CBC to broadcast Toronto FC

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http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2007/04/11/cbc-torontofc.html

[Kanada Kev]

Damn ... i just got the interoffice email and thought that I'd have some new info for the soccer fans . There might be some added info here (like the sched, etc.):

CBC ANNNOUNCES BROADCAST AGREEMENT WITH

MAPLE LEAF SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR TORONTO FC GAMES

All CBC broadcasts to be available live and on demand at cbcsports.ca

CBC today announced a broadcast agreement with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment for the rights to Toronto FC, Canada’s first Major League Soccer club, in 2007, Toronto FC’s inaugural season. CBC Television will broadcast a package of 14 regular season Toronto FC games this year, including the team’s home opener on April 28. The agreement provides CBC with the exclusive Canadian broadcast rights to the 2007 MLS Playoffs and MLS Cup, as well as the 2007 MLS All-Star Game (broadcast schedule to be determined).

Plus, cbcsports.ca will provide video streaming of all CBC broadcasts in 2007 live and on-demand, in addition to Toronto FC and MLS highlights, ensuring Canadians are able to catch the action when they want it. CBC Country Canada will provide encore presentations of all 14 matchups broadcast by CBC Television (times and dates TBD).

The agreement includes an option for CBC to broadcast additional games in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

“We are very excited to be able to add coverage of Toronto FC to our soccer lineup,†said Scott Moore, executive director, CBC Sports. “We were clear when we announced our agreement with FIFA last fall that CBC is committed to helping to grow the game in Canada. Coverage of the first Canadian team in Major League Soccer history is an important part of that.â€

"There's a large appetite for soccer in Ontario and across Canada. Our new broadcast agreements will give all 30 Toronto FC games great exposure to a broad audience by introducing Major League Soccer's to Canadians coast to coast," said Tom Anselmi, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. "We're excited and look forward to the extension of our existing relationship with CBC through our new soccer team."

CBC kicks off regular season coverage on Saturday, April 28 at 12:30 p.m. ET, with coverage of Toronto FC’s home opener, which features the Kansas City Wizards—Toronto FC head coach Mo Johnston’s former team—taking on Canada’s first MLS club at BMO Field in Toronto. Other 2007 schedule highlights include the potential Canadian debut of international soccer icon David Beckham, as Toronto FC hosts the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. ET. Beckham will make his second appearance on CBC, Saturday, Oct. 13, when Toronto FC heads west to take on the Galaxy at Home Depot Center.

In addition to coverage of Toronto FC, this season CBC presents coverage of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007—the second largest event staged by FIFA after the FIFA World Cup. The FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007, taking place across Canada from June 30 to July 22, 2007, kicks off CBC/Radio-Canada’s new broadcast package with The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), which includes broadcast and multi-media rights to a comprehensive package of FIFA events from 2007 through 2014, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Full broadcast schedules for CBC’s coverage of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 are available at cbcsports.ca

Viewers can log on to cbcsports.ca 24 hours a day, seven days a week for comprehensive news and results throughout the entire MLS season.

About Toronto FC:

Toronto FC joined Major League Soccer in 2006 as its 13th team and the first outside the United States. Toronto FC will begin play at the new 20,000-seat BMO Field at Exhibition Place on April 28, 2007.

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For further information, contact:

Jennifer Neziol or Jess Rutledge

Jennifer (Work) 416-342-1818; (Mobile) 416-500-4733; jneziol@mediaprofile.com

Jess (Work) 416-342-1820; Jessica@mediaprofile.com

Media Profile, Toronto

For Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, contact:

Rajani J. Kamath

MLSE

T (416) 815-5790

April 11, 2007

2007 MLS ON CBC BROADCAST SCHEDULE

(All times ET unless otherwise indicated. Schedule subject to change)

REGULAR SEASON

Saturday, April 28 KANSAS CITY at TORONTO 12:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 12 CHICAGO at TORONTO 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 19 D.C. UNITED at TORONTO 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 26 TORONTO AT COLUMBUS TBD (delayed broadcast)

Saturday, June 2 COLORADO AT TORONTO 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 17 DALLAS at TORONTO 1 p.m.

Sunday, July 29 CHICAGO at TORONTO 3 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 5 LOS ANGELES at TORONTO 7 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 25 D.C. UNITED AT TORONTO 10 p.m. (delayed broadcast)

Saturday, Sept. 8 TORONTO AT DALLAS 10 p.m. LOCAL (delayed broadcast)

Saturday, Sept. 15 SALT LAKE CITY AT TORONTO 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 22 COLUMBUS AT TORONTO 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 13 TORONTO AT LOS ANGELES 1 a.m. following HNIC

Sunday Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. (encore)

Saturday, Oct. 20 NEW ENGLAND AT TORONTO 12:30 p.m.

[Davey Boy 2.0]

very cool.

not that i've ever watched more than 2 minutes of MLS but what the hell, i'll give it a shot

[Booche]

You had damn well better DaveyBoy. Support the homegrown troops. I've seen 11th division Equadorian soccer on your tele.

[Davey Boy 2.0]

that was an important game for Los Cohonjes