TORONTO – For two channels that compete pretty hard against one another, they sure do team up a lot.
Rogers Sportsnet and TSN today announced today the channels will jointly televise all 31 games live from EURO 2008, which takes place in Austria and Switzerland from June 7 to 29. All games, as well as pre- and post-game shows, will be available in high definition.
TSN acquired the English-language broadcast rights to EURO 2008 last year and this sub-licensing deal with Sportsnet ensures that Canadians will be able to watch every game live, and follows the previous successful agreements between the two networks for joint coverage of the Canada/Russia Super Series junior hockey event and the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The two companies are also working together to broadcast the 2010 and 2012 Olympics.
TSN will televise 16 matches, including one semifinal and the final on June 29, with Sportsnet airing the remaining 15 games. By having the flexibility to utilize both networks’ schedules, viewers will be better served as all games will be aired live and a number of games will be made available via prime time encore broadcasts. The two networks will once again share talent and studio space for Euro 2008 pre- and post-game shows.
In addition, TSN and Sportsnet have partnered on a joint Euro 2008 web site that can be accessed through TSN.ca and Sportsnet.ca, featuring pre- and post-game video reports, stats, results and schedules.
“TSN and Rogers Sportsnet have once again come together to best serve Canadian viewers,” said Phil King, president, TSN, in the joint press release. “Euro 2008 is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, and thus deserves the kind of quality coverage that we have proven can be achieved by working as a team.”
"This partnership is in the best interest of soccer fans across Canada," said Doug Beeforth, president, Rogers Sportsnet, in the release.
Complementing TSN’s and Sportsnet’s English-language coverage of the tournament, RDS and RIS Info Sports (TSN’s French-language sister sports stations) together will provide French-language coverage of all 31 games, while Rogers Omni Television will provide viewers with coverage of 22 games, including the quarter-finals, semifinals and final, in Italian, Portuguese, Cantonese, Polish and Greek.
