The Hockey Theme

Last updated
"The Hockey Theme"
Song
LanguageEnglish
Published1968
Composer(s) Dolores Claman

"The Hockey Theme" is a Canadian piece of instrumental theme music composed in 1968 by Dolores Claman and orchestrated by Jerry Toth. [1] It was widely recognized as Canada's unofficial second national anthem. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

The theme was associated with CBC Television's Hockey Night in Canada , and Télévision de Radio-Canada's La Soirée du hockey beginning in 1968. In 2008, the CBC announced that the negotiations to renew their licence or purchase the theme had been unsuccessful and that they would run a national contest to find a new theme. The rights were then purchased by rival broadcaster CTVglobemedia (now known as Bell Media) in perpetuity. Since 2008, the theme can be heard on hockey broadcasts on the Bell Media-owned TSN and RDS sports networks.

History

Origins

In 1968, the CBC commissioned McLaren Advertising to create a new promotional tune for Hockey Night in Canada. [6] McLaren contracted Dolores Claman, a classically trained composer who had produced a number of successful jingles, promotional songs and television theme music, [7] to write the tune. Claman had never seen a hockey game in person and wrote the tune imagining Roman gladiators wearing skates. "It just arrived in my head", she recalled several decades later. Claman said she wrote it to reflect the narrative arc of a hockey game from the arrival on the rink, to the battle of the game, to the trip home, "plus a cold beer." [8] Since the song was originally classified as an advertising jingle Claman did not originally get residuals but only a one-time creative fee of $800. The piece was originally performed by a 20-member orchestra. [8]

Claman would later explain how the success of the song would help put Toronto on the international radar of the advertising industry. "Obviously we pleased people and we got a lot of work (out of it at the agency). I think we really did start the big centre that Toronto has turned out to be in the way of music, jingles and advertising." [9] But she says it took nearly a decade, when her son's friends from school came to her door to meet her, for the tune's popularity to fully sink in. [9]

In the 1970s, CBC began using the tune as the standard introduction for the show and Claman was entitled to music-use licence payments of between $2,000 and $10,000 each year. After she was advised by her agent in 1993 to license the tune, she earned approximately $500 per broadcast. [8]

Arrangements

The theme has been updated several times:

In the spring of 2007, CBC introduced a new set of musical cues for commercial-break stings and other transitions based on the Claman theme.

It is believed that CBC continues to own most or all of the above-noted recordings even though it no longer has rights to use the theme itself. CTV's Rick Brace said that a new arrangement will be prepared for TSN/RDS broadcasts. According to Brace the network, "will have to re-orchestrate it... It will still be the same music but it will be a different arrangement. It will be exactly the same tune." [36]

In November 2004, Dolores Claman and her publisher initiated legal action against CBC for breach of copyright, alleging, among other things, that theme was used on other CBC programs, and on HNIC rebroadcasts outside Canada, without consent. [37]

2008 licence renewal negotiations with CBC

CBC's most recent licence to use "The Hockey Theme" expired at the conclusion of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Claman's publisher issued a statement on June 4, 2008, claiming that the CBC had informed them it would not be renewing its rights to the composition. [38] CBC Sports head Scott Moore denied the reports, saying that CBC wanted to keep the tune and that negotiations on a new licence deal were still ongoing. [39] However, Moore also suggested that the window to reach an agreement was closing, as the broadcaster would need time to find a replacement if negotiations fell through. Under CBC's backup plan, a nationwide contest for Canadian composers would be held to submit a new theme. [40]

Published reports indicate that the impasse was caused by CBC's offer to buy the theme outright for significantly less than Claman's representatives believe it to be worth, as well as the complications relating to the ongoing lawsuit. [41]

The publisher presented CBC with a number of solutions including a licence virtually identical to the one in place for the better part of the previous ten years. This calculated to between $400 and $500 per three-hour game. One exception was that "as a gesture of goodwill" the publisher and Claman were offering that there be no increase in fee for the first two years. The CBC had until the end of June 6, 2008, to accept this offer but, instead, announced their contest to find a new theme.

While negotiations resumed late on June 5 and continued the following day, in the early evening of June 6, CBC announced it could not reach an acceptable agreement, and would proceed with a contest for a new theme in collaboration with music label Nettwerk, with the winner receiving $100,000 and half of all lifetime royalties (CBC would presumably have full ownership of the theme thereafter). [42]

We share with all Canadians the disappointment of this news, as we feel as strongly about the theme as they do. We are proud of the association with the former theme song and are saddened that we were unable to reach a deal, especially when we presented an offer which we believe was not substantively different from what the rights holders had proposed to us. We love the song and know this is a huge disappointment for us and for millions of Canadians. As of today, CBC Sports is moving forward with our plan to have the Canadian public compose the new Hockey Night in Canada theme song. [42]

Scott Moore, executive director of CBC Sports

This afternoon John Ciccone communicated with Scott Moore of CBC and requested a meeting on Monday to further discuss the issues surrounding "The Hockey Theme". At 4:59 PM (one minute before CBC's deadline) Mr. Moore advised that CBC intended to proceed with an announcement of a National contest unless he had the basis for an agreement. Ms. Claman is saddened and disappointed that CBC is not prepared to negotiate further. [38]

Statement from Copyright Music & Visuals, Dolores Claman's publisher

The CBC said it had offered nearly $1 million for perpetual rights to the piece, [43] but that Copyright Music was asking for $2.5 to $3 million for those rights. According to Claman, the CBC had offered her $850,000. [8] The proposal to CBC, suggesting it purchase the theme outright, was based on industry standard formulae to derive a purchase price. This is based on earnings and at the same time demonstrated to the CBC how they could make money and save money towards recovering their costs. One of the contest's submissions, "Hockey Scores", had the most views and comments, and was the top rated entry, but didn't make it to the semifinals. [44] [45] The new theme was revealed at 7:00 EDT, on Hockey Night in Canada, on October 11, 2008. The winner was Alberta music teacher Colin Oberst with his song, "Canadian Gold". [46] [47]

Acquisition by CTV

On June 9, 2008, CBC offered to resume negotiations under mediator Gord Kirke. "We feel this song is worth one last attempt to save. Canadians are passionate about its association with Hockey Night in Canada," said Moore. [48] However, by mid-afternoon, Claman's representatives announced they had sold the broadcast rights in perpetuity to CTV, to be used on TSN, RDS hockey broadcasts and possibly on CTV's coverage of Olympic hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics. [49] [50] [51] Shortly after the announcement, the CBC filed applications to protect what appear to be three versions of "The Hockey Theme" as sound trademarks. [52] These applications were abandoned on December 30, 2009.

CTV opted not to use the theme during the Olympics and instead used I Believe , the theme song of the network's coverage. "The Hockey Theme" was played as part of the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony; as the ceremonies were aired internationally, the composition received rare worldwide exposure. [53]

The song has a long and storied history in Canadian sports and has become ingrained in the hearts and minds of hockey fans across the country. It is an iconic tune, embraced by Canadians everywhere, and we felt it was imperative to save it. We know we will be in hockey forever, so there's no doubt this acquisition will create value for us. It's an honour and a privilege to own such a cherished piece of Canadiana. [53]

Rick Brace, president (revenue, business planning and sports), CTV Inc.

A new arrangement was used by CTVglobemedia at the 2008 MuchMusic Video Awards, with a rock arrangement which was played as Jason Spezza of the Ottawa Senators appeared on stage to help present the award for MuchVibe Best Rap Video Award. [54]

The new version of "The Hockey Theme" was recorded by members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and leaked by Canadian Press in a video first posted September 24, 2008. [53] [55]

TSN and RDS lost the rights to the NHL's national broadcast package to Rogers Media after the 2013–14 season. TSN issued a statement saying that the network "will continue to use 'The Hockey Theme' in our hockey broadcasts moving forward." [56] [57] TSN's regional broadcasts of the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, and RDS' French-language telecasts of the Montreal Canadiens still continue to use "The Hockey Theme." After TSN assumed the rights for the English-language telecast of the Canadiens for the 2017–18 season, TSN also used "The Hockey Theme" for these broadcasts as well. [58]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Hockey Night in Canada</i> CBC broadcasts of the National Hockey League in Canada

CBC Television has aired National Hockey League (NHL) broadcasts under the Hockey Night in Canada brand that is primarily associated with its Saturday night NHL broadcasts throughout its history in various platforms. The brand is owned by the CBC and was exclusively used by CBC Sports through the end of the 2013–14 NHL season.

The Sports Network (TSN) is a Canadian English language discretionary sports specialty channel owned by CTV Specialty Television, owned jointly by Bell Media (70%) and ESPN Inc. (30%), itself a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. TSN was established by the Labatt Brewing Company in 1984 as part of the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels. TSN is the largest specialty channel in Canada in terms of gross revenue, with a total of CA$400.4 million in revenue in 2013.

Réseau des sports (RDS) is a Canadian French language discretionary specialty channel oriented towards sports and sport-related shows. It is available in 2.5 million homes, and is owned by CTV Specialty Television Inc.. Its full name translates as "The Sports Network", the name of its Anglophone counterpart, TSN.

<i>La Soirée du hockey</i> Canadian TV series or program

Radio-Canada has aired National Hockey League (NHL) broadcasts, usually Montreal Canadiens', under the La Soirée du hockey brand; which was the French language equivalent of the English Canadian CBC's NHL broadcasts Hockey Night in Canada. Similar to its English language counterpart, the show used "The Hockey Theme" as its theme song. The show ran from 1952 to 2004.

Dolores Olga Claman was a Canadian composer and pianist. She is best known for having composed the 1968 theme song for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC) Hockey Night In Canada show, known simply as "The Hockey Theme", which many consider Canada's unofficial second national anthem. She is also known for "A Place to Stand", the tune that accompanied the film of the same name at Montreal's Expo 67 Ontario pavilion. This is regarded as Ontario's de facto provincial anthem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Hodge</span> Canadian sports announcer (born 1945)

Dave Hodge is a Canadian sports announcer. Hodge worked for TSN, the CBC and CFRB 1010 radio in Toronto.

<i>TSN Hockey</i> Regional NHL broadcasts by Canadian sports channel TSN

TSN Hockey is the blanket title used by TSN's broadcasts of the National Hockey League.

NHL on CTV is the name of a former television program that broadcast National Hockey League games on the CTV Television Network.

Sports broadcasting contracts in Canada include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Cuthbert</span> Canadian play-by-play sportscaster

Chris Cuthbert is a Canadian sportscaster. He currently serves as the lead play-by-play commentator with CBC Sports/Sportsnet for Hockey Night in Canada, and calls most national and regional games for the Toronto Maple Leafs on the network. Formerly, he worked for TSN, NBC, and CBC Sports in a multitude of roles. He and Glen Suitor were the lead broadcast team for the CFL on TSN from 2008 to 2019 before Cuthbert gave that lead play-by-play role to Rod Smith.

Réseau des sports (RDS) is a French Canadian cable specialty channel that broadcasts National Hockey League games.

NHL on Global was the de facto name of a television program that broadcast National Hockey League games on the Global Television Network. The program aired during the 1987 and 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs under the titles Stanley Cup '87 and Stanley Cup '88 respectively.

NHL on Hughes is the de facto name of a TV program that broadcast National Hockey League games on the defunct independent Hughes Television Network during the 1979–80 season. The program aired under the title The NHL '80.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Hockey League on television</span> Overview of North American professional ice hockey on television

The National Hockey League (NHL) is shown on national television in the United States and Canada. With 25 teams in the U.S. and 7 in Canada, the NHL is the only one of the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada that maintains separate national broadcasters in each country, each producing separate telecasts of a slate of regular season games, playoff games, and the Stanley Cup Finals.

During the 1979–80 and 1980–81 seasons, four more Canadian teams, the Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, Winnipeg Jets, and Calgary Flames, joined the NHL. The Oilers and Flames were featured frequently as the two teams were contenders the 1980s; in contrast, as the Nordiques were owned by Carling-O'Keefe, a rival to the show's sponsor Molson and whose English-speaking fanbase was very small, the Nords were rarely broadcast, and never from Quebec City during the regular-season.

Since 2000, the CBC has aired an annual special Hockey Day in Canada broadcast to celebrate the game in Canada. The broadcast includes hockey-related features all afternoon, leading up to a tripleheader of NHL action featuring the seven Canadian teams. One exception was the 2008 edition that featured four games including two American teams along with the six Canadian teams; this was due to the NHL's schedule format at the time, as there was no inter-conference games between Canadian teams. Lead commentators, Don Cherry and Ron MacLean broadcast from a remote area. The broadcast includes live broadcast segments from smaller communities right across the country and features panel discussions on issues facing "Canada's game" at both the minor and pro levels. The day is usually in mid-February, but was broadcast in early January in 2002 and 2006 due to the 2002 Winter Olympics and 2006 Winter Olympics, respectively; the 2007 event was also held in January, though no sporting events key to Canada were scheduled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NHL on television in the 2010s</span>

On April 19, 2011, after ESPN, Turner Sports, and Fox Sports placed bids, NBC Sports announced it had reached a ten-year extension to its U.S. television contract with the NHL worth nearly $2 billion over the tenure of the contract. The contract would cover games on both NBC and sister cable channel Versus, which became part of the NBC Sports family as the result of Versus parent Comcast's controlling purchase of NBC Universal earlier in 2011.

Donald MacPherson was a Canadian broadcast executive who served as head of First Choice from 1981 to 1984 and CBC Sports from 1984 to 1988.

References

  1. Betty Nygaard King. "Jerry Toth". The Canadian Encyclopedia . Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  2. Rolfson, Erik (September 25, 2008). "Hear the new version of Canada's unofficial national anthem: The Hockey Theme". The Province. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  3. Deschamps, Tara (July 17, 2021). "Hockey Night in Canada theme song composer Dolores Claman dead at 94". CBC. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  4. French, Cameron (June 5, 2008). "Canada's "Hockey Night" theme song on thin ice". Reuters. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  5. ""THE HOCKEY THEME" TO BE HONOURED AT SOCAN'S NIGHT IN CANADA". Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada . 14 June 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  6. "Swan song for Hockey Night in Canada theme?", Toronto Sun, June 5, 2008
  7. Claman, Dolores, Encyclopedia of Music in Canada
  8. 1 2 3 4 Cheney, Peter (2008-06-12). "Hockey theme 'wasn't hard to do,' composer says". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  9. 1 2 Friend, David (June 22, 2016). "Meet the woman who composed the 'Hockey Night in Canada' theme song" . Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  10. HNIC Stanley Cup intro 1986 on YouTube
  11. 1989 Smythe Division Finals, Game 1 - CGY vs LA (CBC INTRODUCTION) on YouTube
  12. HNIC Playoff Open CBC French 1989 YouTube video posted by retrodan5
  13. 1992 CBC Sports ID & Molson HNIC Stanley Cup intro on YouTube
  14. Molson HNIC Jets vs Canucks Stanley Cup intro 1992 on YouTube
  15. 1992 CBC Sports ID & Molson HNIC Stanley Cup intro #2 on YouTube
  16. 1992 Molson HNIC Stanley Cup Finals intro HQ version on YouTube
  17. 1992-93 Molson HNIC on CBC intro on YouTube
  18. 1992-93 Molson HNIC on CBC intro #2 on YouTube
  19. 1993: HNIC Opening on YouTube
  20. 1993 Molson HNIC Stanley Cup intro Red Wings vs Leafs version on YouTube
  21. HNIC Stanley Cup intro & sponsors Leafs Canucks 1994 on YouTube
  22. 1994 Molson HNIC Stanley Cup Finals intro & sponsors on YouTube
  23. La Soirée du hockey, YouTube
  24. 1997-98 Molson HNIC intro on YouTube
  25. 1997-98 - Hockey Night in Canada opening on YouTube
  26. 1 2 Hockey Night in Canada 2004 on YouTube
  27. HNIC's Opening, YouTube video posted by sharitabata (contrary to the poster's assertion, was not used in the main titles in 2005)
  28. HNIC intro & sponsors 1998 on YouTube
  29. HNIC intro & sponsors 1999 on YouTube
  30. CBC Hockey Night in Canada 1999 2000 Intro on YouTube
  31. 2000-01: Hockey Night in Canada Opening on YouTube
  32. Dolores Claman statement of claim against CBC Archived 2008-09-05 at the Wayback Machine , paragraph 35
  33. Hockey Night in Canada opening 2002 - The Hockey Theme on YouTube
  34. 2002 CBC Hockey Night in Canada Open on YouTube
  35. 2003 HNIC Stanley Cup intro Saturday Version on YouTube
  36. "CTV acquires rights to hockey theme song", CTV News, June 9, 2008
  37. "The Hockey Night In Canada Theme Song". Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2007-01-10.
  38. 1 2 "Hockey Night In Canada Theme to End". Copyright Music & Visuals. June 5, 2008. Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  39. Sports, CBC (June 5, 2008). "Deal still possible for Hockey Night theme song". CBC.ca . Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  40. "Hockey Night song in limbo". Canadian Press (via sportsnet.ca). June 5, 2008. Archived from the original on June 8, 2008. Retrieved June 5, 2008.
  41. Fenlon, Brodie (2008-06-05). "CBC fumbles negotiations on Hockey Night theme". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  42. 1 2 CBC press release, June 6, 2008
  43. The National , June 6, 2008
  44. Topping, David (2008-07-16). "Something Awful, Something New". The Torontoist. Retrieved 2017-02-20.
  45. Sports, CBC (October 3, 2008). "Quebec duo last of 5 anthem challenge semifinalists". CBC Sports . Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  46. Clipperton, Joshua (2008-10-11). "'Canadian Gold' voted as new Hockey Night in Canada anthem". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  47. "'Hockey Night in Canada' gets new theme song". ESPN.com. 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  48. Sports, CBC (June 9, 2008). "Hockey Night song dispute going back to mediator". CBC Sports . Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  49. Reuters (June 9, 2008). "CTV snaps up Canada's "Hockey Night" theme". Reuters . Retrieved August 12, 2024.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  50. Staff, S. V. G. (2008-06-09). "CTV Saves The Hockey Theme". Sports Video Group. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  51. Austen, Ian (2008-06-16). "Purchase of Theme Song, a Staple of Canadian Culture, Upsets Hockey Fans". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  52. Canadian trademark applications nos. 1399541, 1399542, and 1400208. While the names or tunes of the marks are not clear, the applications claim use with respect to "[e]ntertainment services, namely production and broadcast of hockey games through the media of television" (and/or radio or Internet) with dates of first use starting in October 1968.
  53. 1 2 3 Staff, News (2008-06-09). "Rival Steals Hockey Night In Canada Theme Out From CBC". CityNews Toronto. Retrieved 2024-08-12.{{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  54. Jason Spezza Announces Best Rap Video [ permanent dead link ], June 15, 2008
  55. 2008 News: TSN 'Saves' The Hockey Theme on YouTube
  56. "TSN not prepared to surrender Hockey Night theme". CBC Sports. November 26, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  57. Press, The Canadian (2013-11-26). "TSN says it has no plans to give up rights to famed 'HNIC' theme". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  58. "TSN becomes official English-language regional broadcaster for Habs". The Sports Network. 13 June 2017. Archived from the original on June 13, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2017.