TSN unveils Toronto FC, Whitecaps broadcast schedules

TSN was officially confirmed Monday as the new official broadcaster of MLS in Canada. But, for fans of Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps, there won’t be an overwhelming number of games on Canada’s most popular sports network.

While the rumours had suggested that CBC was out of the picture, we got confirmaton of that when MLS released the schedule. The March 19 First Kick match between Vancouver and Toronto FC, tailor-made for a national Canadian broadcaster, was slated for a Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time, putting it in direct conflict with Hockey Night in Canada.

Toronto FC’s first three games of the season, March 19 vs. Vancouver, home to Portland March 26 and home to Chivas USA April 2, will all be carried on TSN. A total of 13 Toronto FC games will be carried on TSN, with the other 21 to go to local broadcasters.

TFC’s final three games of the regular season will also be broadcasted on TSN. No TFC games between April 2 and June 4 will be on TSN.

The Whitecaps will have nine of its games — including both match-ups with Toronto FC — broadcast on TSN. Four more matches will be show on TSN2. Between April 6 and June 25, the Whitecaps won’t appear on TSN, but will have three games on TSN2.

Why the big gap in MLS broadcasts in April, May and June? Stanley Cup playoffs. Hockey simply takes over the tube. There are plenty of afternoon NHL games during the playoffs, too — so it’s not like the Whitecaps and Toronto FC can schedule early Saturday start times to get around them.

Whitecaps on TSN-TSN2
March 19, Toronto FC TSN
April 6, New England TSN
May 11, San Jose TSN2
May 28, New York TSN2
June 11, at Seattle TSN2
June 25, at Kansas City TSN
June 29, at TFC TSN
July 6 Columbus TSN
July 20 at San Jose TSN
July 30 L.A. Galaxy TSN
Aug. 20 at Portland TSN
Aug. 27 Houston TSN2
Sept. 24 Seattle TSN

Toronto FC on TSN
March 19, at Vancouver TSN
March 26, Portland TSN
April 2, Chivas USA TSN
June 4, Kansas City TSN
June 15, at New England TSN
June 29, Vancouver TSN
July 6, at New York TSN
July 20, FC Dallas TSN
Aug. 6, at D.C. United TSN
Sept. 17, Colorado TSN
Oct. 1, New York TSN
Oct. 15, Philadelphia TSN
Oct. 22, New England TSN