RDS
RDS (Réseau des sports) is Bell Media's French-language Canadian sports television network providing live broadcasts, video-on-demand, and mobile streaming of NHL, CFL, FIFA World Cup, F1, and other major sports to Quebec and French-speaking Canadian audiences.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersMontreal, Canada
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What RDS does
RDS (Réseau des sports) is a French-language Canadian sports broadcasting network operating under Bell Media, a subsidiary of BCE Inc. The network delivers live sports broadcasts, video-on-demand content, sports news, and analysis across linear television channels (RDS, RDS2, RDS Info), a mobile application for iOS and Android, and digital streaming integration with Bell Media's Crave platform. RDS holds exclusive Canadian French-language broadcast rights for premium sporting properties including the FIFA World Cup 2026 (all 104 matches), NHL games featuring the Montreal Canadiens, the CFL under a six-year deal commencing in 2027, and the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). The platform serves Quebec and French-speaking Canadian sports audiences and covers a broad portfolio of leagues including NHL, NFL, MLB, NBA, CFL, F1, tennis, golf, combat sports, and the Olympic Games.
The underlying technology stack includes a streaming video platform with multi-channel delivery, mobile applications supporting live streaming and video-on-demand, and an interactive fantasy sports game (Grand Pool). RDS has integrated third-party technology partnerships including Spalk for multi-language broadcast commentary and WSC Sports for AI-powered vertical video highlight generation used for social media distribution. RDS monetizes through three primary revenue streams: recurring subscription revenue via Crave and RDS platforms (monthly and annual tiers), television and digital advertising sold against sports programming, and broadcast rights licensing revenue derived from holding exclusive Canadian French-language rights to major sporting events. Go-to-market is distribution-led, leveraging Bell Media's integrated platform infrastructure with content available through traditional cable/satellite providers, Crave streaming, Amazon Prime add-on subscriptions, and mobile app stores.
As a wholly-owned subsidiary within the BCE conglomerate, RDS does not operate with independent financials, outside investors, or a standalone publicly-traded structure; however, the network anchors Bell Media's French-language sports strategy and benefits from cross-promotion with sister properties including TSN, CTV, and Crave. The parent corporate entity is Bell Média inc., headquartered in Toronto, while RDS's primary audience is concentrated in Montreal and the broader Quebec market.
RDS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RDS
- Legal name
- Bell Média inc.
- Website
- https://rds.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- RDS (Réseau des sports) is Bell Media's French-language Canadian sports television network providing live broadcasts, video-on-demand, and mobile streaming of NHL, CFL, FIFA World Cup, F1, and other major sports to Quebec and French-speaking Canadian audiences.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RDS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sports Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)
- 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
- Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Sports Streaming Platforms (MPAKAOAA), Sports Cable Networks (MPABAFAD)
Keywords
Where RDS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montreal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
RDS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscription Revenue: Monthly and annual subscription fees for streaming service access through Crave and RDS platforms, billed recurring until cancellation
- Advertising Revenue: Television and digital advertising inventory sold during sports broadcasts and programming
- Broadcast Rights Licensing: Revenue from holding exclusive Canadian French-language broadcast rights for major sporting events (FIFA World Cup, NHL, CFL, PWHL, Montreal Canadiens)
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly and annual subscription options with different feature levels |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
RDS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RDS (Réseau des sports) is Bell Media's French-language Canadian sports television network that broadcasts live sporting events, video-on-demand content, sports news, and analysis programming through linear TV channels (RDS, RDS2, RDS Info), a streaming platform (Crave), and a mobile application for iOS and Android. The network holds exclusive Canadian French-language broadcast rights for major events including the FIFA World Cup 2026, NHL (including Montreal Canadiens regional coverage), CFL football, and PWHL hockey, and operates an interactive Grand Pool fantasy sports game for subscribers.
Product overview
RDS (Réseau des sports) is Bell Media's French-language Canadian sports television network and streaming platform. The core offering includes the RDS main channel, RDS2 secondary channel, and RDS Info news channel, along with an iOS/Android mobile app and web streaming service. The platform provides live broadcasts of NHL (including exclusive Montreal Canadiens French-language coverage), CFL, MLB, NBA, Formula 1, FIFA World Cup, and other major sports. Key features include a video-on-demand library (Vidéothèque), live streaming via the RDS app, and the Grand Pool fantasy sports game. RDS competes alongside Bell Media's English-language TSN network and is available through traditional cable, streaming platforms, and digital subscriptions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RDS2: Secondary sports channel under the RDS brand offering additional live sports coverage and programming
- RDS Info
Products and services
- RDS (Réseau des sports) Television Network French-language Canadian sports television channel owned by Bell Media, providing live game broadcasts, video-on-demand content, sports news, and interactive features to sports fans across Canada.
- RDS Mobile App (iOS/Android)
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 16 million unique viewers for Super Bowl LX on Crave platform
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use RDS
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
RDS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
RDS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Bell Media / TSNcoreBell Media's TSN and RDS networks serve as exclusive Canadian broadcasters for FIFA World Cup 2026, airing all 104 matches from June 11 to July 19, 2026 across television and streaming platforms including CTV, Noovo, and Crave
- CFL (Canadian Football League)coreSix-year broadcast deal beginning 2027: TSN continues with 60 regular season games plus playoffs; DAZN exclusively streams 21 games as 'Saturday Night Football' reaching ~200 countries; YouTube as Premier Platform Partner
- PWHL (Professional Women's Hockey League)coreBroadcast partner for 2025-26 season covering 120 games and 7,200 minutes of live action across Canada through Sportsnet, TSN, RDS, CBC/Radio-Canada, and Prime Video
- Montreal CanadienscoreLong-term broadcast rights extension with TSN and RDS for regional coverage of Canadiens games - 50 games on TSN and 45 on RDS each season in Quebec and Atlantic Canada with streaming options
- Amazon PrimeminorTSN available as separate add-on subscription on Amazon Prime for streaming access to sports content in Canada
- NFLcoreSuper Bowl LX broadcast rights - first time on Crave platform, previously only on TSN, CTV, and DAZN. Achieved record 16 million unique viewers
- FIFA World CupcoreExclusive Canadian broadcaster for 2026 FIFA World Cup - 48 nations competing across 104 matches in USA, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026
Scale indicators3 records
RDS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TVA Sports: Quebecor-owned French-language Quebec sports broadcaster offering NHL, NFL, F1, UFC. The closest direct French-language competitor to RDS in the Quebec market.
- TSN (The Sports Network): Bell Media's English-language sister sports network, sharing parent, distribution stack, and rights portfolio (NHL, CFL, FIFA). Most directly comparable peer — same business model, same parent company, same Bell Media platforms.
- Sportsnet: Rogers-owned Canadian English-language sports network holding competing rights to NHL (national), MLB, and other leagues. Directly competes with RDS/TSN for Canadian sports rights, ad dollars, and subscriber attention.
Broad incumbents
- ESPN (Disney): Dominant US/global sports broadcaster and rights holder. Operates ESPN+ streaming and is the benchmark for multi-platform North American sports distribution against which RDS/Crave compete for premium rights and ad CPMs.
- beIN Sports: International multi-language sports network owned by beIN Media Group holding rights across football, motorsports, and tennis globally. Comparable multi-language, multi-platform sports broadcaster with rights-licensing business model similar to RDS.
Emerging players
- FloSports: Subscription-based niche sports streaming platform covering hockey, combat, and other sports RDS also broadcasts. Emerging OTT competitor targeting the same sports-fan subscription dollar with lower rights overhead.
- Amazon Prime Video Sports: Global OTT platform now distributing TSN (and by extension RDS content) as an add-on subscription, plus holding NFL Thursday Night Football and other rights in the US. Represents both a distribution partner and a rights competitor.
- DAZN: Global sports streaming platform that has secured exclusive Saturday Night CFL rights (2027+) reaching ~200 countries. A growing OTT competitor that increasingly bids for premium rights RDS has historically controlled in Canada.
- YouTube (Sports): Premier Platform Partner in the new CFL deal; increasingly secures sports rights (NFL Sunday Ticket in US). Represents the emerging free-ad-supported sports distribution model that threatens traditional pay-TV sports economics.
Regional players
- Canal+ Sport: French-language sports broadcaster operating in France and Francophone Africa. A regional peer sharing RDS's French-language value proposition but operating in different geographies; useful benchmark for French-sports monetization.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
RDS social profiles
Digital presenceRDS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RDS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
RDS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RDS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RDS
What does RDS do?
RDS (Réseau des sports) is Bell Media's French-language Canadian sports television network that broadcasts live sporting events, video-on-demand content, sports news, and analysis programming through linear TV channels (RDS, RDS2, RDS Info), a streaming platform (Crave), and a mobile application for iOS and Android. The network holds exclusive Canadian French-language broadcast rights for major events including the FIFA World Cup 2026, NHL (including Montreal Canadiens regional coverage), CFL football, and PWHL hockey, and operates an interactive Grand Pool fantasy sports game for subscribers.
Is RDS a public or private company?
RDS is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was RDS founded?
RDS was founded in 1989. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is RDS based?
RDS is headquartered in Montreal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does RDS make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Subscription Revenue is the primary driver. The others are advertising Revenue and broadcast Rights Licensing.
Who are RDS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TVA Sports, TSN (The Sports Network) and Sportsnet. Broad incumbents are ESPN (Disney) and beIN Sports. Emerging players are FloSports, Amazon Prime Video Sports, DAZN and YouTube (Sports). Canal+ Sport is listed as a regional player.
Does RDS have an API?
No public API is recorded for RDS.
What industry is RDS in?
RDS's product category is Sports Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAJAA, National & Regional Sports TV Networks (Linear), with a secondary code of MPAKAOAA, Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Sports Streaming Platforms. Its NAICS code is 51612 and its SIC code is 4833.