CBC features hockey as news more than private broadcasters

TORONTO, June 20, 2013 /CNW/ - A recent media study suggests that CBC pays more attention to hockey as a news story than Canada's private networks.  Recognizing the importance of hockey to CBC-TV's ad revenue and audience reach, the study conducted by Cormex's MediaLAB project looked at the degree to which hockey was reported as a news story on the first 30 minutes of the national newscasts of the public broadcaster compared to CTV and Global between January 1 and April 27, 2013.  The study found that CBC-TV's The National produced 29% more coverage about hockey than CTV National News and Global National.  "CBC runs more stories about hockey, but not necessarily the type of story that promotes the sport," noted Andrew Laing, author of the study.  "They've run more human interest reports on hockey as part of Canadian culture, and women in hockey, but also on violence and injuries related to hockey."

The study also found that CBC, CTV and Global paid equal attention to NHL-related stories, including the lockout.  However, CBC ran fewer stories involving the federal government's support for hockey, such as funding defibrillators in community rinks, the Prime Minister's remarks at the Order of Hockey in Canada induction ceremony in April, and budget measures aimed at making hockey equipment more affordable.  Federal-related stories accounted for 3% of CBC's hockey-related coverage, compared to 12% for the private networks.

A link to the full study, Measuring Hockey as News on Canada's national broadcasters, can be found at www.cormex.com/medialab_reports/MAY2013_TORONTO.PDF.

For more information about MediaLAB, visit the website at www.cormex.com/medialab.

Cormex Research is Canada's leading media content measurement and analysis firm, serving the country's top private, public and non-profit organizations since 1989.

SOURCE: Cormex Research

Andrew Laing
[phone] x2001
[email protected]