Dec 21, 2013; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators defenseman Marc Methot (3) celebrates his goal scored in the first period against the Phoenix Coyotes at the Canadian Tire Centre.MARC DESROSIERS
The Ottawa Senators and Bell Media have reached a 12-year agreement that gives TSN and RDS regional broadcast rights to the team's games.
Under terms of the deal unveiled Wednesday, TSN will broadcast at least 52 regular-season and pre-season games regionally. RDS, TSN's French sister station, will carry at least 40 regular-season and exhibition contests.
All Senators games will be broadcast in English and French on TSN Radio 1200.
The move comes after the NHL reached a 12-year, $5.2-billion agreement with Rogers Communications for the league's broadcast and multimedia rights. The deal gives Rogers national rights to all NHL games, including the playoffs and Stanley Cup final, on all of its platforms in all languages.
TSN's national rights package for NHL games will expire at the end of this season.
"This new 12-year agreement with Bell Media represents one of the most wide-ranging and comprehensive deals in NHL history," Senators owner Eugene Melnyk said in a statement. "This agreement is significant for the Senators, our fans and the future of our franchise."
Bell Media president Kevin Crull called it a "comprehensive partnership."
"Leveraging the strength of the world-class hockey production at TSN and RDS, as well as Bell's extensive assets and reach, we are eager to amplify Ottawa Senators regional coverage to a whole new level," he said.