TSN’s digital brand BarDown celebrates its 10th anniversary, marking a decade since it took the Canadian sports world by storm, creating unique and engaging online sports content that’s beloved by fans across the country.
BarDown launched in 2014, aiming to serve a growing cohort of younger fans turning to social media platforms to share in their passion for sports. Along the way, BarDown has become Canadian sports media’s unquestioned leader in digital-first content, reaching numerous milestones over the past 10 years, including:
- More than 8.4 million followers across all platforms
- More than 70 million views on BarDown‘s YouTube videos, with 34 videos surpassing 1 million views
- Highest engagement of any hockey-specific account on social media in 2023
- BarDown Quizzes and Going BarDown Vlog are the two most-viewed original hockey series on YouTube
- As of 2023, three BarDown staff rank among the Top 4 Canadian hockey media personalities based on Instagram engagement rates
“BarDown is built on exploring sports culture, experimenting with new platforms, and the camaraderie of the incredibly talented team who have worked on the brand throughout the years,” said Dave Krikst, Director of Content Strategy and Audience Development, TSN, and Head of BarDown and MuchMusic. “As we mark this major milestone, we celebrate not only a decade of hard work, but also the community of fans who have made BarDown an exciting new window into the sports world. We’ll continue to make creative new content, set trends in the digital sports world, and have many more unforgettable moments along the way.”
The BarDown team has been a leader in the ever-evolving world of digital sports content, developing first-of-its-kind innovations, such as the daily, social-focused program DIGITAL SPORTSCENTRE. The brand’s notoriety also opened the door to a multitude of sponsorship opportunities throughout the years, uniquely integrating brands into the BarDown world.
From well-researched quizzes to penalty box interviews, BarDown‘s work consistently garners massive viewership, with many videos amassing more than 1 million views, including:
- Can you count from 1-99 using NHL players?
- Using 1,000 pucks in hockey warmups
- Conor McGregor fights Dana White… Virtually
- Ultimate Hockey Road Trip
- BarDown Quiz ft. Teemu Selanne
- Trying Smelling Salts for the First Time
- New Hockey Pranks
- Kids in the Penalty Box
- Thumb League
- Toronto Maple Leafs players call each other out for fun
The momentum does not end there, as the BarDown team continues to innovate with content such as TRADEDOWN, a 9-hour live stream on YouTube and TSN+ on the NHL Trade Deadline Day (March 8); Kids in the Penalty Box, BarDown‘s most successful new series in which Corwin McCallum interviews 8-year-old hockey players in the penalty box about the game and their views on the world; and brand partnerships like the Kruger Big Assist, helping award hockey communities across the country with up to $100,000, to help make the game more affordable, accessible, and inclusive.
“Across 10 years of phenomenal content, BarDown has made a major impact on the Canadian sports media landscape,” said Shawn Redmond, VP, Bell Media Sports. “TSN launched BarDown as a way to provide fans with relatable sports content focused through a digital and social lens. Its immediate impact with fans and resonance with brands has been inspiring. We can’t wait to see what this team will accomplish over the next 10 years.”
Every day of the sports calendar, fans can connect with BarDown across the brand’s digital and social media platforms, including BarDown.com, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube.
