As reported by Dan Ralph (CP) yesterday, the new CFL commissioner is Stewart Johnston
https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/02/stewart-johnston-appointed-15th-commissioner-of-the-canadian-football-league/
Ok. What would we like to see him address in 2025? Mine is a short list of questions / topics. I think my position has been stated in the past. So this is more about what others are thinking.
1. The new SMS and what to do with the extra money.
2. Global initiative.
3. Quicker resolution on any suspensions.
4. Rule improvement / clarification on the ability for game disqualification decisions.
So much for the debate about a former player getting the job, this guy is a former Bell Media executive. Could be good, could be bad, I guess.
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTmln5O_DS6s3L8BfBHpz5xPlqWfyIsVFSVmQ&s)
Sounds like he has a good background to negotiate deals, which will be his primary duty other than ribbon cutting and handing out the GC.
Would be nice to see a former player installed as his VP still...
Interesting....good to have someone with his background negotiating the next TV deal for the league- may as well have someone from the inside on your side at the negotiating table, he knows the economics behind it, wonder if the league gets a better deal than they have now...we'll see how this goes...
Quote from: dd on April 02, 2025, 09:19:05 PMInteresting....good to have someone with his background negotiating the next TV deal for the league- may as well have someone from the inside on your side at the negotiating table, he knows the economics behind it, wonder if the league gets a better deal than they have now...we'll see how this goes...
Not sure how hard he'll bargain against his former employer, likely scenario he ends up working for Bell again once his tenure with the CFL is over. Being fairly young I'm guessing he'll stay 4 years or less then move on to a better opportunity.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on April 02, 2025, 09:28:29 PMNot sure how hard he'll bargain against his former employer, likely scenario he ends up working for Bell again once his tenure with the CFL is over. Being fairly young I'm guessing he'll stay 4 years or less then move on to a better opportunity.
The other way to look at it.
He has nothing to gain by screwing over his new employer to benefit his old one. And if anyone would know just how much they can pay... well, I can't think anyone who would know better.
If he's looking for a few years and then move on, you may be right. But none of his statements say that to me, rather they signal he wants this to be his last job...
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on April 02, 2025, 09:28:29 PMNot sure how hard he'll bargain against his former employer, likely scenario he ends up working for Bell again once his tenure with the CFL is over. Being fairly young I'm guessing he'll stay 4 years or less then move on to a better opportunity.
He has been at TSN since 1997 and been it's President since 2010. That shows he's not one to be jumping from better opportunity to opportunity.
Money might not be the only thing that drives him as he was probably making more at TSN than he will as CFL commissioner.
Guess he would have been fired by TSN just like so many of his colleagues so he jumped boat before it sank...
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on April 02, 2025, 03:48:39 PMSo much for the debate about a former player getting the job, this guy is a former Bell Media executive, looks like the epitome of a pencil necked geek. Could be good, could be bad, I guess.
Ugh... Being a big Bell guy is probably not a good thing. He could be "being installed" to basically undercut the CFL to the benefit of Bell.
Now you have Bell negotiating with Bell when the TV contract is renewed. Ya, there's so many things wrong with that and the league might get royally screwed. What does Bell(/TSN/Disney) care about the CFL long term?
Hopefully I'm wrong. At least it'll only take the next TV contract to find out.
As for pencil-necked, nothing wrong with that! :D Maybe he's like the Moneyball nerd (i.e. a good thing). However, that may be what you want in a GM, not a league commish.
Quote from: theaardvark on April 02, 2025, 04:02:36 PMSounds like he has a good background to negotiate deals, which will be his primary duty other than ribbon cutting and handing out the GC.
Would be nice to see a former player installed as his VP still...
Shocked they passed on Adam Bighill.
Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on April 03, 2025, 02:26:41 PMShocked they passed on Adam Bighill.
Was he interested in the position and / or was he even mentioned to be in the running? He's a smart guy and could have been an interesting choice.
I never really heard about a specific list of candidates including Johnson for that matter. I think there were a few posters suggested some choices they thought might be on their lists?
Quote from: Blue In BC on April 03, 2025, 04:23:32 PMWas he interested in the position and / or was he even mentioned to be in the running? He's a smart guy and could have been an interesting choice.
I never really heard about a specific list of candidates including Johnson for that matter. I think there were a few posters suggested some choices they thought might be on their lists?
I don't think Bighill has given up on his football career yet, hasn't announced his retirement and probably still rehabbing. Don't be shocked if O'Shea adds him back to the team in some capacity at some point, I'm half expecting it.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on April 03, 2025, 09:47:53 AMUgh... Being a big Bell guy is probably not a good thing. He could be "being installed" to basically undercut the CFL to the benefit of Bell.
Now you have Bell negotiating with Bell when the TV contract is renewed. Ya, there's so many things wrong with that and the league might get royally screwed. What does Bell(/TSN/Disney) care about the CFL long term?
Hopefully I'm wrong. At least it'll only take the next TV contract to find out.
As for pencil-necked, nothing wrong with that! :D Maybe he's like the Moneyball nerd (i.e. a good thing). However, that may be what you want in a GM, not a league commish.
Yah, not totally comfortable having a Bell plant inside head office, it's like an industry lobbyist joining the ruling government at a wage half of what they earned previously. You know who they're really working for. Bell could radically demand changes to league rules (4 downs, less Canucks) and wave their contract at the CFL, with no other network to play against the CFL may have little option but to acquiesce to the direction they wish to push the league.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on April 03, 2025, 04:40:32 PMI don't think Bighill has given up on his football career yet, hasn't announced his retirement and probably still rehabbing. Don't be shocked if O'Shea adds him back to the team in some capacity at some point, I'm half expecting it.
The salary was reported at $750K earlier and that it should be raised to over $1M. There is no comparison to what his football salary might be if he found a team interested.
He might find a new home later in the season but I would be shocked if it was in Winnipeg. We have Jones, Jones, Wilson and Ayers plus some rookies in TC.
Barring injury we have no room. Several of those we have are younger, have less injury history and are less expensive.
As much as Bighill is a fan favourite, the business decision is to move forward. I'd be happy to see him added to the coaching ranks but that's another role, cost and number allowed to have in that SMS category. I don't think we have space or money for that at the moment.
1. Sir Blue and Gold was joking about Adam Bighill. Hilarious. Yikes.
2. The takes on Johnston being some conspiratorial industry plant are unhinged.
Quote from: blue_or_die on April 03, 2025, 06:36:59 PM1. Sir Blue and Gold was joking about Adam Bighill. Hilarious. Yikes.
2. The takes on Johnston being some conspiratorial industry plant are unhinged.
Aha!
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS0U1wj8AcHHhZvlgi5lg7Q8tQRTAOBTlDdpg&s)
Quote from: theaardvark on April 02, 2025, 09:43:26 PMThe other way to look at it.
He has nothing to gain by screwing over his new employer to benefit his old one. And if anyone would know just how much they can pay... well, I can't think anyone who would know better.
If he's looking for a few years and then move on, you may be right. But none of his statements say that to me, rather they signal he wants this to be his last job...
Ya, I m thinking he knows where the 'line in the sand is' for a TV contract , and will negotiate a fairer deal for the league and not burn any TSN bridges to resume his media career post CFL stint.
There won't be much to negotiate when it comes to a new CFL contract. Rogers has the NHL locked up for another 12 years and they have the Blue Jays on tv everyday from March until the end of September...plus other events plus half the Raptor games. No room for the CFL there so they won't bid...at least make a serious bid that's worth looking at.
Bell (parent company of TSN) is broke, CBC doesn't do pro sports and it's unlikely there is serious interest in a "game of the week" from streaming services like Amazon or Netflix. With lack of competition, be grateful for small increases (like maybe a few hundred thousand per team per season) in the next CFL tv contract, just like the current one.
Wow, I m glad you're not negotiating the next contract for the CFL!!
First off, nobody outside of 'Toronna' gives a roaring rip about the Bluejays or the Raptors, and when it comes right down to it for me, if its regular season NHL or CFL, I'd take CFL anyday of the week. There's too many NHL games broadcast anyways. Who cares about the Kraken, Blackhawks or Flyers, only interested in Jets games, rest are a boring waste of time listening to pro Leaf panelists rank on about the hopeless Loafs!!
Quote from: dd on April 03, 2025, 11:04:48 PMWow, I m glad you're not negotiating the next contract for the CFL!!
First off, nobody outside of 'Toronna' gives a roaring rip about the Bluejays or the Raptors, and when it comes right down to it for me, if its regular season NHL or CFL, I'd take CFL anyday of the week. There's too many NHL games broadcast anyways. Who cares about the Kraken, Blackhawks or Flyers, only interested in Jets games, rest are a boring waste of time listening to pro Leaf panelists rank on about the hopeless Loafs!!
Wow. So much wrong here. There are tens of thousands of viewers on the Prairies alone for the blue jays. I'm not even including the west coast which would add tens of thousands more tv viewers. When the Blue Jays play in Minneapolis there are thousands of fans from Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario attending games. When the Jays play in Seattle, there tens of thousands of fans from BC attending the games.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thpPeu4-FCA
What does too many NHL games and Leaf-bias have to do with anything?! Who are the mythical contenders for the CFL's tv rights that TSN will be competing with? What leverage will the commish have?
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on April 03, 2025, 04:40:32 PMI don't think Bighill has given up on his football career yet, hasn't announced his retirement and probably still rehabbing. Don't be shocked if O'Shea adds him back to the team in some capacity at some point, I'm half expecting it.
If Nick Taylor can be added just for the post-season in '24, then certainly Biggie could be added late-season in '25. It all depends on the injury situation, depth, and how the noobs are working out.
Quote from: blue_or_die on April 03, 2025, 06:36:59 PM2. The takes on Johnston being some conspiratorial industry plant are unhinged.
TLB knows the score. All too often nowadays these incestuous employee movements benefit the monied interests, and not the people they are supposed to. No one can know (now), but to say it's impossible is ludicrous.
Quote from: blueandgoldguy on April 03, 2025, 10:51:47 PMBell (parent company of TSN) is broke, CBC doesn't do pro sports and it's unlikely there is serious interest in a "game of the week" from streaming services like Amazon or Netflix. With lack of competition, be grateful for small increases in the next CFL tv contract, just like the current one.
But you spelled out the risk... Bell cries "broke" and so offers (possibly) "their man" running the CFL a many-millions-
less contract next time. Their guy says "whoops, no other bids so Bell gets it for the lowball price"! Whoops, CFL is suddenly in financial dire straits.
Probably unlikely, but not impossible. And if the CFL blows up (or even if it doesn't) Bell can take the dude back with a bonus for job well done!
No sense prognosticating too much, but the next TV contract negotiation will be interesting! And hearing his first remarks about our game and history will be telling.
Who would have guessed I'd be pining for Ambrosie this soon? At least with Ambrosie I knew he understood our 3d league and loved it for what it already was. He's basically like most older dudes you might sit next to at a game.
Quote from: blueandgoldguy on April 03, 2025, 10:51:47 PMBell (parent company of TSN) is broke...
This is not true.
A lot of tinfoil in this thread.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on April 04, 2025, 07:48:21 AMTLB knows the score. All too often nowadays these incestuous employee movements benefit the monied interests, and not the people they are supposed to. No one can know (now), but to say it's impossible is ludicrous.
I didn't say it was impossible, but I do think it's a massive stretch to take something that could theoretically occur and discuss it like it's an equally likely outcome of a guy moving from one job to another job.
Johnston was raised in Ottawa, so it's completely possible that he has strong ties to the feds in the capital. It's entirely possible that Johnston is acting like an agent of the government to infiltrate the CFL and use the league as a vehicle to spread its agenda to the key demographic of middle aged males.
See, you can just say stuff that could potentially occur with a shred of reason and talk about it like it's on par with something far more realistic. Occam's razor, etc.
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on April 04, 2025, 01:32:54 PMThis is not true.
A lot of tinfoil in this thread.
Bell is really struggling and will cut its dividend, it isn't broke but it's really out of favour as a investment and their growth is limited.
Entire telecom sector in Canada is weak at the moment.
Quote from: Blueforlife on April 07, 2025, 12:13:04 AMBell is really struggling and will cut its dividend, it isn't broke but it's really out of favour as a investment and their growth is limited.
Entire telecom sector in Canada is weak at the moment.
Struggling to generate profit for shareholders is a far cry from being broke, though. That was essentially my point.
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on April 07, 2025, 01:17:38 PMStruggling to generate profit for shareholders is a far cry from being broke, though. That was essentially my point.
It was an exaggeration, but they are carrying a lot of debt. On top of that, there won't be any real competition for the tv rights.
I remember when Ambrosie started as commissioner, he suggested something along the lines of doubling the previous contract which paid around $40 - $45 million in its final year. The CFL was only able to negotiate a small increase on the previous deal and there was a little bit extra on top of that with improved ratings. Nothing earth-shattering though...certainly not the $90 + million per year he has hoping to receive.
Expect more of the same this time around.
Quote from: blueandgoldguy on April 08, 2025, 12:48:52 AMIt was an exaggeration, but they are carrying a lot of debt. On top of that, there won't be any real competition for the tv rights.
I remember when Ambrosie started as commissioner, he suggested something along the lines of doubling the previous contract which paid around $40 - $45 million in its final year. The CFL was only able to negotiate a small increase on the previous deal and there was a little bit extra on top of that with improved ratings. Nothing earth-shattering though...certainly not the $90 + million per year he has hoping to receive.
Expect more of the same this time around.
Yup really leveraged and selling assets
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on April 07, 2025, 01:17:38 PMStruggling to generate profit for shareholders is a far cry from being broke, though. That was essentially my point.
Maybe they should stick to their core business of gouging the public for ***** service!
So where is this guy? 2 weeks in and he hasn't held a press conference yet introducing himself.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on April 09, 2025, 12:04:50 AMSo where is this guy? 2 weeks in and he hasn't held a press conference yet introducing himself.
Ya, that's odd.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on April 09, 2025, 12:04:50 AMSo where is this guy? 2 weeks in and he hasn't held a press conference yet introducing himself.
This is how it goes when things get leaked before it happens "officially".
Quote from: TecnoGenius on April 09, 2025, 08:19:50 AMUh, I got news for you... and the gov doesn't have to infiltrate in order to get what they want out of the media. How much did a certain party hand out to Canadian media again? If you haven't noticed the turn CFL took about 8 years ago, I'm not sure what to say. Continue as you were.
Man, I completely made up that part of my post trying to make a point and apparently it already falls under your conspiracy purview.
I'll go stick my head back in the sand while you work at 3 am to continue to unearth the real truth.
On a relevant note, are we going to refer to him as Stew-Jo?
Quote from: Jesse on April 09, 2025, 10:51:47 AMThis is how it goes when things get leaked before it happens "officially".
Officially announced on CFL.ca April 2nd, the way things are dragging seems like almost 2 weeks ago!
https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/02/stewart-johnston-appointed-15th-commissioner-of-the-canadian-football-league/
Quote from: blue_or_die on April 09, 2025, 06:07:34 PMOn a relevant note, are we going to refer to him as Stew-Jo?
Maybe, just don't refer to him as a PNG.
Quote from: blue_or_die on April 09, 2025, 06:07:34 PMOn a relevant note, are we going to refer to him as Stew-Jo?
(https://y.yarn.co/ae13da0e-00c1-42de-989f-4d4d0e78b180_text.gif)
Quote from: blue_or_die on April 09, 2025, 06:07:34 PMOn a relevant note, are we going to refer to him as Stew-Jo?
Or just Stewj ;)
It may not be personal, but it's personal. The rules state we will not mis-handle names of people here. Please adhere to that rules. Thanks.