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