Bell Media and Ottawa Senators Announce Comprehensive 12-Year Partnership Spanning Television, Radio, and Sponsorship

- TSN and RDS become official regional broadcasters of the Ottawa Senators -
- TSN Radio 1200 continues to be the official English radio voice of the Ottawa Senators -
- Bell strengthens its long-term corporate sponsorship with the Senators -

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OTTAWA, Jan. 29, 2014 /CNW/ - Bell Media and the Ottawa Senators announced today they have reached a comprehensive new 12-year regional broadcast rights and corporate sponsorship agreement that will make TSN and RDS the official broadcasters of the Ottawa Senators through the 2025-2026 season.

Bell Media's 12-year partnership with the Ottawa Senators includes five major components:

• English-language regional television broadcast rights for TSN - a minimum of 52 regular season and pre-season games
• French-language regional television broadcast rights for RDS - a minimum of 40 regular season and pre-season games
• English-language broadcast rights for TSN Radio 1200 - all games
• French-language radio broadcast rights - all games
• Telecommunications and retail sponsorship and activation rights

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"We recognized early on that our regional broadcast rights coming up for renewal was a very important asset," said Senators owner Eugene Melnyk. "This new 12-year agreement with Bell Media represents one of the most wide-ranging and comprehensive deals in NHL history. A long-term deal was personally important as it will allow us to work very closely with the Bell family to continually integrate emerging and evolving technologies so our fans receive a superior product for our regional television and radio broadcasts. This agreement is significant for the Senators, our fans, and the future of our franchise."

"This comprehensive partnership marks an exciting new chapter for the Ottawa Senators and all of their fans, as well as TSN, RDS, and Bell," said Kevin Crull, President of Bell Media. "Leveraging the strength of the world-class hockey production at TSN and RDS, as well as Bell's extensive assets and reach, we are eager to amplify Ottawa Senators regional coverage to a whole new level."

Beginning next season, the agreement will see TSN and RDS each broadcast its slate of regular season and pre-season games in the Ottawa Senators' designated broadcast region, which spans Eastern and Northern Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada, and Newfoundland.

The new agreement also grants full radio broadcast rights to TSN Radio 1200 in Ottawa, continuing to make it the official English radio voice of the Ottawa Senators over the next 12 years. Details on the French-language radio broadcasts will be announced in the coming weeks.

Additionally, the Senators and Bell are strengthening their exclusive corporate telecommunications sponsorship over the long-term. It includes a broad variety of activations on all levels, including community engagement, in-arena promotions and branding, and retail support through The Source.

Bell, an original partner of the Ottawa Senators, has a relationship with the team that dates back 22 seasons to when the team returned to the NHL - marking Bell's longest relationship with an NHL franchise.

This partnership will also continue to invest in the community. Bell will remain the official sponsor of the Senators' official practice arena, the Bell Sensplex, and the Bell Capital Cup, one of the world's largest minor hockey tournaments. The agreement features a number of future programs to enhance the fan experience, both inside and outside of Canadian Tire Centre. Details on these initiatives will be announced at a later date.

Along with being the official regional television broadcast rights holder for the Ottawa Senators, Bell Media also holds long-term broadcast rights for the Toronto Maple Leafs (TSN and TSN Radio 1050), Winnipeg Jets (TSN and TSN Radio 1290), Montreal Canadiens (RDS and TSN Radio 690), Vancouver Canucks (TEAM 1040), along with all Hockey Canada games including the IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP, IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, and the IIHF WORLD WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP.

About Bell Media
With passion and an unrelenting commitment to excellence, Bell Media creates content and builds brands that entertain, inform, engage, and inspire audiences through the platforms of their choice. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media. Bell Media owns 30 local television stations led by CTV, Canada's #1 television network; 35 specialty channels, including TSN and RDS, Canada's most-watched specialty channels in English and French; four pay TV services, including The Movie Network and Super Écran; and is managing shareholder of premium pay-per-view service Viewers Choice Canada. Bell Media is also Canada's largest radio broadcaster, with 107 licensed radio stations in 55 markets across Canada. Bell Media owns Astral Out-of-Home, one of Canada's most dynamic and innovative out-of-home advertising companies with a network of more than 9,500 advertising faces in Québec, Ontario and British Columbia. Bell Media also operates more than 200 websites, delivers TV Everywhere with its innovative GO video streaming services, including CTV GO, TMN GO, and Bravo GO, and owns Dome Productions Inc., a multi-platform production company. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. For more on Bell Media, please visit www.bellmedia.ca.

SOURCE: Bell Media