Canada’s national public broadcaster is betting on basketball.
The CBC has announced a three-year agreement to carry Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) games on its online and mainline video broadcast platforms.
“This collaboration is an example of our ongoing commitment to men’s and women’s basketball, and allows us to create valuable connections with local communities of all sizes,” said Chris Wilson, executive director of sports and Olympics for the CBC.
“We’ve seen how this sport has the power to unite and bring people from across the country and all over the world together. We’re pleased to be able to continue this momentum by providing fans unprecedented coverage of the 2020 CEBL season.”
CBC will carry live streams of all 70 regular season CEBL games and its five playoff contests on the free CBC Gem streaming service, as well as on cbcsports.ca and the CBC Sports mobile app.
The main CBC network will also carry seven regular season CEBL games and the CEBL Championship Weekend in Edmonton, according to a news release.
The CEBL is the only First Division professional basketball league in Canada and launched in 2019 with teams in Edmonton, Saskatchewan, Niagara, Guelph, Fraser Valley, B.C., and Hamilton, Ont.
An expansion franchise in Ottawa was announced earlier this week. The league launches its second season in May 2020.
“The CEBL is thrilled to welcome CBC as its premier media partner,” said league commissioner Mike Morreale in a statement.
“This CBC Sports partnership is a game changer for basketball in Canada.”
Saskatchewan won the inaugural CEBL championship in Saskatoon in August 2019, and the league has steadily built support through partnerships with U Sports and Canada Basketball.
CEBL games take place exclusively in the spring and summer, and a majority are within the traditional offseason for professional and university basketball.
As a result, both U Sports and Canada Basketball are able to treat the CEBL as a development league.
“As we experience historic times for basketball in Canada, the CEBL will play a pivotal role in showcasing the growing talent from coast-to-coast-to-coast,” said Glen Grunwald, a former NBA general manager and current CEO of Canada Basketball.
“Canada Basketball is proud of the partnership with the CEBL as its First Division Professional League. The collaboration between CBC Sports and the CEBL provides increased opportunities to tell the stories of amazing Canadian basketball players, coaches and officials.”
CBC’s mainline broadcast schedule for CEBL game is as follows:
CEBL Games on CBC*
| Dates | Teams |
|---|---|
| Saturday, May 30, 2020 (4 p.m. Eastern) | Ottawa at Hamilton |
| Saturday, June 6, 2020 (4 p.m. Eastern) | Edmonton at Guelph |
| Saturday, June 13, 2020 (4 p.m. Eastern) | Fraser Valley at Edmonton |
| Saturday, June 27, 2020 (4 p.m. Eastern) | Hamilton at Guelph |
| Saturday, July 4, 2020 (2 p.m. Eastern) | Hamilton at Niagara |
| Saturday, July 18, 2020 (4 p.m. Eastern) | Niagara at Saskatchewan |
| Sunday, August 16, 2020 (4 p.m. Eastern) | CEBL Championship |
| *Dates and times are subject to change. |
