows dealing with analysis:
- Branded is an occasional full-length version of the similar segment on Score Tonight, airing irregularly and hosted by Derek Snider. The show is a documentary-style look at the business side of sports, with a particular emphasis on merchandising.
- Cabbie Unlimited is a full-length version of Cabbie on the Street, a regular segment on Score Tonight where Cabral Richards interviews either ordinary Canadians on their take on sports, or on established sports stars about their lifestyle.
- CFL Snap is The Score's news show dealing with a preview of the week's Canadian Football League action, hosted by Greg Sansone and Duane Forde.
- Instant Replay is a recap show held on Mondays during the National Football League season, recapping the day's NFL games (excluding the Sunday night and Monday games).
- The Lab is a weekly segment hosted by Simon Bennett. The show takes a look at the scientific aspects of sport, such as the development of sports equipment that aids performance, or the scientific aspects in the development of a sports video game. "Best of" Shows aired in the summer of 2006.
- The Score on the NFL is The Score's news show dealing with a preview of the week's National Football League action, hosted by Greg Sansone and Tim Micallief, and features Ron Meyer as a weekly special guest.
- To the Point is a news show hosted by Greg Sansone which takes an in-depth look at events making news in the world of sports.
- NBA Courtside is a weekly NBA show hosted by Adnan Virk. Segments include interviews with players and the popular Court Cuts. Airs Thursday nights as a lead-in for the first half of TNT's doubleheader.
[edit] Live programming
- RaceNight is coverage of horse racing from Mohawk Raceway and Woodbine Racetrack.
- Sportsworld Matchday is the name of The Score's coverage of any international sporting event for which The Score will air - most recently English Premier League football, which returns to The Score next season.
- University Rush is the name of The Score's coverage of Canadian Interuniversity Sports' university athletics, with a particular emphasis on Canadian football. In the past, University Rush has only showed one weekly game from the OUA, but as of 2006 began coverage of QSSF and AUS football as well, culminating in the playoffs and the Vanier Cup. Tim Micallief and Duane Forde are the commentators of football coverage.
- WWE Experience is a weekly recap show of the week's events from World Wrestling Entertainment's Raw and SmackDown! brands, hosted by Ryan Paton. This is one of the few WWE programs that are not produced by WWE itself, although the format is identical to that of the international version hosted by Steve Romero.
- WWE Raw is the flagship show of World Wrestling Entertainment's Raw brand. It is notable for airing on a 25 Minute tape delay, unlike its previous hosts at TSN, which aired the program live. Although the 15 Minute tape delay is allegedly due to previous difficulties involving censoring risque storylines at TSN,But Now Airs at 9:00 with a Fifteen minute countdown Show also Hosted by Ryan Paton and Raw is Now on at 9:15 However, special three-hour episodes of Raw such as the Raw Family Reunion continue to air live.
- WWE SmackDown! is the flagship show of World Wrestling Entertainment's SmackDown! brand. Originally airing Thursdays, it continued to air on Thursdays even after it was moved to Fridays in the United States, making it one of the few WWE shows that aired outside of the US before airing domestically. As such, it was never referred to as Friday Night SmackDown! in Canada, even after the show was moved to Fridays to match the US airtime.
- NBA Basketball coverage of the first game of the TNT doubleheader airing on Thursdays (Raptors NBA TV carries the second game) as well as 30 Toronto Raptors games and 40 regular season games.
- NCAA college football and college basketball games, many of which air on ESPN in the United States. Starting in 2007, The Score is the Canadian rights holder to the NCAA Basketball Tournament (aka March Madness).
Despite its efforts in bringing in live sports programming, The Score is still well behind TSN and Sportsnet in ratings - mainly due to their limited budget, limited viewership and lack of coverage of major sporting events and brands. While they did carry MLB baseball games their matchups are usually of little interest to Canadian viewers, as Toronto Blue Jays games are carried exclusively by TSN and Sportsnet. Montreal Expos games, however, were shown in 2004 before their move to Washington, D.C., including the Expos' final home game in Montreal. The Score has also in the past covered National Lacrosse League games, particularly those of the Toronto Rock and Ottawa Rebel, along with the XFL during its only season.
[edit] The Score HD
The Score HD is a high definition simulcast of The Score. It is currently available through Rogers Cable.
[edit] External links
- Official Site
- The Score HD
- Canadian Trade-mark Database - Reference: CNN opposed Sportscope's application (number 0832430) for "Headline Sports"
