CBC to drop Hockey Night in Canada Theme Song sign the petition

[pwwbear]

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http://www.petitiononline.com/CBCDunt/petition.html

Sign the online petition.

http://www.petitiononline.com/CBCDunt/petition.html

Hockey Night In Canada Theme to End:

This evening's Stanley Cup game 6 may be the last occasion that the widely recognized “Dunt- da-DUNT- da-dunt” refrain of the Hockey Night in Canada Theme (sometimes referred to as "Canada's Second National Anthem") will ever be heard in association with Hockey Night in Canada.

The composition was written by Dolores Claman in 1968 and has become one of the longest running theme songs in broadcasting history.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation ("CBC") has advised the composer, owner and administrator of the musical composition that it is not prepared to enter into a new license agreement with respect to the use of the theme. The current license agreement expires at the conclusion of the 2007/08 NHL playoffs.

The CBC has been offered a new license on terms that are virtually identical to those that have existed for the past decade (the cost to CBC to use the theme is approximately $500.00 for each game broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada). However, the CBC has chosen to move in a new direction.

Although the parties have been involved in litigation since 2004, this has not interfered with CBC’s ongoing use of the Theme in conjunction with Hockey Night In Canada - Similarly, the resolution of the outstanding litigation is not a pre-condition of the proposed new license agreement.

Dolores Claman states: "I am saddened by the decision of the CBC to drop the Hockey Night in Canada Theme after our lengthy history together. I nevertheless respect its right to move in a new direction."

For a more detailed history of the theme see:
www.hockeytheme.com

[Destiny]

I signed!!!

found this article earlier today on windsorstar.com

Canada's 'second anthem' silenced after nearly 40 year run


Bal Brach, Canwest News Service

Published: Thursday, June 05, 2008
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's iconic Hockey Night in Canada theme song, known for decades as Canada's "second national anthem," will no longer be used in hockey broadcasts, according to the song's composer.
The decision to can the symbolic song has Canadians at home and abroad, including soldiers serving in Afghanistan, confused and angered.
"It's like removing the Canadian anthem. Most of us grew up on that song," Master Cpl. Tommy Moreau said between games Thursday at the regulation-sized road hockey rink at Kandahar Airfield's boardwalk.

"Why would they want to change it?" said Lieut. Adam Lambert of Oakville, Ont.
"Are you serious? I started my military career as a musician and we frequently performed it - it's a real crowd pleaser," added fellow player John. The Winnipeg soldier didn't want to give his full name because of the nature of his duties in Afghanistan, but felt so strongly about the TV network's decision that he wanted to add his two-bits.
After 14 years of hearing countless stories of how the song has affected the lives of Canadians, the man in charge of the copyrights to the music, says even he's hopeful the CBC will change its tune and renew their licensing agreement.
"There's a lot more at stake here than just business," said John R. Ciccone, who works on behalf of the theme song composer Dolores Claman. "This is Canadian history - Canadian heritage."
The jingle is one of the longest running theme songs in broadcast history and slated to celebrate its 40th anniversary next year.
"This is a very sad day, especially for Dolores. it's quite difficult," Ciccone added.
"Dolores keeps saying, 'what about the fans?' It's a big big motivation to try and keep things going (with the CBC)."
Wednesday night's Stanley Cup final game six was the last time "dunt- da-dunt- da-dunt," was played because CBC decided to move in a "new direction," according to Ciccone.
He said the CBC advised Claman that it is not prepared to enter into a new license agreement with respect to the use of the song.
Calls to CBC were not immediately returned Thursday.
Within hours of the news that CBC had dropped its Hockey Night in Canada theme, there were already two Facebook groups created in protest, and another online petition to save the song.
Hundreds of comments also flooded the hockey site, Faceoff.com, and most people are outraged at the CBC's decision. Leanne Doppler said the song will be sadly missed as the theme is "as much of a Canadian icon as the beaver on the nickel."
"Every time I hear it, it reminds me of my childhood and my Dad who's been gone since 1971," wrote Nicole de Verteuil.
Ralph Mellanby, the executive producer of Hockey Night in Canada for 22 years, said he wanted to buy out the rights to the music decades ago.
"The original contract was never done properly. They signed the contract with residuals, which I would've never done. CBC and Hockey Night in Canada have been living with this for years, this constant problem they've had with no buyout and constantly having to renegotiate the music. Nobody ever thought it would become the second most popular song in Canada outside of the national anthem. And that's been the problem that they've always had to renegotiate it."
Meanwhile, the song's composer, Dolores Claman released a statement Thursday. "I am saddened by the decision of the CBC to drop the Hockey Night in Canada Theme after our lengthy history together," said Claman. "I nevertheless respect its right to move in a new direction."
The composition was written by Claman in 1968. The current license agreement expired at the end of the 2007-2008 NHL playoffs.
Ciccone said the CBC has been offered a new license on terms that are virtually identical to those that have existed for the past decade, but the broadcaster has decided not to renew.
"We kept making suggestions and ideas on how to keep things going. We're offering virtually the same licence that they've been dealing with the last several years. As a gesture of goodwill we had no increase in fees," he said.
Ciccone said he has received thousands of requests from all over the world to use the song, whether it be for a class project or wedding. He said many Canadians abroad, even those that aren't hockey fans, have requested the ringtone because they feel home sick. "There's a wonderful symbiotic relationship between the theme and the TV show... It's one of those really rare moments of magic where everything works together well."
Ciccone said there were other CBC Hockey Night in Canada theme songs before the classic "dunt- da-dunt- da-dunt," tune but none lasted 40 years.
"People are very attached to it. It's a very personal thing to people. It gives them a sense of unity, Canadiana, nostalgia. There's just a lot of really, really deep personal stuff in there."
It costs the CBC $500 to use the theme for each game broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada.
In 2004, Claman sued the CBC alleging the public broadcaster repeatedly used the distinctive theme song in broadcasts not covered under her licence agreement and refused requests to negotiate additional fees.
Ciccone said the resolution of the ongoing litigation is not a precondition of the new proposed licence agreement.
The theme song was originally commissioned by the MacLaren advertising agency in Toronto, according to the website hockeytheme.com.
The agency was looking for a powerful commercial jingle suitable for hockey.
It soon became used as the theme song for the CBC hockey broadcasts and has been running ever since.

[Shandon00]

Why would they do that?????

[pwwbear]

Originally Posted by Shandon00

Why would they do that?????

It costs them each time to use it. I think I read somewhere, $500 a pop. I heard they want to have a contest for a new theme, they would own it, and hence not have to pay royalities.

The CBC, both radio and tv have been cutting show and programs nillywilly, and are going to alienate the few supporters they have left.

[Naomi]

Signed. It is like one of our national symbols.

[taz_2006]

they cant take the hockey night in canada theme away its our history hockey wont be hockey in canada without it

[pwwbear]

Well, they lost it to CTV. The CBC is having a contest for a new theme, which they will own outright.

[ignite]

They already sold it to Stephen Colbert XD