OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport and TVA Sports announced Tuesday a four-year agreement for the exclusive French broadcasting rights of CIS national championships on television and across various multimedia platforms.
The agreement, which begins this fall and runs until the winter of 2019, features expanded coverage of women’s and men’s university sport, headlined by the prestigious Vanier Cup, presented by Promutuel Assurance. The 51st CIS football championship final is set for Nov. 28 on the campus of Université Laval in Quebec City.
Over the next four years, TVA Sports will also broadcast the Canadian university football semifinals, the ArcelorMittal Dofasco Mitchell Bowl and the Uteck Bowl, as well as selected contests from CIS winter championships in March.
It marks an unprecedented level of TV coverage for CIS in the French market.
“This is a historic agreement for our organization,” said Graham Brown, CIS chief executive officer. “This long-term partnership gives our national championships an unprecedented visibility in the francophone market. We are thrilled to partner for many years to come with a first-class organization in TVA Sports.”
“Canadian university football is now part of the fall traditions for sport fans who follow with great interest rivalries between elite programs such as the Montreal Carabins, Laval Rouge et Or and McMaster Marauders. Thanks to this agreement, fans will have the opportunity to witness the performances of the best Quebec student-athletes as they compete against top Canadian opponents, not only in football, but in a number of sports,” said Serge Fortin, vice president, TVA Sports.
Last spring, TVA Sports made its first steps in the world of university sport when it signed a multi-year agreement with the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec to become the new official broadcaster of RSEQ football, starting in 2015. This fall, the network airs no less than 11 games from the Quebec conference leading up to the CIS semifinals and the Vanier Cup, presented by Promutuel Assurance.
2015-2016 CIS EVENTS ON TVA SPORTS (7):
Nov. 21 (12:30 pm): ArcelorMittal Dofasco Mitchell Bowl
Nov. 21 (4 pm): Uteck Bowl
Nov. 28 (1 pm): Vanier Cup, presented by Promutuel Assurance
March 17-20: CIS winter championship games in basketball and/or hockey (4)
Note: Detailed broadcast schedule for winter championships to be announced at a later date
About TVA Sports
TVA Sports is the number one hockey destination in Quebec and the must-watch francophone network for sports fans. As the exclusive French broadcaster of the National Hockey League (NHL) in Canada until 2026, TVA Sports will air, during the 2015-2016 season, over 250 NHL games including all Saturday night games from the Montreal Canadiens, the playoffs, including Montreal Canadiens games, the Stanley Cup final and special events. TVA Sports also broadcasts 55 games from the QMJHL and CHL, including the Memorial Cup. Since 2015, the network is the official French broadcaster of Canadian university football with 11 RSEQ games, including the Dunsmore Cup final, as well as the Mitchell Bowl, Uteck Bowl and Vanier Cup until 2018. The network also has broadcasting agreements with a number of prestigious properties, including the National Football League (NFL), Rogers Cup, Major League Baseball (MLB), Toronto Blue Jays, Montreal Impact, GYM, Interbox Group, Eye of the Tiger Management, IndyCar Series, WTA Tennis, Davis Cup and Fed Cup, Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal, Red Bull Crashed Ice, Red Bull Signature Series and Dew Tour. TVA Sports also offers must-see daily shows such as the TVA Sports 5 pm edition and the late evening sports talk show, Dave Morissette en direct.
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