TSN, RDS, and the United States Golf Association Expand Their Partnership with a New Multi-Media Rights Deal

- TSN and RDS are exclusive Canadian broadcasters of the U.S. OPEN through to 2022 -
- Live coverage of the 114^th U.S. OPEN begins on TSN and RDS this Thursday (June 12) -

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TORONTO, June 10, 2014 /CNW/ - Bell Media's TSN and RDS announced today they have reached a comprehensive new media rights agreement with the United States Golf Association (USGA) that extends the networks' long-term partnership with the USGA - making TSN and RDS the exclusive Canadian broadcasters of the U.S. OPEN through to 2022.

The expanded partnership was announced before TSN and RDS begin their exclusive Canadian coverage of the 114th U.S. OPEN on Thursday, June 12 (visit TSN.ca and RDS.ca for complete broadcast schedules).

Beginning in 2015, the new eight-year agreement includes extended Canadian coverage across TSN and RDS platforms for the U.S. OPEN, U.S. Women's Open, and U.S. Senior Open Championships, as well as the USGA's national amateur championships.

The new expanded deal includes the following:

• Every U.S. OPEN round broadcast on TSN and RDS
• A comprehensive suite of digital assets for TSN, RDS, and Bell Media platforms
• Radio broadcast rights for TSN Radio and Bell Media Radio stations

"The U.S. OPEN is one of the preeminent golf championships in the world and has been a key component to our coverage of the biggest events in sports," said Stewart Johnston, President of TSN. "We're thrilled to work even closer with the USGA executive team on this new and expanded partnership as we elevate Canadian coverage of USGA events across all of our platforms."

"We are truly excited about extending and expanding our relationship with TSN and RDS and are eager to work more closely with them to showcase and promote the game of golf in Canada," said Mike Davis, Executive Director of the USGA.

The agreement further solidifies TSN and RDS as the home of golf's marquee championship events, with a slate that includes all four of golf's Majors - THE MASTERS, U.S. OPEN, THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, and the PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, as well as the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, as well as a series of PGA TOUR events.

114^th U.S. OPEN on TSN

The 114th U.S. OPEN returns to the historic Pinehurst No. 2 Course in Pinehurst, NC with a star-studded field that includes defending champion Justin Rose, 2014 MASTERS champion Bubba Watson, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Phil Mickelson, and Canada's Graham DeLaet.

TSN's live coverage of all four rounds begins Thursday, June 12 at 9 a.m. ET and concludes with the Final on Father's Day, Sunday, June 15 at 11 a.m. ET (visit TSN.ca for a complete broadcast schedule).

TSN subscribers can also watch live streaming and on demand coverage of every round from the U.S. OPEN via TSN GO.

TSN Digital platforms deliver bonus online coverage from the U.S. OPEN - coverage that goes beyond the television broadcast. Fans can live stream this bonus online coverage on TSN.ca, TSN GO, or the newly launched TSN Golf app.

TSN also surrounds its live coverage of the U.S. OPEN with the multi-platform highlights listed below.

SPORTSCENTRE - Bob Weeks files daily reports for SPORTSCENTRE all week long from Pinehurst, delivering post-round reaction, one-on-one interviews, and features, including one focusing on six-time U.S. OPEN runner-up Phil Mickelson, and more.

Preview and Highlight Shows - TSN delivers 60-minute highlight shows after every round, along with 60-minute preview shows before the Third and Final Rounds. Fans can also tune in to a tournament preview show on Wednesday, June 11 at 2 p.m. ET (visit TSN.ca for complete broadcast details).

1999 U.S. OPEN: ONE MOMENT IN TIME - Airing Wednesday, June 11 at 9:30 p.m. ET on TSN, the 60-minute documentary looks at Payne Stewart's emotional and hard fought victory at the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, with Stewart holding off the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to win his second U.S. Open and third major title.

TSN.ca - TSN.ca features up-to-the-minute U.S. OPEN news and daily highlights, plus daily reports and analysis from Bob Weeks, as well as his popular golf blog, and more.

TSN Golf app - The fully customizable TSN Golf app is a completely new golf experience that lets fans follow their favourite players hole-by-hole and get real-time alerts whenever they make a birdie, bogey, or par, as well as receive all the latest scores, news, and stats. Using this app, fans can also directly live stream bonus online coverage from TSN's lineup of the biggest events in golf.

TSN Radio - the following TSN Radio stations deliver select live coverage of the U.S. OPEN: TSN Radio 1200 in Ottawa, TSN Radio 1260 in Edmonton, and TEAM Radio 1040 in Vancouver (visit each station's homepage to confirm broadcast information).

Twitter - Fans can tweet their questions to Bob Weeks (@bobatscoregolf) and he will post video answers on TSN.ca on Wednesday, June 11. Fans can also follow @TSNGolf for updates from Pinehurst all tournament long.

Broadcast Schedule*
See below or visit TSN.ca for a complete broadcast schedule of the 114^th U.S. OPEN.

Tuesday, June 10

• 2 p.m. ET - Preview Show

Wednesday, June 11

• 2 p.m. ET - Preview Show
• 9:30 p.m. ET - 1999 U.S. Open: One Moment in Time

Thursday, June 12

• 9 a.m. ET - First Round
• 3 p.m. ET - First Round
• 5 p.m. ET - First Round
• 12 midnight ET / 9 p.m. PT - First Round Highlight Show (TSN2)

Friday, June 13

• 9 a.m. ET - Second Round
• 3 p.m. ET - Second Round
• 5 p.m. ET - Second Round
• 1:30 a.m. ET / 10:30 p.m. PT - Second Round Highlight Show (TSN2)

Saturday, June 14

• 9:30 a.m. ET - Second Round Highlight Show (TSN2)
• 11 a.m. ET - Third Round Preview Show
• 12 noon ET - Third Round
• 12 midnight ET / 9 p.m. PT - Third Round Highlight Show (TSN2)

Sunday, June 15

• 9 a.m. ET - Third Round Highlight Show (TSN2)
• 11 a.m. ET - Final Round Preview Show
• 12 noon ET - Final Round
• 1 a.m. ET / 10 p.m. PT - Final Round Highlight Show (TSN2)

Monday, June 16

• 3 p.m. ET - Final Round Highlight Show

*Schedule subject to change

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TSN is Canada's Sports Leader and #1 specialty network. With a broad portfolio of multimedia sports assets, TSN delivers world-class content across industry-leading platforms including TSN2, TSN.ca, TSN GO, and TSN Radio. Official broadcaster of the Grey Cup, IIHF World Junior Championship and FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015, TSN's slate of live sports coverage includes NHL, CFL, NFL, NBA, MLS, Season of Champions Curling, UEFA Euro 2016, MLB, Barclays Premier League, Golf's Majors, NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Canadian Tire Series, F1, Grand Slam Tennis, NCAA March Madness, and Skate Canada events. TSN is a division of Bell Media, which is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company.

SOURCE: TSN