TSN

What TSN does

TSN (The Sports Network) is Canada's flagship English-language sports media brand, founded in 1984 and operated by Bell Media Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of BCE (Bell Canada Enterprises). The company serves Canadian sports fans across television, streaming, mobile, theatrical, and social platforms, providing live and on-demand coverage of the major North American leagues (NHL, NBA, NFL, CFL, MLB), international soccer (EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, MLS, Champions League, FIFA World Cup 2026), the Olympic Games, motorsports (F1, NASCAR, IndyCar), tennis, golf, women's leagues (WNBA including Toronto Tempo, PWHL), and niche properties (SailGP, Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, curling, esports). TSN holds exclusive Canadian rights to most of these properties, making it one of two dominant sports broadcasters in the country alongside Rogers' Sportsnet.

The product portfolio spans the TSN.ca digital platform, the TSN+ direct-to-consumer streaming subscription, the TSN GO mobile application, four linear channels (TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5), and an integrated sports betting interface. Distribution extends through Amazon Prime Video Channels (since September 2024), DAZN, Bell Media's Crave streaming service (including the Crave + Netflix + Disney+ + Starz + TSN super-aggregator bundle at CAD 49/month), and a theatrical partnership with Cineplex for select FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. Technology partnerships with WSC Sports (automated vertical video highlight generation) and Spalk (multi-language commentary) underpin social/mobile and accessibility features for marquee events.

TSN generates revenue through three primary streams: recurring subscription fees (direct streaming plus cable/satellite/IPTV carriage fees via Bell Media), advertising sales against live sports audiences, and event-based revenues (e.g., theatrical ticket sales). Pricing is anchored by an annual TSN+ subscription (CAD 138.99 with a 30% Black Friday 2025 promotional rate) and the multi-service bundle. Audience scale is significant by Canadian standards: Super Bowl LX (February 2026) reached approximately 16 million unique viewers and 150M+ social impressions across TSN, CTV, RDS, and Crave, and the 2026 Winter Olympics generated 89 million digital streams across CBC/TSN platforms with a peak of 8.7 million viewers for the Canada-USA hockey final. The company does not separately disclose revenue, operating as a division of Bell Media.

Name

TSN

Legal name

Bell Media Inc.

Website

https://tsn.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

TSN is Canada's flagship English-language sports broadcaster, operated by Bell Media Inc. (BCE subsidiary). It delivers live and on-demand coverage of NHL, NBA, NFL, CFL, MLB, FIFA World Cup 2026, the Olympics, and more than a dozen other properties across linear TV, streaming, mobile, theatrical, and social channels to Canadian sports fans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Broadcasting and Streaming

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (51612)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Cable & Other Pay Television Services (4841)

akta.pro primary industry

National & Regional Sports TV Networks (Linear) (MPABAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Streaming Distribution & App Platforms (CTV, Mobile, Web) (MPAKAOAL), Sports OTT & League Pass Streaming Channels (MPABAHAJ), Sports Cable Networks (MPABAFAD)

Keywords

• Sports broadcasting network
• Live sports streaming
• Sports media platform
• Canadian sports coverage
• Sports news and analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

San Mateo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Subscription Revenue: TSN generates subscription revenue from direct-to-consumer streaming subscriptions through its website, mobile applications, and third-party distribution partners including Prime Video Channels and DAZN. Subscriptions offer access to live sports content, on-demand replays, and exclusive programming.
2. Advertising Revenue: TSN monetizes its sports content through advertising sales, leveraging its extensive sports rights portfolio including NHL, NBA, NFL, CFL, and international events to attract advertisers seeking sports audiences.
3. Carriage Fees: As part of Bell Media, TSN generates carriage fees from cable, satellite, and streaming platform distributors who pay to include TSN channels in their channel lineups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

TSN operates as Canada's premier English-language sports broadcasting and digital streaming platform, delivering live and on-demand coverage of major sports leagues (NHL, NBA, NFL, CFL, MLB, FIFA World Cup, WNBA, PWHL, Olympics, soccer leagues, motorsports, golf, tennis) across its TSN.ca website, TSN+ subscription streaming service, TSN GO mobile app, and four linear TV channels (TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5). The network also produces original sports programming, betting/odds integration, and distributes content through third-party platforms including Prime Video Channels, DAZN, and Bell Media's Crave.

Product overview

TSN (The Sports Network) is Canada's leading sports media brand operated by Bell Media, functioning as a comprehensive sports broadcasting and digital platform. The core offering consists of the TSN.ca digital platform and TSN+ streaming service, complemented by a multi-channel cable/satellite network (TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5) and TSN GO mobile application. TSN delivers live and on-demand sports content including NHL, NBA, NFL, CFL, MLB, FIFA World Cup, Olympics, golf, tennis, soccer leagues (EPL, La Liga, MLS), WNBA, NCAA sports, and motorsports (F1, IndyCar). The platform integrates sports betting features and produces original content including the docuseries 'THE REBUILD: Inside the Montreal Canadiens' available on Crave. Content distribution extends through Amazon Prime Video Channels, Bell Media's Crave platform, and traditional cable/satellite providers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TSN+ Streaming Subscription TSN's direct-to-consumer streaming subscription service providing access to live sports broadcasts, on-demand replays, and exclusive programming across multiple devices. Targeted at Canadian sports fans seeking comprehensive streaming access to TSN's content portfolio.
• TSN.ca Digital Platform TSN's primary website (tsn.ca) offering live streaming, on-demand sports content, scores, schedules, news, and betting features across desktop and mobile browsers for Canadian sports audiences.
• TSN Linear TV Channels (TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5) TSN's multi-channel cable/satellite network (TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5) delivering regional and national sports coverage across Canada to cable, satellite, and streaming TV subscribers.
• TSN GO Mobile App TSN's mobile streaming application enabling authenticated subscribers to watch live sports content on mobile devices, extending TSN's television broadcast access to on-the-go viewers.
• TSN Betting Platform TSN's sports betting integration and odds platform accessible through the TSN digital properties, providing users with betting markets, odds, and related content for major sports events.
• THE REBUILD: Inside the Montreal Canadiens Original documentary docuseries produced by TSN providing behind-the-scenes access to the Montreal Canadiens hockey team; available on Bell Media's Crave streaming platform. Targeted at hockey fans seeking premium documentary content.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16 million unique viewers for Super Bowl LX broadcast
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and notable.

• SpalkcoreTechnology or Integration · 4 June 2026Bell Media partnered with Spalk to provide multi-language commentary for FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage. Spalk enables TSN to offer commentary in multiple languages, enhancing accessibility for diverse Canadian audiences.
• WSC SportscoreTechnology or Integration · 4 June 2026TSN partnered with WSC Sports for automated vertical video highlight generation during FIFA World Cup 2026. This technology optimizes sports content for social media and mobile consumption, enhancing digital engagement.
• Maple Leaf Pro WrestlingnotableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 21 May 2026Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling (MLP), formed from a partnership among MLP, Oceania Pro Wrestling, and Qatar Pro Wrestling, secured a television deal with TSN. MLP positions itself as a platform showcasing Canadian talent alongside international wrestlers.
• CineplexnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2026Cineplex partnered with TSN to broadcast select FIFA World Cup 2026 matches live in participating theatres across Canada. Screenings took place in major cities including Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Halifax, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver, with tickets priced at $9.99.
• Bell Media (Internal Bundling)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 February 2026Bell Media bundles TSN with its Crave streaming service alongside Netflix, Disney+, and Starz as part of its super-aggregator strategy. The bundle is offered at CAD 49 per month, representing 56% savings compared to individual subscriptions.
• SailGPnotableGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 January 2026SailGP signed a new two-year deal with Canadian broadcaster TSN, which will include coverage of events including a return to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The partnership delivers more than 50 hours of TV coverage per season.
• Amazon Prime Video ChannelscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 September 2024Bell Media announced TSN's availability on Prime Video Channels in Canada, allowing Prime members to subscribe directly through their Prime Video accounts. The expansion provides Canadian viewers another option to access TSN's sports programming including NFL, CFL, NBA, NHL regional games, and international events.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• ESPN: The dominant U.S. sports media brand and the largest North American sports network, operating linear channels, ESPN+, and a comprehensive digital platform. ESPN is broadly comparable in business model (national sports rights portfolio, multi-platform distribution, advertising + subscription) but operates at significantly larger scale across a much larger addressable market.
• beIN Sports: International multi-channel sports network operating across MENA, North America, Asia, and other regions with rights to FIFA World Cup, La Liga, Ligue 1, and other premium sports. Comparable to TSN in operating a multi-channel sports broadcasting business with global content rights, though beIN's geographic focus and rights portfolio differ.
• Fox Sports: Major U.S. national sports broadcaster with rights to NFL, MLB, FIFA World Cup, college sports, and NASCAR, distributed across linear TV and the Fox Sports app. Comparable to TSN in operating a multi-channel national sports network with premium rights, though at much larger U.S. market scale.
• DAZN: Global sports streaming platform that serves as both a TSN distribution partner (DAZN distributes TSN content internationally) and a direct competitor for global sports rights. Comparable in operating a D2C sports streaming subscription business, though DAZN's global footprint and pure-play streaming model differ from TSN's linear + streaming hybrid.
• NBC Sports: U.S. national sports broadcaster operating linear networks and Peacock streaming, with rights to NFL Sunday Night Football, NHL (U.S.), Premier League, and the Olympics. Comparable to TSN in operating premium national rights across linear and streaming distribution, though anchored in the much larger U.S. market.

Regional players

• TNT Sports (BT Sport): U.K.-based premium sports broadcaster (formerly BT Sport) operating linear channels and a streaming platform with Premier League, UEFA Champions League, MotoGP, and UFC rights. Comparable in business model to TSN (national sports network with premium rights and subscription streaming) but serves a different geography and does not directly compete in the Canadian market.

Direct peers

• Sportsnet: Rogers-owned Canadian sports broadcasting network and TSN's primary domestic competitor. Sportsnet holds competing Canadian rights for the NHL national package (Hockey Night in Canada) and competes head-to-head with TSN across regional rights, streaming subscriptions, and advertiser share — making it the single most directly comparable peer.
• RDS (Réseau des sports): Bell Media's French-language Canadian sports network and TSN's sister channel, sharing the same parent, distribution infrastructure, and rights portfolio. RDS offers the closest operational analogue to TSN within Canada, serving the French-speaking Canadian sports audience with parallel content offerings.

Emerging players

• Amazon Prime Video Sports: Amazon Prime Video operates a growing portfolio of live sports rights (Thursday Night Football, NBA, Premier League in the U.K.) and serves as a TSN distribution partner via Prime Video Channels in Canada. Comparable as both a competitor for premium sports rights globally and a channel partner that materially extends TSN's reach to Prime's Canadian subscriber base.
• Apple TV+ (MLS Season Pass): Apple's MLS Season Pass and emerging sports content strategy (including Major League Soccer exclusive rights in the U.S.) represents a direct competitor for premium sports streaming subscription dollars. Comparable as a streaming-first sports rights acquirer competing for the same Canadian sports fan's subscription wallet, though Apple does not currently operate a Canadian sports-focused product.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TSN_Sports
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC--i2rV5NCxiEIPefr3l-zQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/TSN
• Instagraminstagram.com/tsn_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TSN