TO2015 Awards Host and Domestic Broadcaster Role to CBC/Radio-Canada

TORONTO 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games Coverage To Be Most Extensive in Canadian History

TORONTO, Sept. 7, 2012 /CNW/ - Today, the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015) announced the selection of CBC/Radio-Canada as the official Host Broadcaster and Domestic Broadcaster of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.

The agreement ensures the most extensive broadcasting of the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games in Canadian history.  In fact, it will be the most extensive Canadian broadcast package ever for a non-Olympic multi-sport event. Live broadcast schedules on the main CBC and Radio-Canada television networks will also ensure unprecedented levels of free-to-viewers OTA (over the air) Pan Am and Parapan Am coverage in both official languages in every part of Canada. Specific broadcast details will be released at a later date.

Highlights of the deal:

• More live broadcast hours on the main CBC/Radio-Canada network than any previous Pan Am Games including the last Canada-hosted Games in 1999.
• The first ever Canadian broadcasting of the Parapan Am Games in both English and French.
• Six hundred hours of digital coverage on both the CBC and Radio-Canada websites—another Canadian first.
• A comprehensive CBC/Radio-Canada multi-year promotion of the TORONTO 2015 Games, profiling Canada's Pan Am and Parapan Am hopefuls, and building excitement and enthusiasm for the Games.
• Multi-platform coverage on television, radio and online ensuring Canadians will be able to enjoy the Games whenever and however they choose.

"These are 'the People's Games'," said TO2015 Chief Executive Officer, Ian Troop.  "And our agreement with CBC/Radio-Canada will make them accessible to more people in every single region than ever before."

Troop also singled out the successful CBC/Radio-Canada bid in an aggressive host broadcaster/domestic broadcaster competition: "CBC/Radio-Canada's commitment to bringing Canadians together and to promoting amateur sports makes them the ideal domestic broadcaster. And their unsurpassed reputation around the world makes them the perfect host broadcaster. "

"On behalf of TO2015, I'd like to acknowledge our government partners at both the federal and provincial levels, as they support the planning of a successful Games," added Troop. "The financial contributions of the Government of Canada towards Games' infrastructure will ensure a lasting sports legacy throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe, while the Government of Ontario's commitment to financing the Games' operations will enable TO2015 to host a truly world-class sporting event. With today's announcement of CBC/Radio-Canada as the official broadcaster of the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, we will realize the shared goal of TO2015 and its government partners to ensure that the Games are accessible to all Canadians, from coast-to-coast-to-coast, and that sends out a strong message about Toronto, Ontario and Canada all through the 41 countries of the Pan Am family."

About the TORONTO 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games
The Pan American Games are one of the world's largest international multi-sport events, held every four years for athletes of the 41 member nations of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO). The Games comprise all Olympic Summer Games sports, as well as traditional Pan American sports. The TORONTO 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games will draw 10,000 athletes and officials and feature 48 sports in municipalities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe area. The TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10-26 and the Parapan American Games August 7-14. For more information about the Games, please visit toronto2015.org.

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, plus five languages for international audiences. In 2011, CBC/Radio-Canada celebrated 75 years of serving Canadians and being at the centre of the democratic, social and cultural life of Canada.

SOURCE: Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games