U SPORTS announces football post-season broadcast partners
CBC Sports and TVA Sports to broadcast 55th Vanier Cup presented by Promutuel Insurance
TORONTO – U SPORTS, the national brand of university sports in Canada, is pleased to announce their broadcast partners for the 2019 football championship season culminating in the 55th Vanier Cup presented by Promutuel Insurance live from Quebec City on November 23, 2019, starting at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT.
The year marks the return of CBC as U SPORTS’ English-language broadcast partner for the first time since the 1979 championship game that saw the Acadia Axemen top the Western Mustangs 34-12 to capture their first Vanier Cup title. CBC previously covered the first 15 editions of Canada’s university football championship from 1965 through 1979 when the game was known as the Canadian College Bowl.
Livestreaming of the Vanier Cup will also be available on the free CBC Gem streaming service, CBCSports.ca and the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices.
CBC Sports digital platforms – CBC Gem, CBCSports.ca and the CBC Sports app – also become the official English-language streaming home of the Uteck and Mitchell Bowls as well as the Vanier Cup, offering coverage both domestically and internationally.
“The Vanier Cup is the biggest event in Canadian university football and we are pleased to be bringing it back to our audiences after 30 years,” said Chris Wilson, Executive Director, Sports and Olympics, CBC. “These talented young players have dedicated their university years to the sport and it’s great to be able to showcase their abilities with these final games.”
CBC’s coverage of the Vanier Cup will feature play-by-play from veteran commentator Mark Lee, with game analysis from CFL news breaker Justin Dunk and sideline reporting from CBC Sports’ Andi Petrillo. Additionally, host Scott Russell will be joined in-studio by Canadian Olympic Games bobsledder and former university football star, Jesse Lumsden, and award-winning CFL receiver, Mike Morreale.
TVA Sports continues as the official French-language broadcast partner of the Vanier Cup for the fifth consecutive year. TVA Sports will also provide live coverage of both the Uteck and Mitchell Bowls on Saturday, Nov. 16. Fans can access the French webcast with a valid subscription via TVASports.ca.
“We are thrilled to bring CBC on board as our English language broadcast partner for the 2019 U SPORTS football playoffs,” said U SPORTS President and CEO Graham Brown. “Canadians will have unparalleled access to the Vanier Cup in English and French, through either linear or digital formats. This is a big win for our fans, student-athletes and universities.”
The Road to the Vanier Cup
U SPORTS also announced English over-the-air television coverage for the 2019 Uteck and Mitchell Bowls on Saturday, Nov. 16. Both games will be available across Western Canada with coverage via the Canada West Football Showcase network in Saskatchewan available on SaskTel maxTV and on TELUS Optik TV in B.C and Alberta.
Bell MTS Fibe TV in Manitoba and CHCH-TV in Ontario will also broadcast the Mitchell Bowl.
The Uteck Bowl kicks off at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT when the RSEQ Dunsmore Cup champion Montreal Carabins travel to face the AUS Loney Bowl champion Acadia Axemen at Raymond Field in Wolfville, N.S.
The Mitchell Bowl follows at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT, pitting the OUA Yates Cup champion McMaster Marauders against the Calgary Dinos, winners of the Canada West Hardy Cup, at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium.
U SPORTS Football Post-season Broadcast Schedule
Date / Round | Matchup | Time (ET) | Time (PT) | Networks | Digital Coverage |
Sat. Nov. 16 Bowl Games | Uteck Bowl Montreal @ Acadia | 1 p.m. | 10 a.m. | SaskTel maxTV TELUS Optik TV TVA Sports | CBC Sports App |
Mitchell Bowl McMaster @ Calgary | 3 p.m. | 12 p.m. | CHCH SaskTel maxTV TELUS Optik TV Bell MTS Fibe TV TVA Sports 2 | CBC Sports App | |
Sat. Nov. 23 55th Vanier Cup presented by Promutuel Insurance | Mitchell vs. Uteck | 1 p.m. | 10 a.m. | CBC TVA Sports | CBC Sports App |
Bowl Week Schedules
All times ET/PT
Date | Wednesday, Nov. 13 | Thursday, Nov. 14 | Friday, Nov. 15 |
Uteck Bowl | |||
Practices / Travel | Acadia 3:45 p.m. / 12:45 p.m. Raymond Field
Montreal 6:45 p.m. / 3:45 p.m. CEPSUM | Acadia 6:00 p.m. / 3:00 p.m. Raymond Field
Montreal 6:45 / 3:45 CEPSUM | Montreal 11 a.m. / 8 a.m. Departure for Halifax
Acadia 2:00 p.m. / 11:00 a.m. Raymond Field |
Media Conference / Availabilities | Montreal 6:00 p.m. / 3:00 p.m.
Acadia 6:00 p.m. / 3:00 p.m. | Montreal 6:00 p.m. / 3:00 p.m.
Acadia 6:00 p.m. / 3:00 p.m. | Media Conference 3:30 p.m. / 12:30 p.m. New Hall of Fame Room Acadia Athletics Complex |
Mitchell Bowl | |||
Practices / Travel | Calgary 7:30 p.m. / 4:30 p.m. McMahon Stadium
McMaster 5:00 p.m. / 2:00 p.m. Ron Joyce Stadium | Calgary 7:30 p.m. / 4:30 p.m. McMahon Stadium (Closed to media)
McMaster 11:00 a.m. / 8:00 a.m.
Departure from Hamilton 1:00 p.m. / 10:00 a.m. | McMaster 3:00 p.m. / 12:00 p.m. McMahon Stadium
Calgary 6:00 p.m. / 3:00 p.m. McMahon Stadium |
Media Conference / Availabilities | Calgary 10:00 p.m. / 7:00 p.m.
McMaster 8:00 p.m. / 5:00 p.m. | Calgary 10:00 p.m. / 7:00 p.m.
| Media Availability Both Teams 4:30 p.m. / 1:30 p.m. |
About CBC Sports
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's Olympic Network through 2024 and Canada's Paralympic Network through 2020. The national public broadcaster is committed to showcasing Canadian and international athletes and sports across all platforms under the CBC Sports and Hockey Night in Canada brands, including on television, online at cbcsports.ca and via the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices. CBC Sports prides itself on telling the story of the high-performance athlete's journey every step of the way, ensuring Canadians always know the people who represent them before they see them atop the podium.
Twitter: @cbcsports
Instagram: @cbc.sports
Facebook: FB.com/cbcsports
About U SPORTS
U SPORTS is the national brand for university sports in Canada. Every year, over 20,000 student-athletes and 900 coaches from 56 universities vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. U SPORTS also provides higher performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous World University Championships. For further information, visit USPORTS.ca or follow us on:
Twitter/Instagram/YouTube: @USPORTSca
Facebook: @USPORTSCanada
For further information, please contact:
John Bower
Director, Marketing and Communications
U SPORTS
Off: 905-508-3000 ext. 241
Cell: 780-667-5646
Joanna Landsberg
Publicist
CBC Sports
Off: 416-205-2983
Alan Hudes
Manager, Communications and Content
U SPORTS
Off: 905-508-3000 ext. 242
Cell: 647-991-5343
