Who Owns TSN? Ownership, Political Bias, and Editorial Standards
TSN Overview and Political Bias
TSN is primarily criticized for a perceived 'Toronto-centric' bias, often prioritizing coverage of the Maple Leafs and Raptors over regional teams. While largely apolitical, some observers suggest its reporting on social issues aligns with mainstream corporate interests, occasionally favoring commercial partnerships with major sports leagues over critical investigative journalism.
| Standpoint | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Overall political leaning | Center Left |
| Estimated number of readers | 15,000,000 |
| Israel support | Mainstream / Neutral (Standard corporate reporting) |
| Use of loaded / emotional language | Low |
| Target Audience | Mass market |
TSN History
Launched in 1984, TSN (The Sports Network) was Canada's first 24-hour cable sports channel, modeled after ESPN. It expanded into five national feeds in 2014. Over decades, it established itself as a dominant broadcaster for the CFL, World Junior Hockey, and various professional North American and international sports leagues.
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Who owns TSN?
TSN is owned by Bell Media, a division of BCE Inc., which holds an 80% majority stake. The remaining 20% is owned by ESPN Inc., a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and Hearst Communications. Funding is primarily generated through advertising revenue and monthly cable subscriber carriage fees.