Toronto, ON (February 23, 2012) – TSN and RDS kick off their second year as the official broadcasters of Major League Soccer (MLS) in Canada with a national broadcast package that includes 36 games featuring Montreal Impact, Toronto FC, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
In addition to producing and broadcasting 36 games featuring Canadian teams, TSN, TSN2, RDS and RDS2 will broadcast select MLS games featuring two U.S.-based teams; those games will be announced in the coming weeks. TSN and RDS platforms will also have exclusive coverage in Canada of the MLS CUP Playoffs, the MLS CUP 2012 and the MLS ALL-STAR GAME.
All MLS games on TSN, TSN2, RDS and RDS2 can be seen live on TSN Mobile TV and Télé Mobile RDS.
TSN and RDS’ schedule begins with the highly-anticipated MLS debut of the Montreal Impact when the team travels to Vancouver to play on Bell Pitch downtown at BC Place for Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s home opener on March 10 at 6 p.m. ET. The networks will also broadcast the Impact’s home opener vs. Chicago Fire on March 17 at Olympic Stadium and Toronto FC’s home opener against San Jose Earthquakes on March 24 at BMO Field. (See attached PDF for complete MLS ON TSN and RDS schedule.)
In total, the MLS ON TSN and RDS schedule features five all-Canadian matches: including Montreal @ Vancouver (March 10); Toronto @ Montreal (April 7 and June 27); Vancouver @ Toronto (July 11); and Montreal @ Toronto (October 20). Additional schedule highlights include:
• Montreal Impact’s first game at the new Stade Saputo scheduled for June 16
• Five games featuring superstars David Beckham, Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan and the MLS CUP 2011 champion LA Galaxy
• Three games featuring reigning league MVP Dwayne De Rosario and D.C. United
• Two games featuring French star Thierry Henry and the New York Red Bulls
MLS ON TSN
Acclaimed play-by-play commentator Luke Wileman and colour analyst Jason deVos return to the MLS ON TSN broadcast booth for a second season. Full MLS coverage will be featured across all of TSN’s key programs and platforms, including SPORTSCENTRE and TSN.ca, where fans can browse scores, news and highlights from the league.
Bell Media’s TSN Radio and TEAM Radio sports stations will track MLS throughout the season. In addition, TEAM 1410 in Vancouver has play-by-play coverage of every Whitecaps game, along with a pre- and post-game show. The station also airs WHITECAPS FC DAILY weekdays from 3 to 4 p.m. PT, giving fans insight from the most knowledgeable soccer analysts from Vancouver and beyond.
MLS ON RDS
RDS is the official French-language broadcaster of MLS in Canada. Once again, play-by-play commentators Claudine Douville and Jean Gounelle will be joined by analysts Michel Y. Lacroix and Patrick Leduc to cover all the action.
In celebration of Montreal Impact’s league debut, RDS travels to BC Place on March 10 to
bring fans live on-site coverage. RDS will also have special coverage surrounding Montreal Impact’s home opener and the team’s inaugural game at Stade Saputo.
RDS keeps soccer fans in the loop with all the latest news on the Impact and MLS featured across its popular shows and multi-platforms including SPORTS 30, L’ANTICHAMBRE, le 5 à 7, RDS INFO and RDS.ca.
