So CTV felt the need to ride to the rescue of the Hockey Theme? I was quite prepared to move on with my life, but I guess I won’t get that chance. I kind of thought CTV might have better uses for its money––like a long-overdue going away party for Lloyd Robertson, but I digress.

I don’t understand the big flap over a piece of music that aired just once a week prior to the 4 p.m. early game on Hockey Night in Canada (which meant prior to a Leafs game). And since no one east of Toronto watches the Leafs anymore, that means no one east of Toronto has heard the HNIC theme song in years. Again, why all the fuss to pick up CBC’s scraps?

Apparently, hockey fans will now hear the familiar theme, written by Vancouver’s Dolores Claman back in 1968, at the start of all TSN hockey broadcasts, as well those on its French language equivalent, RDS, and the tune will also be incorporated into CTV’s 2010 Olympic hockey broadcasts.

It’s all a pretty well-timed publicity move giving the network another chance to thump its chest about last week’s announcement that TSN has extended its deal with the NHL to carry games for the next six years. TSN does a fine job with its hockey product––it’s not going to rope in more viewers just because it has a recognizable little tune at the top of the broadcast.

As for Hockey Night in Canada, it will carry on in its usual Saturday-night timeslot, looking much the same, but sounding a little bit different. CTV and its networks will now be home to the Hockey Theme, while CBC can move on with its own publicity stunt and conduct a coast-to-coast contest looking for a new song for its hockey broadcasts.

And now, hopefully, we as a country can get back to worrying about issues that really matter.