[tth_fan]

hockey night in canada signed to a 6 year extension....the tradition continues!

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I'd be lying if I were to say that I wasn't hoping HNIC would go to TSN.

HNIC is a CBC program, always has been and always will.
It's not some independent enterprise that can negotiate with other networks.

You're right. But, not necessarily the program (HNIC) itself, but the NHL could have signed with a different network instead of the CBC.
CTV now has the rights for the Olympics in 2010 & 2012 (a big loss for CBC). Also, there are a lot of talks of the CFL going 100% to CTV eventually.

This is a quote from wikipedia

In a news item posted on August 11, 2006, on the CBC's website, it was reported that CTVglobemedia, the owner of CTV and TSN, was looking to acquire the broadcast rights to NHL hockey in Canada for a 10-year, $1.4 billion CDN package deal, starting with the 2008-09 season, including exclusive English and French television rights, in addition to the cable television rights for TSN, and Internet streaming rights. [1] Although not confirmed by CBC itself, the CBC's president recently admitted it is "distinctly possible" that it will soon be out of the hockey business after a 70-year association on TV and radio.