OTTAWA – After enduring a winter of cranky Canadian curling fans, frustrated at how and where their beloved game was being put on TV, the Canadian Curling Association officially righted a wrong today.
The CCA came to an agreement with the CBC – curling’s primary rights holder – to let TSN back in the game.
The CBC, which holds the exclusive broadcast rights for the CCA’s Season of Champions events, will broadcast the final weekend of each event on its main network. A minimum of two draws daily of round robin play will be broadcast on TSN, via a sub-license agreement with the CBC.
This broadcast structure will run through to 2008 and cover the seven major annual curling events: the Tim Hortons Curling Trials, Canadian Junior Championships, the Strauss Canada Cup, The Scott Tournament of Hearts, the Tim Hortons Brier and the Ford World Championships.
Last year was the first of a new deal between the CBC and the CCA which cut TSN out of the picture and placed much of the early round curling on CBC’s digi-net Country Canada. Many curling fans objected to subscribing to Country Canada to get the curling and the digi-net didn’t have the ability to show as much curling as fans had become used to with TSN.
And when the fans were upset – so were the many big-name, big-money sponsors, who reportedly exerted considerable pressure on the CCA to fix the broadcast arrangements for this coming curling season.
“We’re very happy that curling fans can now look forward to what we know will be an exciting year for curling,” said Dave Parkes, CEO of the Canadian Curling Association, in a release. “While this year has been challenging, we listened to the fans and have focused on one objective: securing a great broadcast schedule that gives fans the best and most accessible curling coverage. We have arrived at that objective with a stable, familiar broadcast plan that gives fans maximum access to championship curling for the next three years.”
“Both the CBC and TSN have been great supporters of curling for many years and we’re glad to have them both on board for the next three seasons,” said Parkes. “Now it’s time to focus on the season ahead, including going for two gold in Torino (at the 2006 Winter Olympics).”
“Public support for TSN’s curling coverage has been overwhelming, and I’m thrilled to announce that after a year-long hiatus, we’re back on the ice,” said Phil King, president, TSN. “Since day one, curling has been an important property for TSN and we’re looking forward to returning it to the TSN schedule.”
"TSN’s unwavering 20-year commitment helped put curling on the map in Canada and we’re thrilled to welcome TSN back to our sport," added Parkes.
TSN today also announced the return of the popular curling broadcast team of Vic Rauter, Linda Moore and Ray Turnbull. Over the years, the trio has created a broad and supportive fan base among Canadian curling fans.
Rauter joined TSN in 1985 and has been covering curling for the network since that time. He was previously nominated for a Gemini Award as Canada’s top sports broadcaster for his Season of Champions curling coverage.
"It’s really exciting to be back," said Rauter. "I can’t wait to see the curlers, fans and Canada’s curling communities once again."
Moore has worked as a curling analyst on TSN since 1989. The former curler won the 1985 Canadian and world titles, the 1988 TSN Skins Game and an Olympic gold medal in Calgary in 1988.
Turnbull has been providing expert analysis for TSN’s curling coverage since 1984. Turnbull, a former top competitive curler for more than 25 years, captured the 1965 Brier Championship and was selected to the 1965 Canadian and World All-Star teams.
