CTV Sports

CTV Sports was the division of the CTV Television Network responsible for sports broadcasting. The division existed in its own right from 1961 to 2001; between 1998 and 2001, CTV Sports also operated a cable sports network, CTV Sportsnet, now owned by Rogers Media and known simply as Sportsnet.

Since CTV's purchase of the more established sports network TSN in 2001 (which in turn caused the sale of Sportsnet to Rogers), the network has assumed responsibility for CTV's remaining sports output. At the same time, the amount of in-house sports programming aired by CTV has been reduced to only encompass occasional, TSN-produced telecasts, such as Skate Canada events, and simulcasts of events from U.S. networks. As of 2014, the only sports broadcasts regularly aired by CTV and CTV Two are National Football League games.

CTV has been incorporated into coverage of major international sporting events—such as FIFA World Cup tournaments, and the Olympic Games, which were most recently aired from 2010 to 2012 as part of a joint venture between Bell Media and Rogers Media.

Current sports programs aired by CTV

The following events are currently specifically designated to air on CTV:

Figure Skating

• Skate Canada events, including Skate Canada International and the Canadian Figure Skating Championships (2011-12 to 2020-21 seasons)^[1]

Football

• National Football League - Sunday afternoon (1:00pm ET and 4:05/4:25pm ET) local games, and playoffs including the Super Bowl (2014–present)
  • Prior to 2014, CTV only held rights to early afternoon games and the post-season. In 2014, CTV acquired rights to late games (previously held by Rogers through City and Sportsnet), and began incorporating CTV Two into its coverage.

Golf

• The Masters - in 2015, Bell Media acquired exclusive Canadian rights to The Masters, previously split between TSN and Global. CTV will air late-round coverage of the tournament.^[2][3]

Soccer

• Select games from FIFA tournaments between 2015–2022 (with most games on TSN), including:
  • 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup
  • 2018 FIFA World Cup
  • 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
  • 2022 FIFA World Cup

In addition, other coverage of events with rights held by TSN have occasionally aired on CTV or CTV Two, or local stations thereof, if necessary due to scheduling conflicts on the TSN channels, such as Vancouver Whitecaps FC games.^[4][5]

Former sports programs aired by CTV

Auto Racing

• In 2012, CTV broadcast Formula One's Canadian Grand Prix.^[6]

Baseball

• Major League Baseball - Toronto Blue Jays (1981–1992)
  • In addition, Baton Broadcasting (through ONT / BBS) syndicated Blue Jays games from 1993 to 1996, mostly to CTV affiliates. BBS was merged into CTV in late 1997, so these broadcasts might retroactively be considered CTV Sports broadcasts.
• Major League Baseball - Montreal Expos (1989–1993)
• Major League Baseball - All-Star Game, playoffs, and World Series (1981–1996)

Basketball

• National Basketball Association - Toronto Raptors/Vancouver Grizzlies/select national games/NBA All-Star Game & NBA Finals - (1995/1996-2001/2002 seasons)

Curling

• World Curling Championships (1991–1994)

Football

• Canadian Football League - CFL on CTV (1962–1986)

Hockey

• National Hockey League - NHL on CTV (1972 playoffs, 1984/1985-1985/1986 seasons)
• Canada Cup - (1976, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1991)
• Memorial Cup - (1972–1989, 1999–2001)

Olympics

• Summer Olympic Games - 1980, 1992, 2012
• Winter Olympic Games - 1964, 1972, 1980, 1988, 1994, 2010

Soccer

• FIFA World Cup - 2006 (as part of consortium with Sportsnet)^[7]

Notable personalities

• John F. Bassett
• Rod Black
• Don Chevrier
• Johnny Esaw
• Rob Faulds
• Dan Kelly
• Tony Kubek
• Pat Marsden
• Dan Matheson
• Fergie Olver
• Brad Park
• Bernie Pascall
• Leif Pettersen
• Dave Randorf
• Leo Rautins
• Frank Rigney
• Ron Reusch
• Dick Shatto
• Barbara Underhill
• Mike Wadsworth

References

1. Bell Media (2011-05-25). "CTV, TSN and RDS Become the Official Broadcasters of Skate Canada with Landmark 10-Year Deal". Retrieved 2011-08-05.
2. "Television wars continue as CTV takes Masters deal away from Global". Yahoo! Sports Canada. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
3. "CTV, TSN, and RDS announce exclusive, multi-year deal with The Masters". TSN.ca. Bell Media. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
4. "Every Game, All Season Long: MLS ON TSN Kicks Off its Complete Coverage of Vancouver Whitecaps FC This Saturday". Bell Media. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
5. "TSN to broadcast all Whitecaps FC games beginning in 2014". TSN.ca. Bell Media. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
6. "Bell Media Announces Coverage of Canadian Grand Prix". Broadcaster. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
7. "2006 FIFA World Cup Games Live in High Definition on Rogers Sportsnet, TSN and CTV". Broadcaster Magazine. Retrieved 3 December 2014.