Sportsnet Announces 12-Year Multiplatform Rights Extension with the Canadian Hockey League
– Landmark agreement includes coverage across television, online and
mobile, beginning 2014/15 season –
– Sportsnet to broadcast more than 50 games each season, including CHL
playoffs and Memorial Cup –
– TVA Sports to air French-language broadcasts through sub-licensing
agreement –
– Reinforces Sportsnet’s commitment to hockey fans in Canada –
TORONTO, Feb. 18, 2014 /CNW/ – Sportsnet today announced it has reached
a 12-year partnership extension with the Canadian Hockey League through
the 2025-26 CHL season, continuing its tradition as the exclusive
broadcaster of the CHL and MasterCard Memorial Cup in Canada.
The new agreement, which begins with the 2014/15 season, features a
comprehensive suite of multimedia rights including television, online
and mobile, delivering more than 50 CHL games each year, including CHL
playoff games and the Memorial Cup.
Sportsnet has been broadcasting CHL games since the network’s inception
in 1998.
“We are committed to serving hockey fans and growing the game of hockey
across Canada like never before. In combination with our
ground-breaking NHL agreement, this truly cements Sportsnet as Canada’s
home of hockey,” said Scott Moore, President, Sportsnet and NHL, Rogers
Media. “Our partnership with the CHL is a strong and important one.
Together, we will build on the already strong foundation of our Friday
Night Hockey brand, and weave the CHL even deeper into the fabric of
Canadian hockey culture. In addition to our game coverage, we will
continue to tell the stories of major junior hockey in Canada, build
stars, and remain with them on their journey through the NHL.”
“This is a very exciting day for the Canadian Hockey League as we
continue to grow our relationship with Sportsnet and TVA Sports over
the next 12 years,” said CHL President David Branch. “The CHL’s
partnership with Sportsnet began 16 years ago and in that time the
league has enjoyed extraordinary growth by building the brand of our
national events and our entire league through Sportsnet’s outstanding
and passionate nationwide coverage. We look forward to working
together to grow the game of hockey and continue showcasing the
league’s next wave of talent to the National Hockey League and Canadian
Interuniversity Sport for our fans, players, and their families.”
In addition, Sportsnet today announced a 12-year sub-licensing agreement
with TVA Sports for exclusive French-language multiplatform rights for
CHL games, beginning with the 2014/15 season.
“Our partnership with the CHL and QMJHL allows TVA Sports to strengthen
its commitment to tomorrow’s stars and hockey in Quebec. Over the next
12 years, by presenting major junior hockey and more than 300 NHL
games, TVA Sports confirms its position as the number one destination
for hockey in Quebec,” says Pierre Dion, TVA Group President and CEO.
“This new agreement confirms, once more, the great partnership between
Sportsnet and TVA Sports which we are very proud.”
Today’s announcement strengthens Sportsnet’s hockey leadership in Canada
and complements Rogers’s 12-year partnership with the NHL, which also
begins with the 2014-15 season. Beginning in 2014-15, Sportsnet is the
official national broadcast partner of the CHL and NHL, and is also the
regional broadcaster of the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto
Maple Leafs, and Vancouver Canucks.
Social Media Links
Official Website, Sportsnet http://www.sportsnet.ca/
Like Sportsnet http://www.facebook.com/sportsnet
Follow Sportsnet @Sportsnet
Official Sportsnet PR @SportsnetPR
Official Website http://www.chl.ca
Follow the CHL @CHLHockey
About the Canadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is the world’s largest development hockey
league with 52 Canadian and eight American teams participating in the
Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western
Hockey League. CHL players graduate from high school at a rate higher
than the Canadian national average. Last season, more than nine million
fans attended CHL games in the regular season, playoffs and at the
MasterCard Memorial Cup. The CHL supplies more players to the National
Hockey League and Canadian Interuniversity Sport than any other league.
About Sportsnet
Sportsnet connects Canadian sports fans to their favourite teams and
athletes, using five platforms: TV, Radio, Print, Online and Mobile.
Sportsnet is Fuelled By Fans, and delivers storytelling on a local,
regional, national and global level. The multiplatform brand consists
of Sportsnet, sportsnet.ca, Sportsnet 590 The FAN, Sportsnet 960 The
FAN, Sportsnet magazine, Sportsnet Mobile and the Hockey Central app on iPad and
Playbook. Sportsnet consists of four regional channels (Sportsnet
East, Ontario, West and Pacific), and the nationally-distributed
Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet World, and Sportsnet 360. Sportsnet is the
Canadian leader in NHL and MLB television broadcasts and is home to 162
Toronto Blue Jays games, plus MLB Playoffs and the World Series.
Sportsnet is an official licensed broadcaster of the 2014 FIFA World
Cup BrazilTM and also offers an exciting sports lineup including the NFL, the
Memorial Cup, CIS Vanier Cup, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Grand Slam of Curling, IndyCar, the Rogers Cup tennis tournament, and
extensive soccer programming including Barclays Premier League, UEFA
Champions League, UEFA Europa League, CONCACAF and Canadian national
team matches for men and women. Connected is the network’s nightly news program, providing regional and national
coverage of the day’s events in the world of sports.
SOURCE Rogers Media
