Bell Media, NFL Broaden Broadcast Partnership for 2014

Bell Media and the National Football League announced a multi-year extension of their broadcast partnership that will see more NFL games on more Bell Media channels and platforms than ever before. The agreement brings the 4 p.m. Sunday package to CTV and TSN for the first time, allowing for a full day of Sunday NFL programming on Bell Media channels. The new agreement is complementary to the existing agreement for primetime games on TSN.

Beginning Fall 2014, Bell Media becomes the rights holder to NFL football in Canada for:

• Sunday 1 p.m. regular-season games
• Sunday 4 p.m. regular-season games
• Sunday Night regular-season games
• Monday Night regular-season games
• All Playoff Games
• The SUPER BOWL

Fans will now receive Sunday afternoon games on conventional (CTV/CTV Two) and specialty (TSN/TSN2) at both 1 and 4 p.m.

Additionally, the new agreement grants Bell Media digital media rights for the first time, giving Canadian fans the ability to watch NFL games and content on Bell Media TV Everywhere platforms, including CTV GO and TSN GO.

Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

“As NFL audiences continue to rise, Bell Media is proud to provide even wider access to Canadian NFL fans wherever they may be and on whatever platform,” said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports. “The National Football League is a brand synonymous with excellence and leadership to both fans and advertisers alike. We look forward to elevating the NFL in Canada to even higher peaks.”

“Since partnering with Bell Media we have seen a strong lift in our viewership in Canada,” said Julie Moeller, Vice President of International Media Business Development, NFL. “Starting in 2014, Bell Media will offer live NFL football all day on Sundays across their networks and digital offerings, providing a dynamic viewing experience for the fans. We are pleased to extend our partnership.”

As the home of professional football in Canada, TSN will continue to be Canada’s source for NFL news and information, led by SPORTSCENTRE. In addition to broadcasting NFL programming from ESPN, including NFL COUNTDOWN on Sunday mornings, MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN, and the NFL DRAFT, TSN also broadcasts the Sunday night pre-game show FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA.

NFL Sundays in Canada:

10 a.m.           NFL COUNTDOWN

1 p.m.             Two games in each market

4 p.m.             Two games in each market

7 p.m.             FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA

8:30 p.m.        Sunday night football

11:30 p.m.      SPORTSCENTRE

TSN has been televising NFL games since 1987, where it is among the Top 3 sports broadcast on the network, while CTV’s partnership with the NFL began in 2007. Since that time, NFL audiences have grown 76% for regular season games on CTV and 48% for playoff games. Since 2012, audiences have spiked for males, up 15% for M18-49 and up 18% for M25-54. The SUPER BOWL remains the most-watched television event in Canada, with an audience of 7.4 million on CTV and RDS in 2013.