Week 19 in the CFL begins on Friday, November 6 and it will be game 18 for the teams in the league.
For those of us at TSN with the privilege of broadcasting those games, there is a genuine sense of satisfaction that the season is coming to an end and the playoffs are right around the corner.
The game between the Edmonton Eskimos and Lions in BC will be the 68th contest of the season; that's 68 meetings, 68 discussions, and 68 moments of personal inquisitive thought about what will, or won't be important in each game.
As always I am curious about what the viewing audience did or did not enjoy in the season and I am looking for observations and even complaints (fair ones) from all our viewers. I will collect them, review them and re-address them in May of 2010. The last responses I'd like to see are attacks based on the fact you don't "click" with a specific personality. I can tell you with 100% confidence that everyone involved with the CFL package of games is intensely dedicated to being as professional as possible. I have no problem with anyone's work ethic as it relates to my dealings with them, in fact sometimes I think the directors and producers almost work too hard.
So a complaint without anything constructive to say is not what I'm after, but I know we have a great group of viewers and there are many worthwhile comments and suggestions to come.
The reason I look for opinions from the audience is that I respect what they have to say and feel they can help me in my never-ending quest to improve. I am a believer in preparation, performance and re-evaluation. The preparation and performance I can control, but the re-evaluation is subject to my own thoughts, the conclusions of my superiors along with our viewer's appreciation and or criticism. Being told what you need to know and being told what you want to hear are two different things. One is a pleasure and one could potentially be a real pain. But, it is important especially since the playoffs are on the way and those games, including of course the Grey Cup, are our highest viewed telecasts of the year. So all your feedback helps in the present and the future.
Please be polite and professional as the second I read an offside derogatory comment, I will erase the email with lightning speed. With that said I am very curious and believe getting opinions from the audience is beneficial in the big picture. As a network we have all the games and are in a way competing against ourselves to make the shows better and satisfy our viewers. There is no doubt that the quality of the game is the single greatest asset when it comes to entertainment value of the CFL, but those of us involved with broadcasting can enhance or detract based on the presentation.
The one thing I enjoy (maybe more than anything else) is the fact CFL football belongs to all of us and that it is undeniably Canadian in its strengths and even its quirks. In a world that seems to be melting into a single mass with the improvement of communication, it is nice to separate a little of the mass and focus on one single thing that is purely Canadian.
Sure, there are aspects of CFL football that need to improve and there are aspects of the presentation that need to improve, but in some respects I have tunnel vision and am on the inside looking out. I want to know what the people who are gracious enough to tune in and spend their time with us think about the shows.
Like I said above, I can control what I do on the air, but when it comes to the goal of improving, I need your help. You have the opinion that matters... well, I should mention that the opinion of my boss factors in to a large extent too. Actually, I should make that bosses, as I do have a lot of them.
In the big picture football does not solve major world issues, but it does engage and entertain. The level of entertainment is a moving target and your help will allow us to increase our accuracy.
Email Chris your thoughts about the CFL on TSN.