Rocks And Rolls: TSN Signs Six-Year Deal For Curling Rights

TSN Inks Six-Year Deal With Canadian Curling Association

TSN and the Canadian Curling Association (CCA) signed a six-year broadcast and multimedia deal that provides TSN with exclusive Canadian rights to Season of Champions events each year. The deal, which includes broadband, mobile, radio and VOD rights, begins in ’08 and runs through the 2013-2014 season (TSN). In Toronto, William Houston reports the deal is worth around C$15M and gives the net the rights to the Tim Hortons Brier, the Scott Tournament of Hearts, the Ford World Championships and the 2010 Olympic trials. TSN also will give the CCA “air time for sponsors.” CTV, which operates TSN, may broadcast some championship matches. The CBC, which has televised curling in Canada since the ’60s, “was not invited to bid for the rights,” and CCA CEO Dave Parkes said that that was because the net “couldn’t match the number of hours of programming promised by TSN or provide the promotional opportunities offered by CTV.” CBC spokesperson Jeff Keay said, “It’s fair to say that [not being able to bid] was surprising and disappointing after more than a 40-year relationship.” Houston notes the CBC “cut back on [curling] coverage and aired draws on CBC Country Canada” after winning the broadcast rights in ’04 (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/16). In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich reports the TSN deal is worth C$12M. Keay said that the CBC “will honour terms of its current contract” (TORONTO STAR, 6/16).

MORE CHANGES AHEAD? The STAR’s Zelkovich writes the loss of curling “isn’t the end of the CBC’s bad news,” as CTV/TSN “is poised to keep the Grey Cup game in the next [CFL] deal and take a serious run at ‘Hockey Night In Canada.’” If CTV/TSN was successful in gaining the rights to “HNIC,” it “would be the death knell for CBC Sports” (TORONTO STAR, 6/16).