Rumor: The future of Canadian broadcasting giant TSN in doubt after latest news

According to a unsubstantiated report from popular Toronto based publication BlogTO, the future of Canadian sports media giant TSN is in doubt.

Reporter Jonah Sigel writes that Bell Media, the parent company for TSN, is seeking to divest themselves of TSN and is “actively exploring the sale of TSN and its affiliated properties.”

Bell Media has been aggressively cutting costs over the past few years, laying off thousands of employees and shuttering radio stations and selling their stake in several other high profile businesses.

From Sigel:

While no potential buyers have been publicly identified for TSN, several factors make this move logical. TSN, despite its strong brand recognition, faces increasing challenges in the current media landscape. Rights fees continue to escalate while traditional subscription revenues decline. The NHL national rights loss to Rogers in 2013 marked a significant shift, and while TSN has maintained regional rights and other properties, the economics of sports broadcasting have fundamentally changed.

This potential sale could reshape the entire Canadian sports media landscape, particularly as streaming services increasingly compete for sports rights. TSN’s current portfolio, including CFL, FIFA, and regional NHL rights, could be attractive to multiple buyers, including streaming platforms looking to expand their live sports offerings.

– Jonah Sigel

However, a Bell Media spokesperson has pushed back against Sigel’s reporting:

“There is no truth to the report that TSN is being considered for sale. It is not,” a Bell Media spokesperson said of the rumours.

Still, you can’t help but notice that in the past three years Bell has closed radio stations in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Hamilton and Edmonton. They have also sold off their 37.5% stake in MLSE, the parent company of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Argonauts, Toronto FC and the Toronto Marlies. They cut 4,800 jobs in 2024 after cutting 1,300 jobs in 2023. 

It’s clear that Bell is scaling its business way, way, waaaaaay back… so frankly, I don’t believe them when they say they’re not considering a sale of TSN.

When Bell Media purchased TSN back in 2011 it was the largest specialty television channel in Canada with over $400 million in annual revenue. Its estimated revenue for 2023 was $171 million.