If you love watching sports but hate paying for cable, you have more options today.
Two years after Sportsnet did the same, TSN announced the launch of a direct-to-consumer service.
There’s a New Way to Get @TSN_Sports and @RDSca as Canada’s Most-Watched Sports Networks Introduce Digital Subscriptions: https://t.co/LEFNdsCBIb pic.twitter.com/MlbdCsAij9
— TSN PR (@TSN_PR) June 7, 2018
TSN Direct will be available beginning on Friday, June 8, offering a subscription streaming service for all five of their English language channels, as well as RDS, RDS2, and RDS INFO in French.
“We’re delighted to have TSN Direct and RDS Direct join CraveTV as part of our direct-to-consumer streaming offerings,” said Bell Media president Randy Lennox in a statement. “While TSN and RDS’ current subscribers already can stream extensive and exclusive sports content, TSN Direct and RDS Direct provide even more viewing options.”
The cost for the service, which arrives in time for FIFA World Cup broadcasts, is $24.99 a month.
With Canadians cutting the cord in increasing numbers, instead turning to streaming services like Netflix, offering other options is the new reality for television stations like TSN. A report released in April forecasts that streaming will surpass cable television in Canada within two years.
Canada’s TV subscriber base is dropping by 2% per year, while revenue from streaming services were up 29% in 2017.
While live sporting events are still a big draw to cable, TSN and Sportsnet are already facing challenges from the online world. Streaming service DAZN debuted in Canada last year, arriving on the scene by offering the NFL package. More recently, DAZN wrestled the Canadian broadcast rights to UEFA Champions League away from TSN.
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