Battle of the network pre game shows.

It’s a brave new world the CFL travels in these days, gone are the cheesy opening moments to a CFL game from the old days. This new CFL production on both TSN and CBC is pretty darn impressive, the last few years the competitive nature of the two networks has been showcased on their full broadcast packages.

The Friday Night brand on TSN as well as their other CFL broadcasts have become a huge success with the opening panel and the slick production values brought to the telecasts. The CBC suddenly aware of some slippage in the world of event presentation, turned their Saturday broadcast into an event on par with Hockey Night in Canada. Only the long life of the Edmonton Oilers kept the Argos and Ti Cats out of prime time this weekend, but the presentation was just as professional as last year’s successful Saturday night broadcasts.

Both TSN’s pre game show and the CBC one hour special on Saturday, brought a huge package of information for the CFL fan to devour. Both focused on the debut of Ricky Williams and both focused on the state of career health for Tom Wright as CFL Commissioner. The recently released Brian Williams has arrived at TSN part of a lend lease arrangement from CTV and yet another refugee from the Mother Corp that will no doubt come back to haunt the CBC when it comes to football presentation.

Williams looked a bit like the third wheel on a date in his TSN debut, but once they get the bugs worked out he’ll no doubt fit in seamlessly with the rest of the gang at TSN. One imagines that they must be making some good coin in advertising revenue considering the roster of announcers, analysts and other talking head types that have been brought to the football party. TSN has once again brought back Climie, Dunnigan and Schultz to torment Dave Randorf at the TSN desk.

Handing out the pay envelopes at TSN must be a rather lengthy affair judging by the amount of people involved in the game day presentation. It's a good show thouhg offering up much insight and commentary that should keep any CFL fanatic fully informed this season.

The CBC also has its panel in place, new host Elliot Friedman holding down the ringmaster duties with Tilman, Frers and Millington. Add into the mix the debut of Khari Jones on the sidelines and a rant from David Benefeld, plus a pretty cookin’ soundtrack from Linkin Park and you’ve got a high energy broadcast ready to take on the TSN guys word for word.

The play by play on both networks seems in good shape again this year as well, with TSN teaming up Chris Cuthbert and Glen Suter for the bulk of their main games, while Mark Lee and Chris Walby will be the key players on the CBC’s telecasts this year.

It’s a good sign for the CFL that both networks are dedicating such resources to their broadcasts, the fact that they’re spending money to make money bodes well for the CFL brand this year and on into the future.

The above posting first appeared on my football blog, Twelve men on the field, check it out from time to time for observations on Canadian Football.