TSN flagship news show Sportscentre will flaunt a new look this week, as the sportscaster marks its 25th anniversary with a series of events, including a commemorative site and classic promos from its early days.

As part of the makeover, Sportscentre will feature a newly enhanced, high-def graphics package with a focus on sports highlights and updates. TSN will also air retro promos such as its ‘Rodsky and Dutch’ segment throughout September, while online initiatives include photo galleries, timelines and sports trivia at TSN.ca/tsn25. The quarter century is also marked with the launch of TSNShop.ca, so that fans can now buy TSN merch online, and of course, a book, TSN 25 Years, which hits bookstores on Sept. 15.

The specialty has enjoyed significant growth since it launched in 1984, with a subscriber base that ballooned from 323,000 to nine million subscribers at present – despite the arrival of competitors The Score and Rogers Sportsnet in the 1990s. TSN’s growth was further bolstered by long-term sports deals such as those with the Canadian Football and National Hockey Leagues last year, which also fuelled the launch of TSN2 – though Canada’s biggest carriers including Bell and Rogers initially did not sign on to distribute the alternative channel. Rogers, owner of chief TSN competitor Sportsnet, only came on board nine months after TSN2 was born.

On the ratings front, TSN recently achieved its highest audience ever, when 3.7 million viewers watched Canada win the gold medal at the World Junior Hockey Championship in January.

From Playback Daily