When did The Sports Network begin broadcasting from Toronto?
The Sports Network began broadcasting on the 1st of September 1984 from a small studio in Toronto. Labatt Brewing Company owned the new channel and hired Gordon Craig to lead operations.
Questions about The Sports Network
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who owns The Sports Network now and how did ownership change over time?
Bell Media currently owns The Sports Network after acquiring it through Bell Globemedia formed in 2000. ESPN Inc. held about 30 percent of the consortium when NetStar Communications acquired the channel in 1995 before CTV Inc. bought the remaining shares later that year.
What channels make up The Sports Network expansion launched in 2014?
Three additional channels named TSN3, TSN4, and TSN5 arrived in September 2014 to coincide with the network's 30th anniversary. These feeds allowed regional coverage of teams like Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators while maintaining the same rate as TSN and TSN2 combined according to Bell executives.
Which sports leagues does The Sports Network hold rights to broadcast today?
The Sports Network holds national cable rights to broadcast the National Hockey League from 1987 to 1998 and again from 2002 to 2014 before losing them to Rogers Communications. The channel also broadcasts Canadian Football League games since 1987 with exclusive rights to the Grey Cup and airs Major League Soccer matches involving Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC starting in 2011.
When did The Sports Network launch its first high definition simulcast?
The Sports Network launched its first high definition simulcast on the 15th of August 2003 during a CFL game between Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. A power failure delayed the actual broadcast to August 16 but the technology remained intact for future use.