ESPN PICKS UP CFL BROADCASTS
TORONTO — Every Canadian Football League game this season will be available live to fans in the United States thanks to a new multi-year agreement with ESPN, which was announced today.
“We are thrilled for our fans in the United States that the ESPN networks will be the exclusive home of our league there,” said Mark Cohon, Commissioner of the CFL.
“This is a powerful showcase for our talented athletes, our exciting brand of football, and the CFL itself, a league with a proud history but, more importantly, a bright future.”
A minimum of 17 regular season games and the Eastern and Western Finals will be televised live on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNEWS. The 102nd Grey Cup will be televised live exclusively on ESPN2. All other CFL games will be available to fans live on ESPN3 across computers, smartphones, tablets and connected devices.
“Since the early days of ESPN, CFL games have been a valued part of our programming lineup,” said Burke Magnus, Senior Vice President, Programming Acquisitions. “I’m proud to see our relationship continue as we strive to serve football fans 365 days a year.”
The 2014 CFL season kicked off last night as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the Toronto Argonauts 45-21. It continues on Saturday, June 28, as the Montreal Alouettes visit the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium. The game features the CFL regular season debut for Chad Johnson of the Alouettes and will be televised live on ESPN2.
The 2014 CFL season concludes with the 102nd Grey Cup championship game on Sunday, November 30 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
“Collaborating with a worldwide leader in sports content like ESPN is great news for our fans, our players and our teams,” said Cohon. “It speaks to the strength of our product and the passion of fans in the U.S. for our game.”
Any one know how much they paid for the broadcast rights in the U.S.
The guy who walks my dog says that his uncle's barber's kid's friend had heard $100 million over 125 years.
Signed
Fah Seechus
Haha it must be a long weekend. I'll bet Chris Berman had a hand in making this deal happen. He's always been a big booster of the CFL and always mentions it on his broadcasts. Another shot against the "CFL is bush league" idiots. ESPN doesn't cover bush league football.
cfl is paying them.
I'm confused… Listen to these two statements from the same article:
1) Every Canadian Football League game this season will be available live to fans in the United States thanks to a new multi-year agreement with ESPN
2) A minimum of 17 regular season games and the Eastern and Western Finals will be televised live on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNEWS.
So what is it: '17' games or 'every' game???
Confused
That Dale guy who just phoned Sportscage is the epitome of a Rider fan. He looks for excuse after excuse after excuse as to why he isn't going. What a load of crap! Here's the bottom line—-either be a fan and show your support or shut the f up. Those who aren't going Sunday for whatever reason whether it be the weather or a GC hangover or whatever should pull their head out of their ass and while doing that perhaps turn in their pledge pin.
Allison
GC hangover, you hicks are hilarious.
Bllison
The other games are on ESPN3 which is a computer based network. You need to subscribe to ESPN and then You can get access to ESPN3.
So, if you are visiting the U.S. And pop into a bar there are 17 games you can see.
I have never found a bar that can put up ESPN3 onto one of the TVs. It is technically possible but no one seems to do it.
This is really a crappy deal. Only 17 games on the real networks…all others on a computer (ESPN3).
WELL THAT IS AWESOME NEWS! ALWAYS GREAT TO HEAR ABOUT MORE EXPOSURE FOR THE LEAGUE!
Maybe both Peter King and ESPN can report how the CFL seems to sometimes have it together (like the success of 'Friday Night Football').
But also how sometimes the CFL has its head up its ass when the first weekend of play there is no scheduled 'Friday Night Football"!
What gives CFL???
Why no football on Friday CFL!!!
nhl entry draft was on
NHL draft was last night, therefore no Friday Night Football.
There is simply no comparison to being at a Rider game to watching it on TV. It was like not being at Woodstock to see live music but watching it on film. Being at a "happening" is a completely different thing than watching it on a screen. The energy, sights and sounds of live action is something real while sitting in front of the Tube is a lesser experience.
Now that the weather will be fine for the game Sunday, a sell-out is a sure thing.
Look forward to seeing Brent Butt and the Corner Gas crew on the kiss cam at the big game Sunday!
Its kind of a crappy deal. ESPN3 isn't available to everyone. You have to be a cable or satellite subscriber with certain providers. Since I have Dish Network, it isn't available to me. When I first read the headline, I thought I could get rid of my Canadian satellite dish, but I will be keeping it, so I can get TSN and truly get live every game.
@Allison,
Girls shouldn't swear, but you make a good point.
The home opener after a Grey Cup win should be sold out.
Y'er Welcome
Obama
Hey Colts fans! Jerrell Freeman is at the Rider Store at the Northgate Mall today from 1 to 3 pm!
Well, the deal is for a MINIMUM of 17 regular season games. I have a feeling that they may pick up more games during the summer if the ratings are good. Basketball, football, and hockey are on the shelf so it's competing with baseball, poker, golf, and Nascar. Will be interesting to see how the playoff ratings compare to the other fall sports.
Would also like to see the value and length of the deal. It looks like Cohon might have pulled the ultimate screw-job on the CFLPA by keeping this deal under wraps until after the new CBA.
not really the cfl is paying them lol
So the city of Regina and the Province of Saskatchewan build a new stadium without a roof, this ESPN deal will further have more people with excuse to not attend games in person when Saskatchewan's inclement weather makes its usual presence known.
There are some really dumb people that comment on here. A deal with ESPN isn't going to effect attendance in Saskatchewan, we don't get ESPN in Canada and all the games have already been on TV here for years and attendance has been fine. The reason for no Friday Night Football in Week 1 was a little thing called the NHL Draft took over TSN for the night. Anyone who says this deal isn't good for the CFL is out of their mind. They get games live on ESPN, the main network. Plus the Grey Cup is live on ESPN2.… Read more »
i cant wait until the CFL ratings are bigger than the NHL in the US