Skating gets a buzz

Skatebuzz.com, which will webcast many of the big international skating events, is up and running, but will  get its official launch next week at the start of Skate Canada International.

  Kevin Albrecht, the CEO of iSport Media & Management in Toronto, put the skatebuzz.com deal together for the Canadian Figure Skating Association, and calls it the wave of the future.

  “Amateur sports have lost a big part of their distribution channel because the TV networks aren’t carrying it,” he said. “Skatebuzz.com is a new model. [The Canadian Figure Skating Association] went directly to the International Skating Union (the world body) and bought all broadcast and digital rights – the Grand Prix Circuit and world championships, etc.

  “The association is still giving hours to the CBC, but all the other hours that aren’t on the CBC, which are substantial, all go to skatebuzz.com.”

Fearless figure skaters

Still with figure skating, the finale of the CBC’s Battle of the Blades will include three pairs teams instead of two after Marie-France Dubreuil injured her  back and was unable to skate on Monday night.

   Dubreuil has had a rough ride with her partner Stephane Richer, the ex-NHLer. During practice sessions leading up to the opening show, Dubreuil took a fall and was rushed to hospital.

   Kevin Albrecht, who created Battle of the Blades, says, “She went over Stephane’s back, flipped off and hit her head on the ice. We took her to St. Michael’s Hospital (in Toronto), but Marie-France was more concerned about his reaction. When she was released she went directly to his (hotel) room to make sure he was okay. He was really spooked. He said, ‘I’m going home.’

 “She talked him out it. These girls are fearless.”

• Anchor Mike Toth is finished at both Rogers Sportsnet and the Rogers owned Fan590 where he co-hosted the late morning show. Talented but quirky, Toth probably greased the skids two years ago when he was suspended for roughing up a producer at Sportsnet. One on-air personality said this week that Toth is among the most talented people he has worked with.
• Rogers Sportsnet begins its new NFL rights deal tomorrow night with the Chicago Bears-San Francisco 49ers game at 8 p.m. in all regions. Sportsnet has a three-year agreement with the NFL to carry the late-season NFL Network package of six games on Thursday nights, plus one each on Friday and Saturday night.
• TSN’s curling season begins tomorrow afternoon (women, 3:30 p.m. ET) and evening (men, 9:30 p.m.) with the first leg of the play-downs to the Olympic trials next month.