With Maple Leaf Sports (owners of the Leafs, Raptors, and Marlies) bringing major league football to Toronto this spring, anyone have any idea what TV coverage there would be? They already have SD and HD channels for the Leafs and Raptors; I wonder if we would be blessed with one for FC?

Hopefully its only on Leafs TV which means I wont have to watch it :P. Just kidding. I wouldn't mind watching Major League Soccer and I could definitely see Sportsnet picking it up as they already broadcast a handful of Vancouver Whitecaps games.

Besides, 250 million for Beckham to land in the MLS? Damn A-Rod, better get the old sponge and bucket out and start washing his car.

I wouldn't be too surprised to see their games on Sportsnet, as they lost the rights to the EPL starting next season, but they may get out of soccer completely, as their deal with Soccer Canada is apparently also over.

With CBC losing CFL after 07, could see them in the picture as well, but that is unlikely.

Yes, Sportsnet lost the rights to EPL to the Score, So Sportsnet is definally soccer hurting and willh opefully show Toronto Fc!

The word is that its between CBC and The Score. CBC has just got the rights to the World Cup till 2014 and The Score as mentioned earlier has snagged EPL. So both are in the soccer market now and this will be a good pick up for either network.

CBC & Soccer? . That just sounds ugly *shutter* Bring on whoever has the HD coverage :D

Have you ever seen The Score's picture quality? At best, the screen is covered with clutter, and the HD picture is stretched to unwatchability.

I'd prefer CBC!

Have you ever seen The Score's picture quality? At best, the screen is covered with clutter, and the HD picture is stretched to unwatchability.

I'd prefer CBC!

I concur about The Score, you can't watch a soccer match (or any live sports event for that matter) with a damn ticker at the bottom of the screen, it's distracting as hell. I hope the CBC gets the rights, they did an awesome job last time the broadcast they World Cup with TSN.

canad, not sure your problem with the CBC, they have been broadcasting sports for years, from HNIC to the Olympics to the World Cup, I have no complaints from their coverage (of course curling fans might have something different to say :D). Best of all they are available across the country and FREE OTA in SD and your beloved HD. I am sure if the games are available in HD or enough people contact them about this they may decide to broadcast in HD.

Of the 2 options listed, CBC is definitely the better choice- by far!

HDNet shows plenty of MLS soccer. Not sure about the rights issues for Canada though.

Meetings are being held in Florida right now for the league. MLSE is there and probably trying to figure out who will show them. I believe CBC will be carrying the games and more than likely in the new HD mobile which is going live next week.

I should know more soon as I'm an audio guy in the Toronto TV industry and waiting to get booked on these games :)

Cheers,

Stoaks

I believe CBC will be carrying the games and more than likely in the new HD mobile which is going live next week.That would be fabulous if it happens!!

Just got word from some people who were at the MLS meetings in Florida. The Toronto FC coverage has still not been decided.

Sorry about that. I guess the meetings went well though.

Cheers

It all comes down to dollars and cents... I think what's being offered for a new team with no brand identity yet is not what the MLS was expecting in term of compensation. Nonetheless I have heard from a source that as of 3 days ago that the CBC and Rogers will be splitting the schedule... but we'll have to wait until confirmed.

I hope that HDNet is still allowed to retain their MLS rights in Canada as I'm sure they'd do an excellent job and we'd be assured all of their 31 broadcasted games in 100% HD coverage.

HDNet’s schedule, with a total of 31 regular season games, will kick off on Saturday, April 7th as the Columbus Crew host the New York Red Bulls at 7:00 pm ET, in what will likely be U.S. National Team legend Claudio Reyna’s MLS debut. The only time there will be a blackout is when there is a MLS game involving Toronto's team

2007 MLS on HDNet
All times Eastern
Schedule Subject to Change

Day/Date Time (ET) Visitor Home
Saturday, April 7th 7:00pm New York Columbus
Saturday, April 14th 8:30pm Chivas USA Houston
Saturday, April 21st 8:30pm Kansas City Chicago*
Saturday, April 28th 12:30pm Kansas City Toronto
Saturday, May 5th 9:00pm New York Real Salt Lake*
Saturday, May 12th 10:30pm New England Los Angeles
Saturday, May 19th 9:00pm Kansas City Colorado*
Saturday, May 26th 7:30pm Houston DC*
Saturday, June 2nd 7:30pm Real Salt Lake New England
Saturday, June 9th 8:30pm Los Angeles Dallas
Saturday, June 16th 7:30pm Chicago DC*
Saturday, June 23rd 10:30pm Columbus Los Angeles
Saturday, June 30th 8:00pm New York Columbus
Wednesday, July 4th 10:30pm Chicago Los Angeles
Saturday, July 7th 7:30pm Chivas USA New England
Saturday, July 14th 10:30pm Columbus Chivas USA *
Saturday, August 4th 8:30pm Columbus Chivas USA*
Saturday, August 11th 9:00pm Houston Colorado*
Saturday, August 18th 7:30pm DC Columbus
Saturday, August 25th 8:30pm Kansas City Chicago*
Saturday, Sept. 1st 10:30pm Real Salt Lake Los Angeles*
Saturday, Sept. 8th 8:30pm Real Salt Lake Houston*
Saturday, Sept. 15th 8:00pm Columbus Kansas City*
Wednesday, Sept. 19th 9:00pm Los Angeles Real Salt Lake
Saturday, Sept. 22nd 7:30pm New England New York
Sunday, Sept. 23rd 8:00pm Dallas Los Angeles
Saturday, Sept. 29th 7:30pm Toronto DC*
Sunday, Sept. 30th 5:00pm Los Angeles Columbus
Saturday, October, 6th 9:00pm Chivas USA Real Salt Lake
Saturday, October 13th 7:30pm Chicago DC
Saturday, October 20th 12:30pm New England Toronto

* HDNet Exclusive Telecast

Just got word from some people who were at the MLS meetings in Florida. The Toronto FC coverage has still not been decided.

Sorry about that. I guess the meetings went well though.

Cheers
I guess I'll quote myself on this one... LOL

I just got booked this morning for 9 Toronto FC games to be broadcast on the CBC this summer. Since it hasn't been made public what games they are at least you know that 10 games will be broadcast (I can't work one of them). I'll add more as it becomes public.

Cheers!

Wonderful news!! Hopefully we'll get some HD too if in Toronto - though I guess the HD units will be pretty bussy until they've finished off playing with Lord Stanley's silver cup.

CBC HD? You mean 1 HD camera and the rest widescreen SD? :D

Hey Canad...

Ouch :) The both Premiere and Encore are 100% HD. I work with them both all the time.

Nfitz: I'm not sure if the games will be in HD or not. If Encore is available after playoffs - who knows what the CBC will do. The summer is really busy too, especially with the FIFA U20 - so I don't think it's going to get a Maurice Richard, 2 minutes for looking so good :D

Cheers!

Stoakley, are you saying the FIFA U20 will be in HD?