TORONTO – While Bell TV announced on the weekend it has added TSN2 to its channel roster, watch for more pressure to come on a couple of other Canadian carriers from their local football fans later this week.
Bell TV (formerly ExpressVu) is the first of the “big four” carriers (Shaw/Star Choice, Rogers and Videotron being the others) to begin carrying TSN’s secondary channel. TSN2 will air live games when the main network has something of a higher priority scheduled, as well as some taped shows and tape-delayed games.
As reported earlier this week by Cartt.ca, TSN has been working hard to get TSN2 added as a digital basic service, a position which Bell has granted the channel. TSN2 was formerly called TSN’s Alternate feed and was only active when the main network had two live events scheduled at the same time.
“This is a big win for Canadian sports fans,” said Phil King, president of TSN, in a press release on Saturday. “We’ve heard loud and clear from our viewers that they want TSN2 available in their homes, and we are thrilled that Bell TV has joined our growing roster of distributors.”
TSN2’s live sports roster will include curling, international hockey, golf, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, IndyCar Series, Grand Slam Tennis, boxing, mixed martial arts and NCAA football and basketball.
This week though, expect Shaw Communications and Videotron customers who are also fans of the Edmonton Eskimos and Montreal Alouettes to complain loudly about where they won’t be able to see their team play. Well, if they’re French-speakers or don’t mind broadband viewing, they’ll be okay.
The Canadian Football League announced today that the game will air live only on TSN2 because TSN is contractually obligated to air golf’s Ryder Cup on the main network.
While the CFL said in a statement “it is important that our fans understand this is the only CFL game airing on TSN2 this season,” those fans who can’t get it will be angry, especially since the league playoffs are approaching.
“TSN2 is now available across the country on Bell TV. It is hoped more television providers will include the service soon,” adds the CFL release. “CFL fans across the country can also see the September 21st game live on RDS. They can also see that game streamed live at www.TSN.ca.”
While the CFL has been aware of the CFL game-Ryder Cup conflict, it “could not move the Edmonton-Montreal game because the Alouettes’ agreement with McGill requires their home games be played on Sunday afternoons after Labour Day,” said the league release.
TSN2 is now carried by Access Communications, Aliant, Amtelecom, Bell TV Bluewater TV Cable, City West Cable & Tel, Coast Cable, Cogeco, Delta Cable, EastLink, Ex-Cen Cablevision, Nexicom Communications, Novus Entertainment, Persona (Ontario), SaskTel, and Westman Communications.
