Marketwire
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Nov. 26, 2013) - Quebecor (TSX:QBR.A)(TSX:QBR.B) announced today that it has reached an agreement with Rogers Communications that will make TVA Sports the official French broadcaster of the National Hockey League (NHL) in Canada. The 12-year agreement will begin next fall with the 2014-2015 season. Among other things, TVA Sports obtains broadcast rights to at least 22 Montréal Canadiens regular-season games.
"We would like to thank National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman for placing his trust in us as well as Rogers, our partners in this exciting adventure," said Robert Dépatie, president and CEO of Quebecor. "NHL hockey and the Montréal Canadiens are deeply engrained in the history, culture and hearts of Quebecers. Quebecor and TVA Sports are proud to be part of this tradition."
The agreement also grants TVA Sports exclusive French broadcast rights to all playoff games, including Montréal Canadiens playoff games and the Stanley Cup finals. In addition, TVA Sports will have the rights to all Canadian national games and up to 160 games between American NHL teams, as well as NHL special events such as the All-Star Game, the Winter Classic, the NHL draft and the NHL Awards ceremony.
"When we launched TVA Sports a little more than two years ago, we were determined to offer content of the highest standard, drawing inspiration from the best in North America," said Pierre Dion, President and CEO of TVA Group. "Thanks to the acquisition of rights to top-notch sports events and our team's tireless work, TVA Sports has become a major player in sports broadcasting in Québec. With today's agreement, we are taking a crucial step towards becoming Québec's number one sports channel."
"As a leader in telecommunications, entertainment and news media, with strong brands such as Videotron, TVA Network, Le Journal de Montréal, Le Journal de Québec, 24 h and Canoë united by a powerful convergence strategy, Quebecor is in a unique position to offer Francophone hockey fans the best possible multiplatform experience," concluded Robert Dépatie.
About Quebecor
Quebecor, a Canadian telecommunications, entertainment and news media leader, is one of the best-performing integrated communications companies in the industry. Driven by their determination to deliver the best possible customer experience, all of Quebecor's subsidiaries and brands are differentiated by their high-quality, multiplatform, convergent products and services.
Quebecor (TSX:QBR.A)(TSX:QBR.B) is headquartered in Québec. It holds a 75.36% interest in Quebecor Media, which employs nearly 16,000 people in Canada.
A family business founded in 1950, Quebecor is strongly committed to the community. Every year, it actively supports more than 400 organizations working in the vital fields of culture, health, education, the environment and entrepreneurship.
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