Today Major League Soccer announced a new, six year broadcast rights agreement with TSN, Canada’s most-watched specialty network. In 2011, TSN and TSN2 will combine to broadcast 24 regular season games live – all involving at least one of the two Canadian-based clubs in MLS – Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
This season, Vancouver Whitecaps FC will feature 12 times on TSN/TSN2, including the first two all-Canadian matches in MLS history on March 19 and June 29. Beginning next year, TSN and TSN2 will combine to broadcast 30 regular season MLS games featuring at least one Canadian club.
"TSN has a well-earned reputation as a world-class sports broadcaster, with top level production values and a true passion for sport; we’re incredibly pleased to have them as our national broadcast partner," said Whitecaps FC chief executive officer Paul Barber. "We know our fans are looking forward to the national derby matches with Toronto this year - and are already looking forward to next year’s clashes with Montreal. Having a long-term partnership with such a respected broadcaster will help these rivalries continue to grow and engage fans, and will mean great things for the growth of the league and the sport of soccer in Canada."
As the official broadcaster of MLS in Canada, TSN also holds broadcast rights for the MLS AT&T All-Star Game, the MLS Cup playoffs, and the league’s championship game, MLS Cup. TSN will also broadcast select additional matches between two U.S.-based teams to its lineup of MLS coverage beginning this season through 2016. French-language broadcasting rights in Canada belong to TSN’s sister networks RDS and RDS2 as part of the deal in anticipation of next year, when Montreal Impact join MLS as an expansion club.
"We are very pleased to partner with TSN, the leading sports network in Canada," said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "This announcement comes at an opportune time for MLS, as we enter a period of growth in Canada with the Vancouver Whitecaps joining the League this season and the Montreal Impact in 2012. "We look forward to building the sport together and creating an exciting multi-media platform for soccer fans throughout the country."
Games on TSN/TSN2 will be available live to fans in the United States via the MLS Direct Kick Package and/or Match Day Live on MLSsoccer.com.
"As we have seen with the success of Toronto FC and MLS's expansion to Vancouver and Montreal, there is an incredible appetite for professional soccer in Canada," said Stewart Johnston, President of TSN. "This is a long term partnership with MLS and we are looking forward to working with them to not only give fans ‘best in class’ game coverage but also to help build the profile of the league and grow the game of soccer across the country."
All MLS games on TSN and TSN2 will be broadcast in High Definition.
The schedule of Whitecaps matches on TSN/TSN2 is below:
2011 MLS Broadcast Schedule (TSN & TSN2)
Home team listed first; all times Pacific; subject to change
March
• Saturday, March 19 Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Toronto FC 3:30 p.m. (TSN)
April
• Wednesday, April 6 Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. New England Revolution 7 p.m. (TSN)
May
• Saturday, May 28 Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. New York Red Bulls 4 p.m. (TSN2)
June
• Saturday, June 11 Seattle Sounders FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 7 p.m. (TSN2)
• Saturday, June 25 Sporting Kansas City vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 5:30 p.m. (TSN)
• Wednesday, June 29 Toronto FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4:30 p.m. (TSN)
July
• Wednesday, July 6 Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Columbus Crew 7 p.m. (TSN)
• Wednesday, July 20 San Jose Earthquakes vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 7 p.m. (TSN)
• Wednesday, July 27 AT&T MLS All Star Game 5:30 p.m. (TSN)
• Saturday, July 30 Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. LA Galaxy 4:30 p.m. (TSN)
August
• Saturday, August 20 Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 7 p.m. (TSN)
• Saturday, August 27 Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Houston Dynamo 4 p.m. (TSN2)
September
• Saturday, September 24 Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC 4:30 p.m. (TSN)
The schedule of Toronto FC matches is below:
Saturday, March 19: At Vancouver Whitecaps FC - 6:30 p.m. (TSN)
Saturday, March 26: Home vs. Portland Timbers - 2 p.m. (TSN)
Saturday, April 2: Home vs. Chivas USA - 1 p.m. (TSN)
Saturday, June 4: Home vs. Sporting Kansas City - 7 p.m. (TSN)
Wednesday, June 15: At New England Revolution - 8 p.m. (TSN)
Wednesday, June 29: Home vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC - 7:30 p.m. (TSN)
Wednesday, July 6: At New York Red Bulls - 8 p.m. (TSN)
Wednesday, July 20: Home vs. FC Dallas - 8 p.m. (TSN)
Saturday, August 6: At D.C. United - 7:30 p.m. (TSN)
Saturday, September 17: Home vs. Colorado Rapids - 7:30 p.m. (TSN)
Saturday, October 1: Home vs. New York Red Bulls - 7:30 p.m. (TSN)
Saturday, October 15: At Philadelphia Union - 4 p.m. (TSN)
Saturday, October 22: Home vs. New England Revolution - 12:30 p.m. (TSN)
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Note: To accommodate TSN’s exclusive broadcast windows above in Canada, the following changes were made to the MLS regular season schedule announced Feb. 10:
5/28 TOR vs. PHI is now at 4pm ET
10/15 PHI vs. TOR now at 4pm ET on TSN
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