MLS on TSN
The MLS on TSN is the branding used for TSN's telecasts of Major League Soccer games.
Contract history
2011 Contract
In February 2011, the TSN family of networks (in which ESPN owns a 20% interest) announced a six-year deal for national MLS broadcast rights in Canada. TSN and TSN2 would broadcast 24 games during the 2011 season and air a minimum of 30 games per season during the subsequent five seasons, all featuring at least one Canadian team. French-language sister networks RDS and RDS2 had similar broadcast rights. The networks also carried the MLS Cup and select playoff games, the MLS All-Star Game, and additional games not involving Canadian teams.[1] GolTV Canada will also continue to carry selected all-U.S. MLS matchups.[2]
Toronto FC regional games were split between the TSN and Sportsnet families of networks (their parent companies, Rogers Communications and Bell Canada, jointly owned a stake in TFC's parent company). Sportsnet also aired Vancouver Whitecaps FC games (primarily on its Pacific feed and national network Sportsnet One),[3] and TVA Sports aired Montreal Impact games.[4]
2017 Contract
In 2015, MLS and TSN announced a new broadcast agreement that included a five-year media rights extension[5]. Under this new partnership, TSN became the exclusive English-language broadcaster of MLS in Canada beginning in the 2017 season[6]. TSN currently delivers exclusive coverage of every MLS game featuring Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, a select number of Montreal Impact matches, a selection of matches featuring U.S. teams, as well as exclusive English-language coverage of the MLS All-Star Game, MLS Cup Playoffs, and MLS Cup[7].
The 2015 agreement also included a new five-year agreement with TVA Sports as the official French-language broadcaster in Canada[8].
| Network | Contract | Annual rights fee | Regular-season games | Playoff games | Language | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSN | 2017–2021 | TBD | English | [9] | ||
| TSN2 | English | |||||
| TVA Sports | 2017–2021 | 50+ | French | |||
| TSN | 2011-2016 | 30 | English | [10] | ||
| TSN2 | English | |||||
| RDS | 2012-2016 | French |
Commentators
- Luke Wileman (host and play-by-play)
- Kristian Jack (host and TSN soccer analyst)
- Steven Caldwell (TSN soccer analyst)
- Terry Dunfield (TSN soccer analyst)
- Gareth Wheeler (TSN soccer radio host)
References
- ^ TSN (February 14, 2011). "TSN Becomes Official Broadcaster of MLS in Canada with Landmark Six-Year Deal". Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
- ^ GolTV (Canada). "GolTV Canada Matches for March 11–17, 2011" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011. (lists carriage of a Los Angeles vs. Seattle MLS game)
- ^ Sportsnet (March 3, 2011). "ROGERS SPORTSNET IS THE NEW HOME FOR VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC". CNW Group. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
- ^ Delia-Lavictoire, Yvan (July 14, 2011). "Impact sign multimedia deal, name TVA Sports broadcaster". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ https://www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2017/01/10/mls-signs-new-landmark-media-rights-partnerships-canada
- ^ https://www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2017/01/10/mls-signs-new-landmark-media-rights-partnerships-canada
- ^ https://www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2017/01/10/mls-signs-new-landmark-media-rights-partnerships-canada
- ^ https://www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2017/01/10/mls-signs-new-landmark-media-rights-partnerships-canada
- ^ "MLS signs new media rights partnerships in Canada with TSN & TVA Sports". MLSsoccer.com. November 30, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
- ^ "TSN BECOMES OFFICIAL BROADCASTER OF MLS IN CANADA". TSN. February 14, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2012.