Hockey Canada, TSN, and RDS announce long-term media rights extension

Partnership includes extensive slate of Canadian hockey programming, including Canada’s iconic hockey holiday tradition, the IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

TORONTO – TSN, RDS, and Hockey Canada today announced a long-term media rights agreement that extends through the 2033-34 season, continuing their long-standing partnership that dates back to 1991. The announcement comes on the heels of TSN and RDS’s exclusive live broadcast of Team Canada’s instant-classic gold medal win over Team Russia on Sunday at the 2020 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP, live from Ostrava, Czech Republic.

The extension ensures that TSN and RDS will continue to hold the exclusive, multi-platform media rights to Hockey Canada events, including the IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP, which has become both Canada’s favourite hockey holiday tradition and one of the networks’ most-watched properties. World Juniors games make up three of the top five most-watched programs ever on TSN, and nine of the Top 20.

As the official broadcast partner of Hockey Canada, TSN and RDS will deliver an extensive schedule of games annually from Hockey Canada events, including:

International events such as the IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP; IIHF WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP; and IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Domestic events such as the WORLD JUNIOR A CHALLENGE; NATIONAL WOMEN’S UNDER-18 CHAMPIONSHIP; CANADIAN TIRE PARA HOCKEY CUP; WORLD UNDER-17 HOCKEY CHALLENGE; TELUS CUP; ESSO CUP; CENTENNIAL CUP PRESENTED BY TIM HORTONS; and ALLAN CUP.

“For 30 years, Hockey Canada, TSN, and RDS have benefitted from a broadcast relationship that has built from grassroots programs and initiatives through to our national and international championships,” said Scott Smith, President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada. “The traditions and love of hockey have enabled us to share our vision of bringing fans closer to Canada’s game not just through viewership, but also through participation.”

“Hockey Canada has been an incredibly valued partner of TSN and RDS for decades, and we couldn’t be happier to reach this agreement and to continue to deliver this slate of world-class hockey events,” said Stewart Johnston, President, Media Sales and Marketing, Bell Media, and President of TSN. “Hockey Canada is the world leader in developing and promoting positive hockey experiences, from elite teams like we’ve seen over the last two weeks to the extensive grassroots programs it runs across the country. As Canada’s Sports Leader, we are thrilled to partner with Hockey Canada to help fulfill its mission, and we feel privileged to be the country’s long-term home for iconic hockey championships, including the World Juniors and so many more.”

Hockey Canada programming is also available to TSN and TSN Direct subscribers on TSN.ca and the TSN app. The complete broadcast schedule of Canadian hockey on TSN can be found here. (broadcast schedule is subject to change).

Hockey on TSN

TSN is the exclusive broadcaster of Hockey Canada, delivering marquee international events including the IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, IIHF WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP, IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, IIHF U18 WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, CANADIAN TIRE PARA HOCKEY CUP, and WORLD UNDER-17 HOCKEY CHALLENGE, as well as domestic events including the WORLD JUNIOR A CHALLENGE, TELUS CUP, ESSO CUP, CENTENNIAL CUP PRESENTED BY TIM HORTONS; and ALLAN CUP.

TSN’s slate of live hockey programming also features exclusive coverage of the SPENGLER CUP, as well as the HLINKA GRETZKY CUP.

TSN is also home to the Winnipeg Jets, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto Maple Leafs as part of its package of 190+ regional NHL regular season games. TSN delivers 60 Jets games on TSN3, 50 Canadiens games on TSN2, 55 Senators games on TSN5, and 26 Leafs games on TSN4, all in the teams’ respective designated broadcast regions.

TSN complements its live hockey coverage with Canada’s fan-favourite hockey news and information programming, featuring the hockey world’s most trusted team of Hockey Insiders and analysts. TSN’s industry-leading hockey programming includes SPORTSCENTRE, 7-ELEVEN THAT’S HOCKEY, and the network’s slate of signature hockey specials including TRADECENTRE, FREE AGENT FRENZY, FANTASY DRAFT, TOP 50 PLAYERS, and BOB MCKENZIE’S PRE-SEASON DRAFT RANKING.

About TSN TSN is Canada’s Sports Leader and provides world-class content across its industry-leading platforms including five national television feeds, TSN Direct, TSN.ca, and TSN Radio stations across the country. With a broad portfolio of multimedia sports assets, TSN delivers more championship events than any broadcaster in the country. The network’s deep and diverse roster of live sports programming includes the Grey Cup, IIHF World Junior Championship, Spengler Cup, Hockey Canada events, CFL, NFL, NBA, MLS, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Winnipeg Jets, Season of Champions Curling, FIFA World Cup™, Canada Soccer, CONCACAF Gold Cup, MLB, Golf’s Majors, NASCAR, F1, Grand Slam Tennis, UFC, NCAA March Madness, and Skate Canada and Rugby Canada events. TSN comes from Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and Out-of-Home. More information about TSN is available at TSN.ca.

About RDS RDS is Canada’s French-language sports broadcasting leader. In addition to its world-class content delivered across multiple platforms, including RDS, RDS2, RDS Info, RDS.ca and the RDS app, RDS offers the broadest portfolio of French-language sports programming in the world. Official broadcaster of the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators, CFL and Grey Cup, NFL and Super Bowl, MLB and World Series, Olympic Games until 2024, FIFA World Cup until 2026, exclusive French-language broadcaster of the Montreal Alouettes, Laval Rocket, Formula 1, RDS’s slate of channels present more than 4,000 hours of live programming each year, including UFC, the IIHF World Championship and World Junior Championship, NASCAR, PGA Tour golf including all four majors, ATP tennis, all four Grand Slam tournaments, Season of Champions Curling and Skate Canada events. RDS comes from Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and Out-of-Home. More information about RDS is available at RDS.ca.

About Hockey Canada Hockey Canada is the governing body for hockey in Canada and a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), with a membership through its 13 member associations of over 750,000 players, coaches and officials. Hockey Canada is a not-for-profit organization that creates leading-edge hockey development programs for its members to deliver in communities across Canada; provides consistent rules and regulations and various other membership services from coast to coast to coast; manages numerous regional, national and international hockey championships and events; and leads the operation of all teams that represent Canada in international competition. Hockey Canada’s mission is to lead, develop and promote positive hockey experiences. For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook and Twitter.