TORONTO, ON (May 6, 2013) – Sportsnet today announced it has secured the Canadian multimedia rights to all European qualification matches for both UEFA EURO 2016 andthe 2018 FIFA World Cup for a total of more than 500 matches over the next four years, further cementing the brand as Canada’s undisputed home to all things soccer.
The new agreement includes a comprehensive suite of multimedia rights for television, online and mobile, featuring 258 European qualification matches for UEFA EURO 2016 beginning in September 2014, as well as 258 European qualification matches for 2018 FIFA World Cup beginning September 2016.
“Canadians have an insatiable appetite for European soccer,” said Navaid Mansuri, Vice-President, Programming, Sportsnet. “The addition of more than 500 elite European qualifying matches to Sportsnet’s already comprehensive soccer portfolio ensures Canadians will remain connected to the beautiful game for years to come.”
Sportsnet delivers the most extensive multiplatform soccer coverage, with access to more than 1,000 world-class matches a year, including:
- CONCACAF events
- Barclays Premiere League
- UEFA Champions League
- UEFA Europa League
- World Cup Qualifying
- Toronto FC
- Vancouver Whitecaps
- Canada Men’s and Women’s Team matches
- FIFA World Cup events
Today’s announcement marks the sixth premium soccer rights acquisition secured by the multiplatform sports media brand in the past year. Over the last twelve months, Sportsnet has announced multi-year, multiplatform rights agreements for the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Champions League, 2014 World Cup Qualifying and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Barclays Premier League and CONCACAF.
Sportsnet is an official licensed broadcaster of the 2014 FIFA World Cup BrazilTM in association with CBC, and produces Soccer Central, the nightly one-hour soccer news show providing footy fans with news, highlights and analysis from the world’s best soccer leagues and events, 365 days a year. Sportsnet is also currently the first and only sports media company in Canada to launch a digital subscription video on-demand service – Sportsnet World Online – delivering premium soccer content not available anywhere else.
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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 consists of four regional channels (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific), and the nationally-distributed Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet World, and The Score. 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 BrazilTM and also offers an exciting sports lineup including the NFL, the Memorial Cup, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Grand Slam of Curling, IZOD IndyCar Series, 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.