TORONTO – Rogers Sportsnet has signed a five-year deal with the American Hockey League for the multiplatform Canadian media rights to the AHL All-Star Classic, which includes the skills competition and the AHL All-Star game.
The agreement encompasses rights on Sportsnet television, mobile and on-line for the AHL All-Star Classic, which this year will be held in Atlantic City. It also includes the first AHL outdoor game ever held in Canada as the Hamilton Bulldogs host the Toronto Marlies at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton on January 21, 2012, which Sportsnet will produce and broadcast. The Bulldogs are the top development team for the Montreal Canadiens, while the Marlies are the primary affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“The American Hockey League has a deep and storied history of producing great NHL talent," said Navaid Mansuri, VP of finance and sports programming for Rogers Media, in the announcement. “Our audience is heavily invested in their hometown NHL teams and will now get a chance to see their team’s top prospects during the AHL’s biggest events.”
The 2012 AHL All-Star Classic festivities begin with the AHL All-Star skills competition on January 29 at 3 pm ET/12 pm PT, and conclude with the AHL All-Star game on January 30 at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT. Both days’ events will be shown live on the Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific channels.
