Over the past few weeks, Canada has been in an uproar because CBC failed to renew its rights to the Hockey Night in Canada Theme Song, leaving the door open for CTV to purchase those rights. The song has a long and storied history in Canadian sports and had become engrained in the hearts and minds of hockey fans across the globe...

How did CBC respond to this? By creating a new, unique promotion that presents the opportunity for hockey fans across Canada to CREATE history.

CBC recently launched Canada's Hockey Anthem Challenge, encouraging all aspiring composers to submit audio/video files with their bid to provide new music for Hockey Night in Canada, a show that has been on air for 50+years. Musicans have until the end of August to submit personal music that they feel best reflects the show for the chance to win $100,000 in cash, half of the ongoing performance royalties, and bragging rights. The contest's website features video/audio anthem submissions for fans to review and share and offers an online program that enables aspiring composers to easily upload their music entries. 

Five semifinalists will be presented to the country and judged by a celebrity panel on a CBC network television special on October 4th. Two finalists will face off at the beginning of the Hockey Night in Canada doubleheader on Thursday, October 9th and the show's new theme song will be selected on the show's traditional broadcast on Friday, October 11th. This is huge.

What is the magnitude of this promotion? This would be similar (if not larger) to Monday Night football/Sportscenter conducting a nationwide promotion asking fans to create new theme music for the show...

Unfortunately, the promotion is only open to Canadian residents, so beware American musicians...You Cannot Apply.