Here’s a Fang’s Bites exclusive, at least until 2 p.m. ET today.
ESPN has announced that it will carry 60 Canadian Football League games this season, 5 on ESPN2 and 55 online through ESPN3. Since 2008, ESPN has carried CFL games on the internet either through its online platform (once known as ESPN360, since rebranded to ESPN3). ESPN3’s schedule will include two playoff games.
ESPN3’s schedule begins this Friday, June 28 with a doubleheader, Hamilton vs. Toronto and BC vs. Calgary. ESPN2 airs a CFL the following day, Saturday, June 29 with Saskatchewan vs. Edmonton.
Just like NBC Sports Network, ESPN’s feeds will be produced by TSN in Canada.
Here’s the schedule.
ESPN to Deliver 60 Live Canadian Football League Games
ESPN will carry 60 live Canadian Football League games throughout the 2013 season, beginning Friday, June 28, with a doubleheader on ESPN3: Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs. Toronto Argonauts (7 p.m. ET) and BC Lions vs. Calgary Stampeders (10 p.m.). In all, ESPN will televise five games on ESPN2 and an additional 55 – including two playoff games – on ESPN3.
ESPN’s relationship with the CFL dates back to the company’s first full year on the air, having televised Canadian Football League games throughout the 1980’s (1980-84 and 1986-89) and 1990’s (1994-1997).
CFL games have also been carried on ESPN3, the company’s live multi-screen network, since 2008. ESPN3 is accessible in more than 85 million households nationwide for fans who receive their internet or video subscriptions from an affiliated provider.
All games will be available on computers at WatchESPN.com, on tablets and smartphones via the WatchESPN app, through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members and on Apple TV.
ESPN will use commentators from TSN, the leading sports channel in Canada and CFL rightsholder, throughout the CFL season, which concludes in November.
Schedule through July:
Date Time (ET) Show Network Fri., June 28 7 p.m. Hamilton vs. Toronto ESPN3 10 p.m. BC vs. Calgary ESPN3 Sat., June 29 3:30 p.m. Saskatchewan vs. Edmonton ESPN2 Thu., July 4 7 p.m. Winnipeg vs. Montreal ESPN2 10 p.m. Toronto vs. BC ESPN3 Fri., July 5 9 p.m. Calgary vs. Saskatchewan ESPN3 Sun., July 7 5 p.m. Edmonton vs. Hamilton ESPN3 Thu., July 11 7:30 p.m. Saskatchewan vs. Toronto ESPN3 Fri., July 12 7:30 p.m. Calgary vs. Montreal ESPN3 Sat., July 13 6:30 p.m. Winnipeg vs. Hamilton ESPN3 9:30 p.m. BC vs. Edmonton ESPN2 Fri., July 19 8 p.m. Toronto vs. Winnipeg ESPN3 Sat., July 20 7 p.m. Montreal vs. Calgary ESPN2 10 p.m. Edmonton vs. BC ESPN3 Sun., July 21 7 p.m. Hamilton vs. Saskatchewan ESPN3 Thu., July 25 7:30 p.m. Edmonton vs. Montreal ESPN2 Fri., July 26 8 p.m. Calgary vs. Winnipeg ESPN3 Sat., July 27 7:30 p.m. Saskatchewan vs. Hamilton ESPN3
I’ll have more details on the unique CFL season on US television later tonight.
