We have chatted about this for years here.
Only reason we have networks jumping on the wagon for Nations League and CPL is we are 14+ months away from a home World Cup.
Sponsors know people are getting interested are now focusing their marketing efforts on soccer in general, so they are now receptive and willing to pay the ad and sponsorship rates that TSN needs to cover rights fees and production costs for all these games they broadcast. Given the ratings usually, not enough people watch games for sponsors to pay the rates the networks need.
That said, maybe the CSB has negotiated with sponsors and the resultant networks, that if they want to be part of the host country World Cup sponsorship next year, they have to start supporting things this year, like Nations League and CPL coverage. It it what the CSB's role is to do.
Let's be real here, we average 4000 fans for attendance in a city of over 1M. And my guess there isn't a bunch of Cavs spread across the country (nowhere near as many Flames fans) that would move the ratings needle at all. Networks measure their audiences in 10s or 100s of thousands or higher, and these will not be rated great across the country.
Again though, any exposure is great may bring some more fans on board to go to games locally, which is all the CPL teams care about here to raise the profile a bit.
We will see after 2026 if this coverage continues though, on the networks.
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