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Fledgling Northern Super League strikes broadcast deal with Bell Media, CBC Sports

Jun 11, 2024 | 7:33 AM

TORONTO — The Northern Super League, Canada’s new women’s pro soccer circuit, has struck a broadcast deal.

NSL games will be shown on TSN, CBC-Sports and Radio-Canada. In addition, RDS will provide French-language coverage of select matches featuring the Montreal franchise.

“Ensuring our matches are available to Canadians is key to the long-term growth and viability of professional women’s soccer,” league co-founder Diana Matheson said in a statement. “Our players have been behind the scenes for too long. Having Bell Media and CBC/Radio-Canada put a national spotlight on our Canadian professional players is a huge win for fans and creates a lasting impact on women’s sport in this country.”

The six-team league is set to kick off in April 2025.

The founding NSL franchises are Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa and Montreal.

A league spokesman said all league matches will be shown either on linear TV through its broadcast partners or on NSL and partner digital platforms. A “substantial number” will be shown on linear TV.

Each team will play a 25-game regular-season schedule, facing the other clubs five times. The top four sides will make the post-season .

The inaugural season schedule and full broadcast details will come at a later date.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2024

The Canadian Press