socceraction
15 Aug 2008, 02:14 PM
From CBC website:
TORONTO - The TSN canvas is growing at the end of the month, thanks to a companion digital channel.
TSN2 will launch Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. ET, allowing the network a way to avoid programming conflicts, showcase new content and expand coverage of existing events. TSN president Phil King points to the U.S. Open as an example, with TSN2 offering the opportunity to show live tennis that previously might have been kept off or delayed on TSN because of CFL, NFL or other live events.
"Now consumers can decide 'I'll watch tennis or football.' Let them choose," King said in an interview Thursday.
Cost and availability of the new channel will depend on local cable providers.
TSN has done a similar thing on a much smaller scale with its alternate digital feed, but King admits the service was hit and miss. A recent World Extreme Cagefighting mixed martial arts card, for example, was advertised by TSN as being on the alternate feed - while TSN aired an NFL exhibition game - but Rogers Cable subscribers viewers in Toronto found the channel had been dropped by their provider.
The network is adding some NHL and basketball games for TSN2, as well as NCAA football and basketball programming and live boxing from ESPN. TSN2 will also allow the network to repeat afternoon events, such as Champions League soccer, in prime time and also to offer more Champions League soccer games.
TSN2 will air SportsCentre, looping it until 3 p.m. ET to accommodate western viewers.
"The intention is to get things on TSN," King said. "In no way, shape or form, is this meant to water down or weaken TSN. That is out of the question."
SA
TORONTO - The TSN canvas is growing at the end of the month, thanks to a companion digital channel.
TSN2 will launch Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. ET, allowing the network a way to avoid programming conflicts, showcase new content and expand coverage of existing events. TSN president Phil King points to the U.S. Open as an example, with TSN2 offering the opportunity to show live tennis that previously might have been kept off or delayed on TSN because of CFL, NFL or other live events.
"Now consumers can decide 'I'll watch tennis or football.' Let them choose," King said in an interview Thursday.
Cost and availability of the new channel will depend on local cable providers.
TSN has done a similar thing on a much smaller scale with its alternate digital feed, but King admits the service was hit and miss. A recent World Extreme Cagefighting mixed martial arts card, for example, was advertised by TSN as being on the alternate feed - while TSN aired an NFL exhibition game - but Rogers Cable subscribers viewers in Toronto found the channel had been dropped by their provider.
The network is adding some NHL and basketball games for TSN2, as well as NCAA football and basketball programming and live boxing from ESPN. TSN2 will also allow the network to repeat afternoon events, such as Champions League soccer, in prime time and also to offer more Champions League soccer games.
TSN2 will air SportsCentre, looping it until 3 p.m. ET to accommodate western viewers.
"The intention is to get things on TSN," King said. "In no way, shape or form, is this meant to water down or weaken TSN. That is out of the question."
SA