MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact, MLS, and Quebecor have announced on Tuesday the signing of a five-year agreement making TVA Sports the exclusive broadcaster of Montreal Impact games in French, as well as an official broadcaster of MLS for the next five years.
Videotron, a founding partner of the Montreal Impact and Stade Saputo since the club arrived in MLS in 2012, is also renewing its partnership until 2021.
This year, TVA Sports will thus broadcast all Montreal Impact regular season and playoff games. As an official broadcaster of MLS, the sports channel will also present the MLS All-Star Game, along with the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and the MLS Cup final. As such, soccer fans will be able to enjoy over 50 MLS games every year on TVA Sports. Moreover, the network will continue to offer a weekly show on the Impact and on professional soccer.
“We are very happy to have struck this new deal,” declared Joey Saputo, Montreal Impact President. “It was relevant for us to carry on with this association in order to continue to anchor our club and soccer in general in Quebec. We wish to solidify our growth with business partners like Quebecor to reach new summits in the years to come.”
“We are excited to announce our new, enhanced partnership with TVA Sports and welcome them as an official broadcast partner of MLS,” said Gary Stevenson, President and Managing Director, MLS Business Ventures. “This agreement is a clear indication that our media partners – along with the League and our Canadian clubs – are investing in the growth of the sport of soccer in Canada. We know that TVA Sports will provide world-class coverage and promotional for the League and Montreal Impact.”
“We want to thank Joey Saputo, MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Gary Stevenson for the confidence they have shown through this new historic partnership for Quebecor and TVA Sports,” said Pierre Dion, Quebecor president and CEO. “It is a privilege for us to get exclusive rights for the Impact games and to become an MLS official broadcaster. Soccer is a growing sport in Quebec and we will make sure it shines its brightest on all our platforms to continue to inspire fans and supporters across the province.”
“We are very proud of our association with the Bleu-blanc-noir and MLS,” said Serge Fortin, TVA Sports vice-president. “The Montreal Impact has secured a place of choice in Quebeckers’ hearts. Once again this year, we witnessed the whole province was behind its team for the Eastern Conference Championship against Toronto FC. In fact, all of our production team, which has shown its quality in the past years, is eager to bring supporters even closer to the action by broadcasting all of the Montreal Impact games for the next five years.”
The technological experience continues
With its five-year experience as a Montreal Impact Founding Partner, Videotron aims to bring its partnership to another level. As well as offering an innovative experience for home games at Stade Saputo, Videotron wishes to connect supporters across Quebec with the Montreal club, wherever they are.
“We think our technology will greatly raise the experience of all supporters, at Stade Saputo or elsewhere in Quebec,” concluded Videotron president and CEO, Manon Brouillette. “Interactive digital experiences, innovative activations or privileged access to the team will be some of the advantages available to supporters to help them live to the rhythm of the Impact before, during and after games.”
