As part of a new broadcast agreement, the Vancouver Canadians (Short Season A; Northwest League) will have six games televised on Sportsnet Pacific in 2019.
On Tuesday, the Canadians announced that Sportsnet 650 will become their exclusive radio home beginning in 2019, with the station set to air home games and select road games. That is one part of a larger broadcast plan for 2019, however, as it was also revealed that television station Sportsnet Pacific will air six games during the 2019 season.
The exact game lineup has not been announced, but the television component of their broadcast plan should give the Canadians more exposure. While the club has generally been a good draw from an attendance standpoint at Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium, the televised games to Sportsnet Pacific could broaden their exposure throughout the region. More from the Vancouver Sun:
“You’re always trying to find ways to grow your organization. Exposure is a great way to do it,” said C’s president Andy Dunn, who does have an ownership stake in the club. “And I do think we have a unique story to tell, being the only Canadian affiliate team.”
From a Rogers standpoint, it’s a chance to get some exposure for their up and comers. Blue Jays fans would have tuned in to see Marcus Stroman or Aaron Sanchez or Noah Syndergaard pitch for Vancouver a few years ago. In the past couple of seasons, when the Blue Jays have struggled, they could have sold Vancouver starts for the likes of Nate Pearson.
The C’s schedule for next summer hasn’t been announced. In the past, the C’s had a slate of Saturday home games broadcast by Shaw TV, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team try to do that again with Sportsnet Pacific.
Longtime radio play-by-play guy Rob Fai will handle proceedings on TV as well. Dunn said that he has “someone in mind,” to be the analyst, but declined to name names.
The Canadians are not the first Minor League Baseball team to include televised games in their broadcast plans, but they are the latest part of the trend. In the last few years, there have been a few clubs that have either continued or expanded their partnerships for televised games, and the Canadians–who are the only affiliated Minor League Baseball team in Canada–will now see if their airings on Sportsnet Pacific can increase their profile.