miami_fan
07-31-2006, 08:53 PM
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9579897
TSN to broadcast Thursday/Saturday NFL games in Canada
TORONTO (July 31, 2006) -- TSN and the NFL announced the network has secured exclusive Canadian rights to the NFL's Thursday/Saturday eight-game regular-season broadcast package, beginning this season and continuing through 2008, further reinforcing TSN's status as the primetime home for the NFL in Canada.
This latest acquisition provides TSN with all Thursday/Saturday prime time matchups and boosts the network's comprehensive 2006 NFL schedule to 42 regular-season games, a substantial increase over the 25 games televised on TSN last season. All games will be televised in prime time and in High Definition on TSN HD.
The announcement marks the third broadcast deal TSN has inked with the NFL leading into the 2006 season, following earlier news that TSN solidified a long-term deal for exclusive Canadian rights to Monday Night Football -- the most successful series in sports television -- and the extension of its long-standing Sunday Night Football broadcast package.
"Acquiring exclusive rights to additional NFL games through a third broadcast package further aligns TSN with one of the most recognizable properties in all of sports," said Phil King, president of TSN. "We look forward to expanding our NFL partnership as the league's popularity reaches new heights in Canada."
NFL ratings on TSN have increased dramatically over the past five years. TSN recorded an average audience of 340,000 viewers during the 2005 season, marking a 34 percent increase over the season average in 2000 (254,000). TSN has been televising NFL games since 1987.
"We are extremely pleased to expand our longstanding relationship with TSN," said NFL senior vice president Mark Waller. "For nearly 20 years, TSN has helped nurture the NFL's presence in Canada. With this new programming package, Canadian fans will continue to benefit from TSN's commitment to the NFL."
The NFL on TSN gets underway Aug. 6 with the first of six preseason matchups, featuring the Hall of Fame Game between Oakland and Philadelphia from Canton, Ohio. TSN's 42-game regular-season campaign kicks off with the first game of the season on Sept. 7, featuring the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers playing host to the Miami Dolphins.
TSN's 2006 NFL Thursday/Saturday broadcast schedule is as follows (Note: all games are available in High Definition on TSN HD):
•Thursday, Nov. 23 -- Denver at Kansas City at 8 p.m. ET
•Thursday, Nov. 30 -- Baltimore at Cincinnati at 8 p.m. ET
•Thursday, Dec. 7 -- Cleveland at Pittsburgh at 8 p.m. ET
•Thursday, Dec. 14 -- San Francisco at Seattle at 8 p.m. ET
•Saturday, Dec. 16 -- Dallas at Atlanta at 8 p.m. ET
•Thursday, Dec. 21 -- Minnesota at Green Bay at 8 p.m. ET
•Saturday, Dec. 23 -- Kansas City at Oakland at 8 p.m. ET
•Saturday, Dec. 30 - N.Y. Giants at Washington at 8 p.m. ET
TSN is Canada's Sports Leader. Setting the Canadian sports broadcasting standard, TSN's flagship news program, SportsCentre, was voted the No. 1 source for sports news by sports fans from across the country. TSN's comprehensive broadcast schedule also features the NHL; Toronto Maple Leafs hockey; International Hockey; the Olympic Games through 2012; CFL including TSN Friday Night Football; PGA TOUR; Season of Champions Curling; NASCAR; Formula One; IRL; Blue Jays baseball; Raptors basketball; Tennis and all four Grand Slam events; 2006 FIFA World Cup; UEFA Champions League Soccer; HBO World Championship boxing; and Figure Skating. TSN HD offers more sports coverage in High Definition than any other network in Canada. TSN is available in 8 million households.
TSN to broadcast Thursday/Saturday NFL games in Canada
TORONTO (July 31, 2006) -- TSN and the NFL announced the network has secured exclusive Canadian rights to the NFL's Thursday/Saturday eight-game regular-season broadcast package, beginning this season and continuing through 2008, further reinforcing TSN's status as the primetime home for the NFL in Canada.
This latest acquisition provides TSN with all Thursday/Saturday prime time matchups and boosts the network's comprehensive 2006 NFL schedule to 42 regular-season games, a substantial increase over the 25 games televised on TSN last season. All games will be televised in prime time and in High Definition on TSN HD.
The announcement marks the third broadcast deal TSN has inked with the NFL leading into the 2006 season, following earlier news that TSN solidified a long-term deal for exclusive Canadian rights to Monday Night Football -- the most successful series in sports television -- and the extension of its long-standing Sunday Night Football broadcast package.
"Acquiring exclusive rights to additional NFL games through a third broadcast package further aligns TSN with one of the most recognizable properties in all of sports," said Phil King, president of TSN. "We look forward to expanding our NFL partnership as the league's popularity reaches new heights in Canada."
NFL ratings on TSN have increased dramatically over the past five years. TSN recorded an average audience of 340,000 viewers during the 2005 season, marking a 34 percent increase over the season average in 2000 (254,000). TSN has been televising NFL games since 1987.
"We are extremely pleased to expand our longstanding relationship with TSN," said NFL senior vice president Mark Waller. "For nearly 20 years, TSN has helped nurture the NFL's presence in Canada. With this new programming package, Canadian fans will continue to benefit from TSN's commitment to the NFL."
The NFL on TSN gets underway Aug. 6 with the first of six preseason matchups, featuring the Hall of Fame Game between Oakland and Philadelphia from Canton, Ohio. TSN's 42-game regular-season campaign kicks off with the first game of the season on Sept. 7, featuring the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers playing host to the Miami Dolphins.
TSN's 2006 NFL Thursday/Saturday broadcast schedule is as follows (Note: all games are available in High Definition on TSN HD):
•Thursday, Nov. 23 -- Denver at Kansas City at 8 p.m. ET
•Thursday, Nov. 30 -- Baltimore at Cincinnati at 8 p.m. ET
•Thursday, Dec. 7 -- Cleveland at Pittsburgh at 8 p.m. ET
•Thursday, Dec. 14 -- San Francisco at Seattle at 8 p.m. ET
•Saturday, Dec. 16 -- Dallas at Atlanta at 8 p.m. ET
•Thursday, Dec. 21 -- Minnesota at Green Bay at 8 p.m. ET
•Saturday, Dec. 23 -- Kansas City at Oakland at 8 p.m. ET
•Saturday, Dec. 30 - N.Y. Giants at Washington at 8 p.m. ET
TSN is Canada's Sports Leader. Setting the Canadian sports broadcasting standard, TSN's flagship news program, SportsCentre, was voted the No. 1 source for sports news by sports fans from across the country. TSN's comprehensive broadcast schedule also features the NHL; Toronto Maple Leafs hockey; International Hockey; the Olympic Games through 2012; CFL including TSN Friday Night Football; PGA TOUR; Season of Champions Curling; NASCAR; Formula One; IRL; Blue Jays baseball; Raptors basketball; Tennis and all four Grand Slam events; 2006 FIFA World Cup; UEFA Champions League Soccer; HBO World Championship boxing; and Figure Skating. TSN HD offers more sports coverage in High Definition than any other network in Canada. TSN is available in 8 million households.