TSN and RDS Reach Media Rights Extension with the Formula One Group Through to 2019

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Jun 10, 2014, 19:18 ET

- Canada's #1 English and French specialty networks maintain complete Canadian exclusivity of the entire FIA Formula One World Championship™-
- TSN and RDS remain home to the FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA, the biggest motorsport event on Canadian soil -

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MONTRÉAL, June 10, 2014 /CNW/ - Bell Media's TSN and RDS and the Formula One group announced today that they have reached a new multi-year partnership, which allows Canada's #1 English and French specialty networks to retain exclusive media rights to all Grand Prix races, across all platforms, through to 2019. This includes exclusive coverage of the FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA - the most-watched motorsport event on Canadian soil.

This is the second major rights deal announced by TSN and RDS today, as the Bell Media networks also confirmed a new, expanded partnership with the United States Golf Association for Canadian coverage of the U.S. OPEN.

The announcement comes on the heels of this past weekend's widely successful FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2014 - where it was confirmed the popular race will remain at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montréal for the next decade.

With the new Formula 1^® deal beginning next season, TSN and RDS will continue to broadcast all races, as well as qualifying and practice sessions and encore presentations.

"We are very pleased to have renewed our long-standing partnership with RDS and TSN and I look forward to continuing to work with them to bring Formula 1^® racing to fans across Canada," said Bernie Ecclestone, CEO, the Formula One group.

"Formula 1^® has an incredibly wide, loyal and passionate Canadian fan base, and we are thrilled to extend the wonderfully successful partnership we have had with the Formula 1^® team for more than 20 years. This extension speaks volumes about the meaningful relationships we build with our partners and the world-class spotlight we shine on Formula 1^®," said Gerry Frappier, President of RDS. "This agreement also underscores our status as Canada's leading sports networks and bolsters our commitment to bring Canadians the most prestigious events in sports."

TSN and RDS have been delivering Formula 1^® coverage in Canada since 1992 and 1994, respectively.

About TSN
TSN is Canada's Sports Leader and #1 specialty network. With a broad portfolio of multimedia sports assets, TSN delivers world-class content across industry-leading platforms including TSN2, TSN.ca, TSN GO, and TSN Radio. Official broadcaster of the Grey Cup, IIHF World Junior Championship and FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015, TSN's slate of live sports coverage includes NHL, CFL, NFL, NBA, MLS, Season of Champions Curling, UEFA Euro 2016, MLB, Barclays Premier League, Golf's Majors, NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Canadian Tire Series, F1^®,, Grand Slam Tennis, NCAA March Madness, and Skate Canada events. TSN is a division of Bell Media, which is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company.

About RDS
RDS is Canada's French-language sports broadcasting leader and Quebec's #1 specialty network. In addition to its world-class content delivered across multiple platforms, including the RDS, RDS2 and RDS Info channels, RDS.ca website, RDS Mobile, RDS Télé mobile and the RDS GO app, RDS offers the broadest portfolio of French-language sports programming in the world. Official broadcaster of the Montreal Canadiens, CFL and Grey Cup, NFL and Super Bowl, MLS and MLS Cup, MLB and World Series, FIFA World Cup soccer from 2015 to 2022 and Euro 2016 and exclusive French-language broadcaster of the Montreal Alouettes, F1^®, and the Tour de France, RDS's various channels present almost 4,000 hours of live programming each year, including Montreal Impact soccer, the IIHF World Junior Championship, NASCAR, PGA Tour golf including all four majors, ATP tennis including all four Grand Slam tournaments, Barclays Premier League soccer, NCAA March Madness basketball, Seasons of Champions Curling and the Skate Canada International. RDS is a division of Bell Media, which is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company.

About Formula 1^®
Formula 1^®, which began in 1950, is the world's most prestigious motor racing competition and is the world's most popular annual sporting series. In 2013 it was watched by over 450 million unique television viewers from 185 territories. The 2014 FIA Formula One World Championship™ runs from March to November and spans 19 races in 19 countries across five continents. Formula One World Championship Limited is part of the Formula One group, founded by CEO Bernie Ecclestone, and holds the exclusive commercial rights to the FIA Formula One World Championship™. For more information on Formula 1^® visit www.formula1.com.

SOURCE: TSN