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The original TSN logo. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TSN_logo_%28original%29.svg (May be subject to copyright) |
It would go on to provide access and coverage of sports no one ever dreamed of back in 1984. However, back then you could only see it if you had cable television.
That was part of The Sports Network, or TSN’s, humble beginnings.
TSN went on the air for the first time 40 years ago today, and it has gone through a lot of evolution.
Inception
TSN, or The Sports Network, was licensed by the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission on April 2, 1984, initially as the Action Canada Sports Network, according to Wikipedia.
TSN, or The Sports Network, was licensed by the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission on April 2, 1984, initially as the Action Canada Sports Network, according to Wikipedia.
The channel was launched by the Labatt Brewing Company on September 1, 1984 as The Sports Network or TSN.
At that time Labatt’s also owned the Toronto Blue jays, so TSN had instant credibility as the broadcaster for the Jays. TSN also signed a deal with ESPN from the States to provide additional content.
Wikipedia also confirmed what I have always thought. TSN may have had 400,000 subscribers but was hampered by its initial status as a premium service. It was bundled in an expensive package with movie channels such as First Choice and Superchannel and, I believe, MuchMusic. Its competition was primarily CBC Sports and CTV Sports, who were available free of charge.
Growth
TSN would slowly build its audience as it added content. I read about its launch in “TV Guide”, but that meant little to me because I had no access to it. No one I knew had what we called “pay TV”, so it wasn’t even on my radar.
TSN would slowly build its audience as it added content. I read about its launch in “TV Guide”, but that meant little to me because I had no access to it. No one I knew had what we called “pay TV”, so it wasn’t even on my radar.
Then, in 1987, it became part of the basic cable television service and its audience ballooned over night. That was when I first saw TSN, at my best friend Chris Vining’s house in Coaldale.
When I started university in Edmonton in the Fall of 1987, our floor had cable TV and, with it, TSN. It, along with MuchMusic, were often the default channels, on in the background if no one was watching anything in particular.
By then, TSN was broadcasting NHL hockey as well as Blue Jays baseball. In 1987, TSN also picked up CFL football, after no other broadcaster really wanted it anymore.
Some of my earliest memories of TSN are in that Fall of 1987.
Blue Jays baseball
The Blue Jays were leading the American League East Division, and looking to go to the post-season. Up to that point, my only access to Blue Jays baseball was weekly telecasts Wednesday nights on Channel 13. Now, with TSN, baseball was on every night after class. We could follow the Jays closely and actually see every game. It was such a unique, and cool experience, that just seems to be taken for granted now. Sadly, it was not the outcome Blue Jay fans such as myself had hoped for. They were swept by the Detroit Tigers on the final weekend of the season to fall just short of the playoffs.
The Blue Jays were leading the American League East Division, and looking to go to the post-season. Up to that point, my only access to Blue Jays baseball was weekly telecasts Wednesday nights on Channel 13. Now, with TSN, baseball was on every night after class. We could follow the Jays closely and actually see every game. It was such a unique, and cool experience, that just seems to be taken for granted now. Sadly, it was not the outcome Blue Jay fans such as myself had hoped for. They were swept by the Detroit Tigers on the final weekend of the season to fall just short of the playoffs.
I know, I saw it on TSN.
Hockey nights
One of my floormates in first year of university was Don Propp, who lived across the hall, from us. He was the cousin of Brian Propp, who was a perennial 20-goal scorer, and often many more, with the Philadelphia Flyers, and later Boston, Minnesota and others. When the Flyers came to town to play the Oilers, Don went to see him. Brian Propp also played for Team Canada in the 1987 Canada Cup. He gave one of his sticks from that tournament to cousin Don.
One of my floormates in first year of university was Don Propp, who lived across the hall, from us. He was the cousin of Brian Propp, who was a perennial 20-goal scorer, and often many more, with the Philadelphia Flyers, and later Boston, Minnesota and others. When the Flyers came to town to play the Oilers, Don went to see him. Brian Propp also played for Team Canada in the 1987 Canada Cup. He gave one of his sticks from that tournament to cousin Don.
One night, the Flyers were on TSN and the game was on in the lounge as background noise. Don often worked in the emergency room at University of Alberta Hospital, which was just a couple blocks away from res. He came home that night after midnight, and turned on TSN. He had started watching the Flyers game when it was on live, but obviously was at the hospital so got called to action. TSN used to replay the games at midnight the same night. So, Don picked up pretty much where he left off, because he hadn’t heard who won.
TSN used a lot of replays to fill its time schedule, but it was another sport where I really came to enjoy that.
TSN used a lot of replays to fill its time schedule, but it was another sport where I really came to enjoy that.
Friday night football
When I started watching Canadian professional football, every game was on TV – either on CBC Channel 9 or CFCN Channel 13, the CTV affiliate. However, over time, CTV stopped showing football, while the CBC continued to broadcast games. The Canadian Football League filled the void left by CTV, creating their own entity, the Canadian Football Network, to show games.
When I started watching Canadian professional football, every game was on TV – either on CBC Channel 9 or CFCN Channel 13, the CTV affiliate. However, over time, CTV stopped showing football, while the CBC continued to broadcast games. The Canadian Football League filled the void left by CTV, creating their own entity, the Canadian Football Network, to show games.
They awarded the rights to the rest of the games to TSN.
It was the beginning of a partnership that continues to this day.
One of the things I loved about that was that on Friday nights, TSN would replay the Friday night game at midnight. Later on, it would become something that wrapped up my night, and helped me get ready for bed.
Sportsdesk
The part of TSN that I really connected with was “Sportsdesk”. Up to that point, sports was always a segment of a nightly newscast, along with news and weather. It was maybe five or 10 minutes long and really didn’t cover all the sports going on.
The part of TSN that I really connected with was “Sportsdesk”. Up to that point, sports was always a segment of a nightly newscast, along with news and weather. It was maybe five or 10 minutes long and really didn’t cover all the sports going on.
TSN changed that with “Sportsdesk”, which was a half-hour show that brought you all the sports of the day. I recalled staying up just to watch it, because it would invariably recap whatever game I wanted to know the winner of.
TSN turning point
It became a part of Canadian culture. There is usually a play, or a part of every game, in every sport, that shapes its outcome. In hockey it could be a goal at a key time, in football a fumble or interception, and in baseball a strike out or home run. Every night there was a feature on “Sportsdesk” called the “TSN Turning Point”. It became a phrase used in conversations across the country when something either changed the course of a game, or didn’t.
It became a part of Canadian culture. There is usually a play, or a part of every game, in every sport, that shapes its outcome. In hockey it could be a goal at a key time, in football a fumble or interception, and in baseball a strike out or home run. Every night there was a feature on “Sportsdesk” called the “TSN Turning Point”. It became a phrase used in conversations across the country when something either changed the course of a game, or didn’t.
The phrase is still used occasionally, but it has taken a backseat to other features now such as “Highlight of the Night” and “One-V-One”.
The years after
TSN would continue to grow in stature and popularity, adding a variety of sports that once had been the exclusive domain of CBC and CTV. Those included college bowl games, the World Junior Hockey Championship, playoff baseball, and so much more.
TSN would continue to grow in stature and popularity, adding a variety of sports that once had been the exclusive domain of CBC and CTV. Those included college bowl games, the World Junior Hockey Championship, playoff baseball, and so much more.
The channel has evolved with the times and now can be streamed on smart devices and a TSN app can be downloaded.
Parting thoughts
TSN went from being something that was not even on my radar, to something indispensible in my sports viewing habits.
TSN went from being something that was not even on my radar, to something indispensible in my sports viewing habits.
“Sportsdesk” in particular was part of my nightly routine because it could catch me up on the day’s events. Even now, I tune in regularly to its successor “Sports Centre” for the same reason. In fact, it is on mute as I type this.
I have always said that I learned so much about sports from TV.
Although it wasn’t there when I was a child, from the age of 17 on, TSN has been a big part of my sports education.
Happy 40th birthday TSN.
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