Thirteen Canadian Interuniversity Sport events are to be shown on TV, including the 49th edition of the Vanier Cup.
Tune in.
Canadian Interuniversity Sport has recently announced a six-year deal with Sportsnet. On May 8, Sportsnet revealed they have reached a deal with CIS, allowing them to provide extended, multi-platform coverage of both men’s and women’s sports on television, mobile devices, and online.
Sportsnet will commence coverage of sports events the upcoming season and will carry on through the 2018-2019 season.
A number of marquee interuniversity events will be broadcast, including men’s and women’s basketball and hockey championships. Many more events are to be announced at a later date.
“This is a historic day for university sport in Canada,” says Pierre Lafontaine, chief executive officer of CIS. “This expanded, long-term partnership with Sportsnet will help elevate the CIS brand and provide our 11,000 student athletes, 700 coaches, and 54 member institutions the recognition they deserve. It will serve to shine a light on the many outstanding accomplishments of our student-athletes who will move on to become future leaders in this country and around the world.”
Most notably, Sportsnet will become the exclusive home of the Vanier Cup, the men’s football national championship.
The historic game, which will be celebrating its 49th anniversary this upcoming year, will be hosted at Université Laval in Montréal, Québec.
“I’m thrilled that Sportsnet will be showing the national football final and semi-finals, as well as many other CIS championship events.” Warren Craney, head coach of the York Lions’ football team
“The Vanier Cup is the pinnacle of CIS football,” says Warren Craney, head coach of the Lions men’s football team. “It is great to see our storied championship has a place where fans across the country can watch the game on TV for the next several years. I’m thrilled that Sportsnet will be showing the national football final and semi-finals, as well as many other CIS championship events.”
Jennifer Myers, York’s director of Sport & Recreation and president of the OUA, shares similar sentiments about the deal.
“This new TV deal with Sportsnet is a great opportunity for the CIS and its member institutions. Our student-athletes work hard everyday to better themselves both in the classroom and on the field of play, wthe CIS championships represent the best of what our student-athletes have to offer,” says Myers. “I’m thrilled they now have a broadcast home where fans across the country can watch them compete.”
What will this deal mean for sports here at York?
The answer, most likely, will be up to athletes and the fans.
Chris Ford
Contributor
