Bell, who owns TSN, plans to divest its MLSE shares.
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.
They also just purchased Ziply Fiber, a $3.6 billion dollar investment which they are in search to recoup funds following their investment.
The timing of these moves - a major U.S. fiber network acquisition, the MLSE share sale, and now a potential TSN divestiture - paints a picture of a company methodically exiting the volatile sports media business in favor of more stable infrastructure investments. While Bell plans to expand Ziply's reach to more than three million locations in the next four years, it appears to be simultaneously planning its exit from sports media properties.
As the 'new era' of sports streaming develops in apps such as Amazon Prime for NHL games, Sportsnet, FuboTV and more, companies like TSN have been out financially as the time goes on.