Sportsnet Comes Out Swinging with Wall-to-Wall Coverage of the 2013 Toronto Blue Jays Season

-All 162 games delivered on Sportsnet, Sportsnet 590 The FAN and Rogers Anyplace TV on computer, mobile and tablet -
-  Blue Jays season opener vs. Cleveland on April 2 at 7 p.m. ET -
- Extensive multiplatform coverage all season long across TV, radio, digital, and print -

MEDIA INTERVIEWS: Sportsnet talent are available to discuss the Blue Jays and MLB

TORONTO (March 21, 2013) In less than two weeks, the new-look Toronto Blue Jays step to the plate for the first time in the 2013 regular season, and Sportsnet will be there all season long with all 162 regular season games on Sportsnet, Sportsnet 590 The FAN and RogersAnyplaceTV.com.  Sportsnet keeps Blue Jays fans across the country connected to their home team with unparalleled coverage and content across the Sportsnet suite of TV, radio, digital and print assets.

Coverage begins with the Blue Jays season opener as they host the Cleveland Indians on Honda Opening Night at Rogers Centre, beginning at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT on Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific. (Click here for Sportsnet’s complete 2013 Blue Jays TV broadcast schedule).

Sportsnet’s 2013 Toronto Blue Jays weekday telecasts lead off with anchor Hazel Mae setting the stage on Connected at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT, including Blue Jays Central with hosts Jamie Campbell and former Blue Jay and World Series champion Gregg Zaun previewing the game’s key matchups and interviewing guest analysts. Two other former Blue Jays, Buck Martinez and Pat Tabler, return to their familiar spots in the TV broadcast booth to provide play-by-play and analysis, respectively, with reporter Barry Davis and correspondent Arash Madani rounding out Sportsnet’s television broadcast team.

Sportsnet 590 The FAN’s coverage of the 2013 Toronto Blue Jays will be led by seasoned veteran play-by-play man Jerry Howarth alongside one of Sportsnet’s newest analysts, four-time World Series champion and former Blue Jay Jack Morris. Morris will also make appearances on Sportsnet’s Blue Jays game telecasts, Blue Jays Central, Baseball Central @ Noon and sportsnet.ca. Following each radio broadcast, Mike Wilner hosts Blue Jays Talk, in addition to contributing to the radio game broadcasts and providing Blue Jays reports all season long.

Former Blue Jays pitcher Dirk Hayhurst returns to the Sportsnet broadcast team as co-host of Baseball Central @ Noon on Sportsnet 590 The FAN and will also make appearances as an analyst on radio broadcasts, a panelist for Blue Jays Central and MLB programming, including the All-Star Game and MLB Playoffs, and a contributor on sportsnet.ca.

Below are the key details of Sportsnet’s extensive 2013 Toronto Blue Jays multiplatform coverage:

TV – Sportsnet

• 142 games televised nationally across a combination of Sportsnet East, Ontario, West, and Pacific, with the remaining 20 games broadcast on Sportsnet ONE
• Jays in 30 – A 30-minute condensed-game recap following each game. Click here for broadcast schedule
  • In addition to Blue Jays coverage, Sportsnet is also the exclusive Canadian broadcaster of the MLB All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, MLB Playoffs and the World Series

Radio – Sportsnet 590 The FAN/Sportsnet 960 The FAN

• Baseball Central – From April 1 to July 5, hosts Jeff Blair and Dirk Hayhurst are joined by the biggest guests in baseball to discuss the latest Blue Jays and MLB news, weekdays at 11 a.m. ET on Sportsnet 590 The FAN and simulcast on Sportsnet ONE
• Baseball Central @ Noon – From July 8 to the end of the season, Dirk Hayhurst and Sam Cosentino host the popular one-hour show, providing fans with the latest from around Blue Jays camp and MLB, weekdays at Noon ET on Sportsnet 590 The FAN and simulcast on Sportsnet East and Ontario
• In addition to the 162 games broadcast on Sportsnet and Sportsnet 590 The FAN, Sportsnet 960 The FAN will carry 70 Toronto Blue Jays games in 2013 (Click here for a full schedule)

Digital – sportsnet.ca, Sportsnet Mobile app and Rogers Anyplace TV

• The recently redesigned sportsnet.ca will cover every angle of the 2013 Blue Jays and MLB season with more daily content than any other sports website in Canada, featuring:
  • Senior baseball columnist Shi Davidi and the newest member of the team, Ben Nicholson-Smith, who will take on the role of baseball editor
  • Columnist Michael Grange, analyst Dirk Hayhurst, stat man Scott Carson, broadcaster Wilner and blogger Tao of Stieb who will provide opinions and analysis all season long
• Live Tracker – Enhances the viewing experience byallowing fans to follow games live online with real time stats as well as to chat with fellow Blue Jays fans throughout each game
• Fan Fuel – Baseball Insiders answers questions submitted by fans throughout the season
• Video – Exciting video content and TV features available daily on sportsnet.ca such as Zaun 101 segments, Up Close, Prime Time Sports segments, and more
• Sportsnet Mobile app – The newly redesigned app allows fans to customize and follow the Blue Jays and their favourite teams and players. With real time alerts, fans can get up-to-the-second coverage of any game, including instant notifications of in-game moments such as runs scored, home runs and more.
  • Available free for the BBZ10 from BlackBerry World, and for iPhone, iPad and iTouch on the App Store and in iTunes
• Rogers Anyplace TV – All 162 regular season Blue Jays games on Sportsnet are streamed live on Rogers Anyplace TV
  • Rogers digital television customers can live stream the games on their computer and tablet
  • Rogers wireless customers never have to miss a moment of the action on their smartphone via the Rogers AnyplaceTV Live Mobile app (available through the Apple App Store, Google Play and BlackBerry App World)

Print – Sportsnet Magazine

• Blue Jays Preview (March 28) – An in-depth look at the newly rebuilt 2013 Blue Jays, including player profiles, interviews, and analysis
• ’93 World Series: An oral history (April 22) – In this special collector’s issue, members of the 1993 Blue Jaysremember their historic World Series title
• In-Season – In-depth profiles and analysis all season long

Join the Discussion

Fansare encouraged to be a part of the Toronto Blue Jays discussion all season long by sharing their thoughts and opinions through Sportsnet’s official social media channels listed below and by using the #SNBlueJays hashtag. Fans can also connect directly with their favourite baseballpersonalities via Twitter to receive the latest baseball news and updates.

Social Media Links

Official Website www.sportsnet.ca

Like Sportsnet www.facebook.com/sportsnet

Follow Sportsnet 590 The FAN @FAN590

Follow Jamie Campbell @SportsnetJamie

Follow Gregg Zaun @GreggZaun

Follow Shi Davidi @ShiDavidi

Follow Mike Wilner @Wilnerness590

Follow Dirk Hayhurst @TheGarfoose

Follow Barry Davis @SNBarryDavis

Follow Arash Madani @ArashMadani

Follow Michael Grange @michaelgrange

Follow Tao of Stieb @TaoofStieb

Follow Scott Carson @caRSoN_Stats

Follow Mike Cormack @MikeCormack

Follow Sportsnet @Sportsnet

Official Sportsnet PR @SportsnetPR

About Sportsnet
Sportsnet connects Canadian sports fans to their favourite teams and athletes, using five platforms: TV, Radio, Print, Online and Mobile. Sportsnet is Fuelled By Fans, and delivers storytelling on a local, regional, national and global level. The multiplatform brand consists of Sportsnet, sportsnet.ca, Sportsnet 590 The FAN, Sportsnet 960 The FAN, Sportsnet magazine, Sportsnet Mobile and the Hockey Central app on iPad and Playbook. Sportsnet is the Canadian leader in NHL and MLB television broadcasts and is home to 162 Toronto Blue Jays games, plus MLB Playoffs and the World Series. Sportsnet is an official licensed broadcaster of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil^TM and also offers an exciting sports lineup including the NFL, the Memorial Cup, Ultimate Fighting Championship^®, Grand Slam of Curling, IndyCar, the Rogers Cup tennis tournament, and extensive soccer programming including Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, MLS Vancouver Whitecaps FC, CONCACAF and Canadian national team matches for men and women. Connected is the network’s nightly news program, providing regional and national coverage of the day’s events in the world of sports.