CFL Finally Has A US TV Contract; Games Air On NBC Sports Network

After starting the season without a US TV partner, the Canadian Football League had to resort to streaming games on ESPN3. For the past three seasons, NFL Network had aired games, but never any of the CFL’s postseason games.

With a new partnership with NBC Sports Network, the CFL will have a US partner that will air regular season games in August unlike NFL Network, the playoffs unlike NFL Network, and the Grey Cup unlike NFL Network. It’s about time the CFL was served correctly.

The 14 game schedule will begin on August 27 with the Edmonton Eskimos taking on the Toronto Argonauts.

Like NFL Network, these games will be simulcasts of TSN’s coverage.

Here’s the NBC Sports Network press release.

NBC SPORTS NETWORK TO AIR 14 CFL GAMES IN 2012

Live Coverage of The 100th CFL Grey Cup To Air on NBC Sports Network Sunday, November 25

NEW YORK – July 20, 2012 – NBC Sports Network will telecast 14 CFL games in 2012, including the CFL semifinals, finals and the 100th edition of the Grey Cup. Coverage of the CFL on NBC Sports Network begins Monday, Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET, when the Edmonton Eskimos host the Toronto Argonauts. The season will conclude with the 100th Grey Cup on Sunday, Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. ET.

The 2012 schedule also includes the defending Grey Cup Champion BC Lions vs. the Montreal Alouettes at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 31; Calgary Stampeders vs. Edmonton Eskimos at 3:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 7; and Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs. Toronto Argonauts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 1.

NBC Sports Network’s 2012 CFL schedule (all times ET):

Date Opponent Time
Aug. 27 Edmonton vs. Toronto 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 BC vs. Montreal 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 3 Toronto vs. Hamilton 1:00 p.m.
Sept. 3 Edmonton vs. Calgary 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 7 Calgary vs. Edmonton 9:00 p.m.
Oct. 5 Hamilton vs. Edmonton 9:00 p.m.
Oct. 19 Edmonton vs. BC 10:00 p.m.
Nov. 1 Hamilton vs. Toronto 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 2 Calgary vs. Edmonton 9:00 p.m.
Nov. 11 Semifinals 4:30 p.m.
Nov. 11 Semifinals 11:00 p.m.
Nov. 18 Finals 4:30 p.m.
Nov. 18 Finals 11:00 p.m.
Nov. 25 Grey Cup 6:00 p.m.

That’s it.

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013. He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television. Fang celebrates the three Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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