WNBA and Bell Media Secure Historic Multi-Year Canadian Broadcast Rights

The WNBA and Bell Media have announced a landmark multi-year agreement, establishing TSN and CTV as the official primary broadcast homes for the league in Canada.

Beginning with the 2026 season, the partnership marks a commercial expansion for the league as it debuts its first-ever international franchise, the Toronto Tempo.

The agreement provides the infrastructure required to support a non-US-based team with a national television footprint. Bell Media will serve as the official media partner of the Toronto Tempo, ensuring the franchise receives comprehensive exposure across linear and digital platforms.

Comprehensive Coverage of the Toronto Tempo

Commenting on the broadcasting agreeement, WNBA chief growth officer, Colie Edison, said: “TSN shares our commitment to providing fans with best-in-class coverage that will elevate the WNBA and women’s basketball in Canada.”

Vice president of Bell Media Sports, Shawn Redmond, described the league’s growth as “phenomenal.”

“As the home of basketball in Canada with a wide-ranging portfolio of women’s sports coverage, this partnership is an ideal fit for the TSN audience.”

Under the terms of the deal, TSN will deliver live coverage of the Toronto Tempo’s inaugural season, alongside a broad slate of regular-season matchups and marquee league events.

Key broadcast highlights include:

• WNBA Marquee Events: Live coverage of the WNBA Draft, WNBA All-Star, WNBA Playoffs, and the WNBA Finals.
• Multi-Platform Access: While TSN remains the primary home, a select number of Tempo games will be elevated to CTV (broadcast) and streamed via Crave.
• Season Logistics: The WNBA’s 30th season tips off on 8 May 2026, with an expanded 44-game schedule for each team.

Explosive Growth in the Canadian Market

The partnership follows a period of record-breaking engagement for women’s basketball in Canada. Viewership for the 2026 WNBA Draft on TSN surged by 172% compared to the previous year, reflecting the hype surrounding the Toronto expansion.

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