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Sportsnet once again proves what a soccer backwater Canada really is


I have such a love/hate relationship with Sportsnet when it comes to their coverage of Canadian soccer. I mean, they do some good things. I like Craig Forrest and they did bring the EPL to regular cable. For that I am happy and grateful. But today my relationship is much more on the hate side.

Just in case you haven’t heard (and despite the glowing headline from the CSA site declaring Sportsnet to Broadcast Canada Gold Cup Matches), Sportsnet will not be showing Canada’ s Gold Cup matches on the main Sportsnet channel. In fact, if you live in British Columbia, you are shit out of luck at any coverage as NONE of the games will be carried on Sportsnet Pacific. Here is the broadcast schedule:

  • Canada vs. Jamaica (at Los Angeles) Friday, 3 July @ 8 p.m. (ET)/6 p.m. (MT) Sportsnet Ontario and West
  • El Salvador vs. Canada (at Columbus) Tuesday, 7 July @ 9 p.m. (ET)/7 p.m. (MT) Sportsnet East, Ontario and West
  • Costa Rica vs. Canada (at Miami) Friday, 10 July @ 7 p.m. (ET)/5 p.m. (MT) Sportsnet East and West

Soooooo, unless you have a digital package, you’re downloading torrents after the fact or resorting to our regular habit of finding Carribean and Central American web streams from broadcasters in countries that actually care about their national team.

Two things. First, CSA can you please sign with a broadcaster that will actually air these games coast to coast? I mean, you do have some power here.

The second thing, dear CSA, is that I WOULD PAY MONEY TO WATCH THESE GAMES ONLINE. Not sure if you heard that, so let me repeat. If you stream them, I will come. Smiling, with a Visa card in hand. And I suspect I wouldn’t be the only one. Just saying.

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July 2nd, 2009
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Comment Number:
1
Written by:
Devon
Posted on:
July 2, 2009 at 11:16 pm

I emailed Sportsnet this morning, and complained to them directly. I encourage everyone to do the same and let Sportsnet know how disappointed in them you are. Living in BC, and paying for Pacific, I feel ripped off. In their reply to me I was told that they have "Commitments" to Baseball. But why not at least stream it online? I don't know about paying for an online stream, as there are free ones out there, and besides if they would properly show the games on television it wouldn't be a problem in the first place. Am I the only one who looks at a TV and sees a dinosaur?

Comment Number:
2
Written by:
Pompey Canuck
Posted on:
July 2, 2009 at 11:19 pm

I would like to see a network show some commitment to football – of the major networks so far I have only seen this from The Score – and the CSA demand a commitment when selling the rights. We saw, or rather didn't see 11 of 15 matches from the Confederations Cup, UEFA Champions League Semis, and Canada's final World Cup qualifier. I would rather pay to watch the matches online from the CSA as opposed to acquiring extra Channels like TSN2, Every Sportsnet, & CBC Bold that will cost me a lot more. I am worried about being able to watch the Gold Cup now and very worried about watching the World Cup next year.

Comment Number:
3
Written by:
Clint Lalonde
Posted on:
July 3, 2009 at 6:03 am

Nope, you are not the only one who sees TV as a dinosaur. The whole
idea of an organization selling away the right to their product in
this day and age is crazy. The means are there for ANYONE to become a
broadcaster. The barriers and costs have come down to the point where
any organization can do it themselves and do it quite well. UEFA does
it with the Champions League. Major League Baseball, NFL do it as
well. The CSA could take the whole shebang in house, if they so
desired. Like I said in the post, I would buy a feed for the game
tomorrow, but it isn't even an option.

Comment Number:
4
Written by:
Clint Lalonde
Posted on:
July 3, 2009 at 6:08 am

Fully in agreement, Pompey. The Score has done a bang up job in the
past couple of years with footie. And their crew seem like the most
accessible, responsive and grassroots of any of the major sports
players in this country. Would like to see what they could do with the
rights.

And I am not going to give my local cable company more $$$ for 73
digital channels, of which I only want 1 and only for a few occasions.
Seriously, do I need 4 channels of Sportsnet? Do I really need 24/7
coverage of UFC and Poker? Don't think so.