Toronto, ON (December 11, 2008) – TSN today announced its 2008-09 curling broadcast schedule that includes – for the first time ever – exclusive Canadian coverage of all Season of Champions events.  TSN’s coverage of the 2008-09 season begins with the 2008 CONTINENTAL CUP OF CURLING on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 10:30 a.m. ET. 

TSN’s new multi-year broadcast deal with the Canadian Curling Association features all draws including playoffs and finals from the 2009 TIM HORTONS BRIER and the 2009 SCOTTIES TOURNAMENT OF HEARTS.  TSN will broadcast all draws of the 2008 CONTINENTAL CUP OF CURLING along with playoff draws from the 2009 M&M MEAT SHOPS CANADIAN JUNIORS, 2009 CANADA CUP OF CURLING, and the 2009 WORLD WOMEN’S CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP. TSN will also cover all of Team Canada’s draws throughout the 2009 FORD WORLD MEN’S CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP along with full playoff coverage.   

In addition to ongoing highlights and reports, TSN.ca will provide on-demand coverage of all of the network’s curling coverage following the conclusion of each live television broadcast.

 Curling has been a part of TSN’s lineup since the network launched almost 25 years ago,” said Phil King, President, TSN.  “We’re proud to be the exclusive home of Season of Champions curling in Canada and we’re looking forward to working with the Canadian Curling Association to continue to grow the sport with expanded coverage on TSN.”

 TSN’s acclaimed curling broadcast team returns for another season with Vic Rauter calling the action alongside analyst and Olympic gold medallist Linda Moore and analyst and former Brier champion Ray Turnbull.  The trio has almost 70 years of combined curling broadcast experience between them, and is the most recognized and respected curling broadcast teams in sports television.  Also returning to TSN’s broadcast team is three-time Tournament of Hearts winner, Cathy Gauthier, who will provide rinkside updates at tournaments throughout the season.  Two-time World and Brier champion and 2006 Olympic gold medallist Russ Howard will serve as analyst for the morning draws at the SCOTTIES TOURNAMENT OF HEARTS and TIM HORTONS BRIER alongside SPORTSCENTRE’s Bryan Mudryk who will make his debut in the broadcast booth handling the play-by-play duties.

 TSN’s coverage of the 2009 Season of Champions includes the following events:

•  
  • 2008 Continental Cup of Curling from Camrose, AB
  • 2009 M&M Meat Shops Canadian Juniors from Salmon Arm, BC
  • 2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts from Victoria, BC
  • 2009 Tim Hortons Brier from Calgary, AB
  • 2009 Canada Cup of Curling from Yorkton, SK
  • 2009 World Women’s Curling Championship from Gangneung, South Korea
  • 2009 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship from Moncton, NB

(see below for a detailed broadcast schedule)

 Along with exclusive coverage of every Season of Champions event, TSN’s curling broadcast schedule also includes live coverage of the CASINO RAMA CURLING SKINS GAME PRESENTED BY TOW TRUCK IN A BOX featuring a star-studded lineup that includes reigning women’s World champion, Jennifer Jones, reigning men’s World champion Kevin Martin, and former World champs Glenn Howard and Randy Ferbey.  This made-for-TV original TSN production is an annual all-Canadian event.  This year’s tournament marks the first time a woman’s rink will compete against men’s rinks in a TSN Skins game.

 TSN’s 2008-09 curling broadcast schedule is as follows:

2008 Continental Cup of Curling (Camrose, AB)

Thursday, Dec. 18

• Draw 1: Women’s Team Competition at 10:30 a.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 2: Mixed Doubles at 3 p.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 3: Men’s Team Competition at 9 p.m. ET on TSN2 (encore at 11 p.m. ET on TSN)

 Friday, Dec. 19

• Draw 4: Women’s Team Competition at 10:30 a.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 5: Mixed Doubles at 3 p.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 6: Men’s Team Competition at 10 p.m. ET on TSN

 Saturday, Dec. 20

• Draw 7: Skins Competition ‘A’ 12 noon ET on TSN
• Draw 8: Singles at 6 p.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 9: Skins Competition ‘B’ at 9:30 p.m. ET on TSN2 (encore at 11 p.m. ET on TSN)

 Sunday, Dec. 21

• Draw 10: Skins Competition ‘C’ at 10:30 a.m. ET on TSN2 (encore at 1:30 p.m. ET on TSN)
• Draw 11: Skins Competition ‘C’ at 4 p.m. ET on TSN

 Casino Rama Curling Skins Game Presented By Tow Truck In A Box (Orillia, ON)

Saturday, Jan. 10

• Semifinal #1 at 1 p.m. ET on TSN
• Semifinal #2 at 8 p.m. ET on TSN

 Sunday, Jan. 11

• Final at 1 p.m. ET on TSN

 2009 M&M Meat Shops Canadian Juniors (Salmon Arm, BC)

Sunday, Feb. 8

• Women’s Final at 2:30 p.m. ET on TSN
• Men’s Final at 7 p.m. ET on TSN

 2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts (Victoria, BC)

Saturday, Feb. 21

• Draw 1 at 3 p.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 2 at 10 p.m. ET on TSN

 Sunday, Feb. 22

• Draw 3 at 11:30 a.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 4 at 4 p.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 5 at 9:30 p.m. ET on TSN

 Monday, Feb. 23

• Draw 6 at 11:30 a.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 7 at 4 p.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 8 at 9:30 p.m. ET on TSN

 Tuesday, Feb. 24

• Draw 9 at 11:30 a.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 10 at 4 p.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 11 at 9:30 p.m. ET on TSN

 Wednesday, Feb. 25

• Draw 12 at 11:30 a.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 13 at 4 p.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 14 at 10 p.m. ET on TSN

 Thursday, Feb. 26

• Draw 15 at 11:30 a.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 16 at 4 p.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 17 at 9:30 p.m. ET on TSN

 Friday, Feb. 27

• Tie-Breaker(s) (if required) at 4 p.m. ET on TSN
• Page Playoff at 9:30 p.m. ET on TSN

 Saturday, Feb. 28

• Page Playoff at 2:30 p.m. ET on TSN
• Semifinal at 7 p.m. ET on TSN

 Sunday, Mar. 1

• Final at 8 p.m. ET on TSN

 2009 Tim Hortons Brier (Calgary, AB)

Saturday, Mar. 7

• Draw 1 at 3 p.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 2 at 8 p.m. ET on TSN

 Sunday, Mar. 8

• Draw 3 at 10:30 a.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 4 at 3 p.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 5 at 8 p.m. ET on TSN

 Monday, Mar. 9

• Draw 6 at 10:30 a.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 7 at 3 p.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 8 at 8 p.m. ET on TSN

 Tuesday, Mar. 10

• Draw 9 at 10:30 a.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 10 at 3 p.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 11 at 8 p.m. ET on TSN

 Wednesday, Mar. 11

• Draw 12 at 10:30 a.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 13 at 3 p.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 14 at 9:30 p.m. ET on TSN

 Thursday, Mar. 12

• Draw 15 at 10:30 a.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 16 at 3 p.m. ET on TSN
• Draw 17 at 8 p.m. ET on TSN

 Friday, Mar. 13

• Tie-Breaker(s) (if required) at 3 p.m. ET on TSN
• Page Playoff at 8 p.m. ET on TSN

 Saturday, Mar. 14

• Page Playoff at 12 noon ET on TSN
• Semifinal at 8 p.m. ET on TSN

 Sunday, Mar. 15

• Final at 8 p.m. ET on TSN

 
 2009 Canada Cup of Curling (Yorkton, SK)

Saturday, Mar. 21

• Page Playoffs at 10:30 a.m. ET on TSN
• Semifinals at 7:30 p.m. ET on TSN

 Sunday, Mar. 22

• Women’s Final at 10:30 a.m. ET on TSN
• Men’s Final at 9:30 p.m. ET on TSN

 2009 World Women’s Curling Championship (Gangneung, South Korea)

(Broadcast schedule TBA)

 2009 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship (Moncton, NB)

(Broadcast schedule TBA)