The Score Television Network

Infobox TV channel
name = The Score Television Network
logofile = Score TV Network logo.svg
logoalt = Score TV Network logo
logosize = 200px
launch = May 1997
closed date =
picture format = 420p SD
720p HD
share =
share as of =
share source =
network =
owner = Score Media Inc.
slogan = Home For The Hardcore
country = Canada
broadcast area = National
headquarters = Toronto, Ontario
former names = Sportscope (1994-1997)
Headline Sports (1997-2000)
replaced names =
sister names =
timeshift names =
web = [http://www.thescore.com/ The Score]
terr serv 1 =
terr chan 1 =
sat serv 1 = Bell TV
sat chan 1 = Channel 410 (SD)
Channel 845 (HD)
sat serv 2 = Star Choice
sat chan 2 = Channel 403 (SD)
cable serv 1 = Available on most Canadian cable systems
cable chan 1 = Check local listings, channels may vary
sat radio serv 1 =
sat radio chan 1 =
online serv 1 =
online chan 1 =

The Score Television Network (often referred to only as The Score) is a Canadian English language cable television specialty channel providing primarily sports news, highlights, information and analysis programming along with live event sports coverage. The channel is equipped with 24/7 ticker at the bottom of the screen providing news and scores of sporting events, hence the channels name. The channel is wholly owned by Score Media Inc.

History

Sportscope

Originally launched in 1994 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.

Headline Sports

Sportscope was granted an English-language specialty channel licence by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on September 4, 1996, provisionally titled "Sportscope Plus". The channel launched in May 1997 as Headline Sports and was initially a national 24 hour anchor-at-desk sports news and highlight service operating on a rotating 15 minute newswheel of sports news, highlights and scores. The channel also contained a constantly updated ticker at the bottom of the screen, providing sports news and scores, as it still does today, per its CRTC licence requirements.

There were initial plans to air a regional ticker and additional streams of alphanumeric data (perhaps via an alternate channel) when the channel first launched, however those plans were ultimately abandoned.

The Score

In March 2000, Headline Sports' licence was amended by the CRTC to allow live sports programming, under the conditions that they display their ticker and that they break away from live coverage at least once every fifteen minutes to present video highlights. 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" that year. 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 CTV Sportsnet.

On June 6, 2006, The Score revamped their ticker alongside the launch of their new HD channel (see below).

The Score HD

The Score HD is a high definition simulcast of The Score. It is currently available through national satellite television provider Bell TV and cable companies Rogers Cable, TELUS TV, Cogeco, Mountain Cablevision, SaskTel Max and Access Communications.

Until early 2008, most programming was Standard-definition 4:3 stretched to 16:9. Their true HD programming includes Premier League soccer, National Basketball Association basketball, the Vanier Cup, NCAA coverage and WWE's SmackDown and Raw.

From August 1st to September 2nd, The Score will not be airing live programs which they tape (Drive This and Game-On) as the station is moving its equipment to a store front location. They will resume airing programs in HD on September 2nd.

Hardcore Sports Radio

The Score launched a 24/7 sports radio station on Sirius Satellite Radio named Hardcore Sports Radio (channel 98), 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.

Personalities

Programs

The following is a list of original or partly-original programs currently airing on The Score:

News shows

* "Instant Replay" was the Monday afternoon news show held during the National Football League season, hosted by Adnan Virk. With analyst and former NFL kicker Steve Christie.
* "Score Tonight" is 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 Micallef. "Score Tonight" also features regular segments "Cabbie on the Street "and "Plays of the Week". "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.
* "The Footy Show" was a soccer news and highlights show hosted by James Sharman. Debuted in August 2007, replacing world sports news show Sportsworld.
* "Hardcore Hockey Talk, Late Edition" 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. The program usually ends with a segment called 10 Minute Misconduct, where Kouleas and guests (usually Steve Ludzik, Mark Osborne, and/or Al Strachan) debate five topics for two minutes each.

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. "Hardcore Hockey Talk", 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.
* "The Footy Show" focuses on international soccer including previews and recaps of all of the week's English Premier League matches. Original episodes of the show air Saturdays and Sundays. It is hosted by James Sharman
* "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 Micallef, and features Ron Meyer as a weekly special guest.
* "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.
* "Drive This!" is a simulcast of Hardcore Sports Radio's drive-home show on Sirius, hosted by Richard Garner, Cam Stewart, and Sarah Meehan with daily appearances from HSR's late-show host Gabriel Morency. The show offers frank and edgy discussion, "bulls--t not included". The TV version runs on a slight delay with bleeping.
* "Hardcore Hockey Talk, Early Edition" is a simulcast of Hardcore Sports Radio's hockey talk show on Sirius, hosted by Steve Kouleas.
* "Game On!" is a simulcast of Hardcore Sports Radio's betting-line show, hosted by Gabriel Morency and Cam Stewart. They preview the night's action with betting lines in mind.
* "After Hours" is a simulcast of the third hour of Hardcore Sports Radio's Sports Rage, hosted by Gabriel Morency. Usually discussing about the day in sports, and letting callers vent their anger about events that happened, it is on bleep delay, like Drive This!.

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 Ontario University Athletics, but as of 2006 began coverage of Quebec Student Sports Federation and Atlantic University Sport football as well, culminating in the playoffs and the Vanier Cup. Tim Micallef is the commentator 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 Glenn Schiiler. 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 15 minute tape delay, unlike its previous hosts at TSN, which aired the program live. The 15 minute tape delay is allegedly due to previous difficulties involving censoring risque storylines at TSN. The Score however does take advantage of this by airing a 15-minute recap of the previous week's show entitled "Countdown to Raw". 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 (also known as March Madness).
* "Champ Car World Series" races not available on American over-the-air networks were broadcasted in 2007.

Thescore.com

Thescore.com has live scores for all the major professional sports, blogs, streaming video and a "Bullhorn" with the latest links to news and videos. The website also features a function that allows fans to upload their own videos with analysis or reaction.

Bloggers and columnists

External links

* [http://www.thescore.ca/ The Score]
* [http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/app/cipo/trademarks/search/tmSearch.do?language=eng Canadian Trade-mark Database] - Reference: CNN opposed Sportscope's application (number 0832430) for "Headline Sports"