The league-leading Toronto Blue Jays hit TSN and TSN2 in 2009 with 25 games this season (see broadcast schedule below). In addition to 20 games on TSN, the Blue Jays have agreed to add an additional five games exclusively on TSN2. This season marks the 26th consecutive year of Blue Jays Baseball on TSN, and TSN2 is proud to join the tradition by delivering its very own schedule of games. All Blue Jays games on TSN and TSN2 are available in High Definition.
The Blue Jays continue to draw strong audiences on TSN. The national average audience for ROGERS JAYS ON TSN broadcasts increased by 11% (419,000) last year compared to 2007, marking the highest average since the 1994 season on TSN*. The network also recorded its highest single-game audience in eight years when 650,000 viewers tuned in to see the Jays defeat the Chicago White Sox in September.
Blue Jays coverage on TSN2 gets underway on Tuesday, May 19 with the Jays taking on the Boston Red Sox in a key three-game series. TSN2 is readily available in the GTA in both Standard Definition and High Definition on Bell TV (Channel 401, 851 HD), Shaw Direct (Channel 401, 269 HD), and Cogeco Cable (Channel 156, 729 HD).
“The Blue Jays have surprised a lot of people and are playing some exciting baseball. A big test for this team will come when they head into Fenway next month to take on the Red Sox. Baseball fans will now be able to see every pitch from this pivotal series on TSN2,” says Phil King, President of TSN. “TSN is thrilled to continue our partnership with the Blue Jays and the last minute addition of an extra five games exclusively for the TSN2 schedule is a bonus for all fans.”
Divisional rivalries and interleague match-ups highlight TSN/TSN2’s Blue Jays broadcast schedule in 2009 that includes:
o Seven games against last year’s American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays, led by last season’s AL Rookie of the Year, Evan Longoria
o Four match-ups with the New York Yankees featuring superstars Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez as well as former Blue Jays pitcher AJ Burnett
o Three Games against the Boston Red Sox featuring Canadian Jason Bay, “Big Papi” David Ortiz and American League MVP Dustin Pedroia
o Three games against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – last year’s AL West champs and the only team in the Majors to win 100 regular season games in 2008
o Two tilts with the Cleveland Indians led by reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee and All-Star outfielder Grady Sizemore
o Four interleague match-ups, including two with the Cincinnati Reds featuring Toronto-born first baseman Joey Votto and two more versus the Florida Marlins
TSN’s Rod Black and Pat Tabler return to the booth for their 8th consecutive year to handle play-by-play and analysis for ROGERS JAYS ON TSN broadcasts.
TSN/TSN2’s 2009 Toronto Blue Jays broadcast schedule is as follows:
May
Tuesday, May 19 Toronto @ Boston 7 p.m. ET on TSN2
Wednesday, May 20 Toronto @ Boston 7 p.m. ET on TSN2
Thursday, May 21 Toronto @ Boston 7 p.m. ET on TSN2
June
Wednesday, June 3 LA Angels @ Toronto 7 p.m. ET on TSN
Friday, June 12 Florida @ Toronto 7 p.m. ET on TSN
Saturday, June 13 Florida @ Toronto 1 p.m. ET on TSN
Wednesday, June 24 Cincinnati @ Toronto 7 p.m. ET on TSN
Thursday, June 25 Cincinnati @ Toronto 7 p.m. ET on TSN
Monday, June 29 Tampa Bay @ Toronto 7 p.m. ET on TSN
Tuesday, June 30 Tampa Bay @ Toronto 7 p.m. ET on TSN
July
Tuesday, July 7 Toronto @ Tampa Bay 7 p.m. ET on TSN
Wednesday, July 8 Toronto @ Tampa Bay 7 p.m. ET on TSN
Tuesday, July 21 Cleveland @ Toronto 7 p.m. ET on TSN
Wednesday, July 22 Cleveland @ Toronto 7 p.m. ET on TSN
August
Tuesday, Aug. 4 NY Yankees @ Toronto 7 p.m. ET on TSN
Wednesday, Aug. 5 NY Yankees @ Toronto 7 p.m. ET on TSN
Saturday, Aug. 22 LA Angels @ Toronto 1 p.m. ET on TSN
Sunday, Aug. 23 LA Angels @ Toronto 1 p.m. ET on TSN
Monday, Aug. 24 Tampa Bay @ Toronto 7 p.m. ET on TSN
Tuesday, Aug. 25 Tampa Bay @ Toronto 7 p.m. ET on TSN
Wednesday, Aug. 26 Tampa Bay @ Toronto 7 p.m. ET on TSN
September
Sunday, Sept. 13 Toronto@ Detroit 1 p.m. ET on TSN2
Tuesday, Sept. 15 Toronto @ NY Yankees 7 p.m. ET on TSN
Wednesday, Sept. 16 Toronto @ NY Yankees 7 p.m. ET on TSN
Sunday, Sept. 27 Seattle @ Toronto 1 p.m. ET on TSN2