CBC SPORTS UNVEILS 2008 MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER ON CBC BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Former Canadian national soccer team captain Jason De Vos joins CBC broadcast team

CBC Sports takes the field for another exciting season of Toronto FC beginning April 5!  This year CBC will present a 15-game broadcast package featuring the 2008 MLS All-Star Game at BMO Field in Toronto, Toronto FC’s home opener on April 19 and five games versus Eastern Conference opponents. The schedule is rounded out with ten games versus Western Conference opponents including the David Beckham-led Los Angeles Galaxy and back-to-back MLS Cup champs Houston Dynamo.
CBCSports.ca will provide live and on-demand coverage of all MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER ON CBC broadcasts, in addition to Toronto FC and MLS highlights, while CBC Country Canada will provide live simulcast coverage of seven games and exclusive coverage of Toronto taking on Salt Lake City on Monday, July 28.

This season CBC welcomes a new addition to the MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER ON CBC broadcast team.  Jason De Vos, Canadian national soccer team captain from 1999 to 2004 and veteran defender for Ipswich Town FC, returns to CBC this summer as an analyst. De Vos, current captain of Ipswich Town FC, previously worked as an analyst during CBC’s coverage of the 2002 FIFA World Cup and brings more than 18 years of professional and international experience to his role with CBC.

Gemini Award-winner Scott Russell, host of the hugely successful FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2007, returns this season and will share hosting duties with Brenda Irving.  Nigel Reed, former host and producer for BBC’s English Premier League coverage, takes his familiar place in the broadcast booth as the play-by-play voice of MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER ON CBC, alongside new analyst De Vos.  Additionally, Bob Lenarduzzi, current president of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and former Canadian national team member and coach, will also hit the broadcast booth to provide analysis for the first two games of the regular season.  Mitch Peacock also returns as a sideline reporter on CBC’s broadcasts this season.

CBC sets the stage for the upcoming MLS season on Saturday, April 5 at 5:30 p.m. ET with MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER ON CBC: Preview 2008, and then kicks off regular season coverage on Saturday, April 19 at 12:30 p.m. ET, with coverage of Toronto FC’s home opener versus Real Salt Lake. Other 2008 schedule highlights include the second-annual CBC’s Soccer Day in Canada on May 31 at Noon ET.  CBC’s Soccer Day in Canada includes the potential Canadian MLS debut of international soccer icon David Beckham, as Toronto FC hosts the Los Angeles Galaxy at 3:30 p.m. ET (more broadcast details around CBC’s Soccer Day in Canada will be announced in the coming weeks).  CBC’s schedule also includes a showdown with the 2006 and 2007 MLS champion Houston Dynamo on Saturday, September 27 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Plus, as the 2008 MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER ON CBC season fast approaches, CBCSports.ca continues coverage of Toronto FC exhibition matches from the Carolina Challenge Cup on March 19 at 6 p.m. ET and March 22 at 6 p.m. ET, to prime fans for the upcoming season. (Please see complete CBCSports.ca schedule below).

Viewers can log on to CBCSports.ca 24 hours a day, seven days a week for comprehensive news and results throughout the entire MLS season.

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. With 28 services offered on Radio, Television, the Internet, satellite radio, digital audio, as well as through its record and music distribution service and wireless WAP and SMS messaging services, CBC/Radio-Canada is available how, where, and when Canadians want it.