OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport announced Tuesday partnership agreements with EastLink TV, Shaw Communications and NBA TV Canada for the broadcasting of the 2012 CIS men’s and women’s basketball championships.
The CIS men’s tournament is scheduled for March 9 to 11 in Halifax. The women’s Final 8 will follow a week later, from March 17 to 19, at the University of Calgary.
EastLink TV will have live broadcast of the men’s semifinals on March 10 and the gold-medal final on March 11. Dan Robertson (play-by-play) and Cecil Wright (colour) are set to call the action from the Metro Centre.
EastLink’s reach in Atlantic Canada is throughout Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, as well as parts of Newfoundland and New Brunswick.
“Partnering with the CIS is a natural fit,” says Michael Smith, vice-president, EastLink TV. “Our sports fans have high expectations. As the Maritimes’ number one sports channel, we are passionate about local and regional sports and are anxious to share the excitement of university championship basketball with our viewers.”
Shaw will provide live coverage of the women’s semis on March 18 and the title match on March 19, with Jim Mullin (play-by-play) and Howard Tsumura (colour) entertaining CIS basketball fans from the Jack Simpson Gymnasium.
Shaw TV is available to Shaw Cable subscribers in most major communities across Western Canada and select communities in Ontario. Shaw Direct subscribers across Canada will be able to catch the broadcasts on Channel 299.
EastLink and Shaw will make their live feeds for all games available to all regional cable carriers in areas not served by the host broadcaster, ensuring fans across the nation will be able to watch the events live.
In addition, all six contests will air on NBA TV Canada, including live coverage of the women’s semifinals. The men’s games and the women’s final will be shown on tape delay, followed by multiple encore airings (see dates and times below).
NBA TV Canada is available across Canada, carried on all major television service providers.
“NBA TV Canada is excited and proud to feature coverage of the CIS men’s and women’s basketball championships,” says Chris Hebb, senior vice-president, broadcast and content, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. “Telecasting these games serves the basketball fan in Canada, which is our goal.”
“CIS is excited to partner with EastLink, Shaw and NBA TV Canada,” says Marg McGregor, chief executive officer of CIS. “We are looking forward to working with these new partners in promoting our exceptional student-athletes and showcasing two of our marquee events, our basketball championships.”
In addition to television coverage, SSN Canada, the official webcasting partner of CIS, will have live streaming of all matches from both championships, including the main and consolation brackets.
TV SCHEDULE: 2012 CIS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
MEN (all times Atlantic Time)
Saturday, March 10
6:00 pm Semifinal #1: EastLink TV (tape delay on NBA TV Canada: midnight Eastern Time)
8:15 pm Semifinal #2: EastLink TV (tape delay on NBA TV Canada: 9 a.m. Eastern Time, March 11)
Sunday, March 11
4:30 pm Final: EastLink TV (tape delay on NBA TV Canada: 6 p.m. Eastern Time)
WOMEN (all times Mountain Time)
Sunday, March 18
5:00 pm Semifinal #1: Shaw TV (also live on NBA TV Canada)
7:00 pm Semifinal #2: Shaw TV (also live on NBA TV Canada)
Monday, March 19
7:00 pm Final: Shaw TV (tape delay on NBA TV Canada: 11 p.m. Eastern Time)
ENCORE AIRINGS ON NBA TV CANADA (all times Eastern Time)
March 11
9:00 am Men’s semifinal #1
11:00 am Men’s semifinal #2
1:00 pm Men’s final
10:00 pm Men’s final
March 13
3:00 pm Men’s final
March 19
1:00 pm Women’s semifinal #1
3:00 pm Women’s semifinal #2
March 20
Noon Women’s semifinal #1
2:00 pm Women’s semifinal #2
4:00 pm Women’s final
March 22
3:00 pm Women’s final
-CIS-
