Bell Media Extends its FIFA World Cup™ Soccer Package to 2026

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TORONTO (February 12, 2015) – Bell Media announced today it has reached a new agreement with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) that extends its media rights deal through the next 12 years. With this extension Bell Media’s CTV, TSN, and RDS own exclusive Canadian media rights to the FIFA World Cup™ package from 2015-2026, now including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In addition to the upcoming FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CANADA 2015™, 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA™, and 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP QATAR™, the extended agreement now includes the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023 and 2025, FIFA U-17 World Cup 2023 and 2025, FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2023 and 2025, FIFA Futsal World Cup 2024, FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2024 and 2026, FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024 and 2026, and FIFA Confederations Cup 2025.

Today’s announcement further underscores Bell Media’s commitment to bringing Canadians comprehensive broadcast access to the biggest events in soccer.

“We are delighted to extend our partnership with FIFA and are proud to be the Canadian home of FIFA tournaments for the next 12 years,” said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports. “This is another big win for Bell Media and for soccer fans in Canada. We are ready to welcome the world to this summer’s FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CANADA 2015™ and are looking forward to showcasing the beautiful game for years to come.”

This announcement comes just before the 100-day countdown to the FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CANADA 2015™. The tournament, airing on CTV, TSN, and RDS, takes place in six cities across Canada beginning Saturday, June 6 in Edmonton and culminating on Sunday, July 5 in Vancouver.

FIFA World Cup on Bell Media

CTV, TSN and RDS will deliver comprehensive live coverage of FIFA World Cup competitions in both English and French. This includes English-language television coverage on CTV, Canada’s #1 television network, and on TSN, Canada’s #1 specialty channel. Live coverage will also be available on CTV GO, TSN GO, TSN Radio, and TSN.ca. French-language coverage airs exclusively on RDS, Canada’s #1 French-language specialty channel, as well as on its slate of platforms, including RDS2, RDS GO, and RDS.ca.

Soccer on Bell Media
In December 2014, TSN and RDS announced a multi-year broadcast rights agreement with UEFA that makes the networks the primary Canadian broadcasters of the UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE and UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE beginning in 2015. The agreement will see TSN broadcast more than 190+ games, including up to 16 group stage games weekly, extensive coverage of the knockout phase, as well as the UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL and the UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL. RDS will deliver live coverage of three of the leagues’ best matches each week.

In addition to its FIFA World Cup and UEFA soccer packages, Bell Media’s TSN and RDS also have exclusive broadcast rights to EURO 2016 and are official broadcasters of Major League Soccer in Canada, including Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Toronto FC.

TSN also holds a multi-year broadcast agreement with BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE that gives the network Canadian media rights to half of all games through to the 2015-2016 season.

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; and four pay TV services, including The Movie Network and Super Écran. Bell Media is also Canada's largest radio broadcaster, with 106 licensed radio stations in 54 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, Alberta, and British Columbia. Bell Media also operates more than 200 websites; delivers TV Everywhere with premium subscription on-demand streaming service CraveTV, as well as its innovative GO video streaming services including CTV GO, TMN GO, and TSN GO; holds an equity stake in digital startup Hubub; is partners in Cirque du Soleil Media, a joint venture with Cirque du Soleil; 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.