The Sports Network is the channel that features sporting events in Canada since 1984. Owned by Bell Canada with ESPN a minority stake holder, TSN is the largest specialty channel in Canada. It holds the exclusive rights to cover sporting events including the Canadian Football League and Canadian Curling Association championships, NBA and the Toronto Raptors, Major League Soccer and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, soccer tournaments, IIHF ice hockey, and shares with CTV, its sister network, coverage of the Grand Slam of Tennis tournaments, Formula One and NASCAR racing, to name a few. It broadcast many programs from ESPN as well.
TSN announced in August that it was be adding five new branded channels to their package that will be available nationally. Although their contract with the NHL ended last spring, TSN still has NHL programming agreements with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and the Winnipeg Jets. TSN broadcasts 24-hour programming with each of its new channels being designated for a region of Canada. The national channel TSN2 will share some common programming and simulcast major events and each of the regional channels will have alternative national events, studio shows and regional programs.
TSN is the place fans can cheer on their favorite teams in the comfort of their home. Now Canadian fans can receive more regional programming as well as the national events. With ESPN supplying programming for the national and regional program lineups, sport fans in Canada have a greater variety of sporting event to enjoy.
