Key dates and benchmark achievements in Sportsnet history:
---------1993--------
Rogers partners with CTV, Molson and American cable company Liberty Media to pursue the concept of a regional sports channel
---------1994--------
Application is made for regional sports channel license, working title "S3", however it is denied.
---------1996---------
Second regional sports application is successful, channel name is changed from "S3" to "CTV Sportsnet"
---------1997---------
CTV Sportsnet acquires national NHL cable package.
---------1998---------
CTV Sportsnet signs regional broadcast deals with Canadian NHL clubs.
Channel is launched as "CTV Sportsnet" - October
---------1999---------
CTV Sportsnet airs Memorial Cup for first-time.
---------2000---------
CTV Sportsnet launches ctvsportsnet.ca
After purchase of TSN, CTV is directed to CRTC to divest its' 40% controlling interest in CTV Sportsnet, which is put in trust for an interim period. Channel is renamed "Sportsnet"
---------2001---------
Rogers acquires CTV's 40% stake and assumes management of Sportsnet; unveils new logo and visual ID (July). Renamed, re-branded "Rogers Sportsnet" in November.
---------2002---------
Doug Beeforth, an original employee of Sportsnet, is promoted to President
Rogers Sportsnet televises FIFA Women's U-19 World Soccer Championship tournament, the final match of which establishes then record audience of 914,000.
---------2003---------
Rogers Sportsnet becomes leader in Canadian sports HD production, televising all Blue Jay home games in HD.
---------2004---------
Rogers Sportsnet acquires rights to 2006 FIFA World Cup (February).
Rogers Sportsnet signs two-year deal with MLB to air playoffs and World Series (April).
Rogers Sportsnet airs 100th live-event in high definition (August).
Rogers Media acquires 20 percent final stake of Sportsnet from Liberty Media.
Rogers Sportsnet registers first audience of over one-million with telecast of 2004 ALCS Game #7 (Boston vs. New York): 1.144 million (October).
---------2005---------
The International Olympic Committee awards the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games and the 2012 London Summer Games' broadcasting rights to the CTV-Rogers consortium (Bell Globemedia and Rogers Media).
Rogers Sportsnet is first Sports broadcaster in North America to deploy a live- to screen SMS chat ticker, and first to deploy SMS Text Message Alerts
During NHL work stoppage, Rogers Sportsnet registers highest ever audience for a Memorial Cup final: 827,000 viewers for Rimouski vs. London (May).
---------2006---------
Wireless alerts from Rogers Sportsnet supplement on-air NHL trade deadline coverage (March).
World Baseball Classic airs on Rogers Sportsnet (April).
2006 - Rogers Sportsnet partners with TSN and CTV to provide most comprehensive coverage of FIFA World Cup in history, airing all 64-games in high definition (February).
Rogers Sportsnet registers most watched live event when 1.180 million tune in to see 2006 FIFA World Cup Semi-final featuring Italy vs. Germany (July).
---------2007---------
Sportsnet announces multi-year contract extensions with both Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames
MySportsnet launches; customizable online service from Sportsnet.ca (June).
Sportsnet announces eight-year agreement with Toronto Maple Leafs; becomes Official Broadcaster of Team (September).
Rogers Sportsnet and Setanta Sports announce Canadian version of international sports channel (October).
Sportsnetnews re-branded as Sportsnet Connected (November).
Sportsnet signs three-year deal with NFL for 4 pm Sunday games (November).
---------2008---------
Rogers Sportsnet opens new HD facility at Rogers Campus in downtown Toronto (April).
Rogers Sportsnet announces new multi-year contract extensions with Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators
Rogers Sportsnet teams with TSN to televise Euro 2008 tournament (June).
- Reprinted courtesy Broadcast Magazine
