Game still on

Hockey Night in Canada’s relationship with Huawei will continue despite concerns that the company is a threat to national security,

Jarring though it may be to some viewers, Huawei’s relationship with Hockey Night in Canada will continue despite the growing view that the giant Chinese tech company is a threat to national security.

“The sponsorship agreement runs through the end of 2020,” Sportsnet communications director Sarah Grossman told the Star in an email.

Other than that, Rogers de- clined to comment on the situation swirling around Huawei and the appropriateness of the company’s logo featured so prominently on Hockey Night In Canada, which draws around two million viewers for the 7 p.m. game.

Rogers Media became entirely responsible for Saturday’s broadcasts on CBC — which are simulcast on Sportsnet — after buying exclusive rights from the NHL in a 12-year, $5.2-billion deal that began with the 2014-15 season. When the CRTC signed off on the deal, it granted Rogers a special licence to broadcast on the CBC’s airwaves that includes Rogers’ full responsibility over content, advertising and sponsorship for the program.

“It’s a Rogers production,” said Chuck Thompson, head of public affairs for CBC’s English services. “We have absolutely no purview over the Hockey Night In Canada broadcast at all.”

An email to Huawei’s media relations department was not returned.

Huawei’s logo figures prominently on Hockey Night In Canada, the main attraction on Canadian TV on Saturday nights.

“Awkward is awkward,” said Chris MacDonald, an associate professor at Ryerson University specializing in business ethics.

“I can imagine Rogers execs keeping a close eye. There’d have to be something pretty close to a smoking gun before you’re going to kill that kind of a deal.

“It’s OK to be uncomfortable with something without saying it’s unethical.”

But Rogers is doing nothing wrong, said Sui Sui, associate professor at Ryerson and an expert in Canada-China trade relations at the Ted Rogers School of Management. Sui said Hauwei has relationships with Canadian universities, other companies and broadcasters.