Canadian Premier League coming to US TV through FS2

The 2021 Canadian Premier League will be viewable in the United States through a new media agreement with FOX Sports.

MEDIAPRO Canada and FOX Sports announced an agreement bringing coverage of Canada’s top division, and other programs, to U.S. TV.

In addition to the league, FOX Sports will also provide other programs, including a documentary-style show to air. The CPL will join FOX’s coverage of domestic competitions in the United States.

The Canadian Premier League on FS2

Adding to an already impressive array of soccer coverage, FOX Sports announced the broadcasts will air on FOX Sports 2 or FOX Soccer Plus.

FOX Sports already has experience in broadcasting the Canadian Premier League. In 2021, the COVID-19 Pandemic forced the teams to compete in a bubble-style tournament. FOX broadcast this event, known as the Kickoff, on their streaming service FOX Soccer Plus.

However, for the remaining 80 regular season games across the league, FOX brought games to FS2 for coverage as well.

The CPL is a young league. Moreover, the league held its first season in 2019 after founding teams formed the league in May 2017.

Forge FC, in Halifax, NS, is the most successful club in the CPL.

Eight teams compete in the young league. In fact, Forge FC, out of Hamilton, ON, won both of the league titles.

The teams come from throughout Canada, ranging from the east coast with HFX Wanderers FC, in Halifax, Nova Scotia to Pacific FC, in Langford, British Columbia, just south of Vancouver.

With new teams, new stadiums and new storylines, the Canadian Premier League shows some popularity. Roughly 5,000 people showed up to each game on average, with Forge FC pulling the largest crowds.

Now, the potential audience can continue to grow through TV viewership in the United States. The season runs into early November, meaning there is still plenty of action on the table.

Other Canadian Soccer Programs on FOX Sports

Outside of the Canadian Premier League, FOX Sports also provides coverage of the 2021 Canadian Championship. This tournament-style competition pits the eight CPL teams against the three Canadian MLS teams, Toronto FC, CF Montréal and the Vancouver Whitecaps. Additionally, teams from smaller leagues in Quebec and Ontario partake in the competition.

Interestingly, the event FOX Sports will cover is technically the 2020 rendition of the tournament. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the start date back a full year, perhaps to welcome fans into stadiums. Still, the tournament features the same teams, so it is merely a formality.

Also, FOX Sports is bringing other media to U.S. screens.

First off, FOX Soccer Plus and FS2 will air Bringing it Home. This five-part behind-the-scenes documentary chronicles the Canadian Premier League’s first season. The CPL, Canada’s first professional soccer league in over 40 years, brought out all kinds of moments and emotions, all documented in Bringing it Home.

For more live coverage, FOX Sports will broadcast a bi-weekly studio show known as One Soccer Today. On Mondays and Thursdays throughout the season, the broadcaster will distribute the program produced by MEDIAPRO Canada’s OneSoccer team. Moreover, there will also be a recap show on Sunday night’s available, known as CPL in Review.