TSN/TSN2 Hoping To Be NBA Leader, Ensure Rogers Carriage

TSN To Telecast 48 Raptors Games, Hoping To Be Canada's NBA Leader

TSN's deal to broadcast 48 Raptors games this season on both its primary channel and new digital channel TSN2 "is about TSN's move to brand itself as the leading channel for NBA content," according to William Houston of the GLOBE & MAIL. TSN President Phil King: "We see a big upside with the Raptors and the NBA." King would not comment on details of the deal, but sources said that TSN "paid an undisclosed rights fee and will share commercial time." Sources added that the Raptors contract "is perhaps as long as five years, although it may be announced as only two years." TSN also "owns the non-Raptors NBA package that Rogers Sportsnet dropped at the end of last season, as well as postseason rights that include the NBA final." The CBC, meanwhile will air just 12 Sunday afternoon games, which the net wanted so it "could promote the Raptors telecasts on Saturday's 'Hockey Night in Canada.'" Meanwhile, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) chose TSN2 rather than its own Raptors NBA TV to telecast games because TSN2 "is in about twice as many homes, 3.2 million, as Raptors NBA TV." Houston notes by placing games on TSN2, TSN is "turning up the heat on Rogers." The MSO is "alone in not picking up TSN2" among top English-language cable and satellite companies. Rogers is MLSE's leading sponsor, meaning a rejection of TSN2 is "problematic," as Rogers "has an interest in promoting MLSE teams" (GLOBE & MAIL, 10/22).

LET'S MAKE A DEAL: The GLOBE & MAIL's Michael Grange wrote Rogers "can't afford not to carry TSN2, because, over time, some people may well switch to Bell for their TV needs," while TSN "can't really afford to keep TSN2 off of Rogers because, well, who would watch it?" Rogers is "the primary cable provider" in the greater Toronto area, and "freezing out the largest television market in the country is just really dumb." But Grange wrote, "In the end I'm quite confident that I'll get the Raptors on TSN2 on Rogers." Grange: "This will get worked out" (GLOBEANDMAIL.com, 10/21).