PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Canada has extended its broadcast agreement with TSN for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
In 2023, for the sixth consecutive year, TSN will deliver more than 30 weeks of PBR programming, bringing viewers highlight specials from both the elite PBR Canada Cup Series, presented by Wrangler, and the world-leading PBR Unleash The Beast.
During the 2023 season, the PBR is celebrating its 30th anniversary since 20 cowboys broke away from the traditional rodeo with the belief that bull riding could be a standalone sport. Since their trailblazing initiative, the PBR has grown into a global phenomenon awarding nearly $300 million in prize money.
“Since the inception of the PBR Canada Cup Series, presented by Wrangler, in 2016, TSN has been a crucial partner, and we are excited to continue on our journey to elevate the sport of bull riding in Canada and across the globe,” said Jason Davidson, PBR Canada General Manager. “In 2022 TSN brought viewers wall-to-wall coverage of one of the fiercest World Championship races, as well as one of the most intense PBR Canada Championship races in history. TSN is the perfect home for Canadian viewers to continue to watch the enthralling competition as PBR celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2023.”
The 2023 lineup of programming will begin on March 8 with the first broadcast of the 2023 PBR Canada Cup Series, recapping all the action from the season-launch event in Red Deer, Alberta.
Programming will continue on March 15 as viewers relive the Cup Series two-day event in Lethbridge, Alberta.
The subsequent 10 weeks of coverage from March 22-May 24 will televise Unleash The Beast competition, featuring the Top 40 bull riders in the world going head-to-head against the rankest bucking bulls on the planet.
Televised events will include: Tucson, Arizona (March 22), St. Louis, Missouri (March 29), Minneapolis, Minnesota (April 5), Manchester, New Hampshire (April 12), Albany, New York (April 19), New York City (April 26), Chicago (May 3), Duluth, Georgia (May 10), Indianapolis, Indiana (May 17) and Sacramento, California (May 24).
PBR Canada Cup Series coverage will return on May 30 with a one-hour special from the tour stop in Brandon, Manitoba, followed by a recap of the London, Ontario event on June 7.
Following three weeks of Unleash The Beast programming, recapping the key moments from the events in Tulsa, Oklahoma (June 14), Eugene, Oregon (June 21) and Los Angeles (June 27), viewers will be brought the fourth Canadian event of the season on July 5 from Brandon, Manitoba.
Three more weeks of Unleash The Beast coverage from July 12-25 will again feature Canadian competition, carrying the series event from Kelowna, British Columbia on August 2.
From Aug. 9-Sept. 13 TSN will bring viewers the final Unleash The Beast events of the 2023 season, concluding with a two-part special from the 2023 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast in Fort Worth, Texas, on Sept. 6 and Sept. 13.
The season’s programming will conclude with six weeks of Canadian programming.
On October 3 viewers will be brought all the action from Grande Prairie, Alberta, followed by Medicine Hat, Alberta, on October 17.
TSN will then televise a two-part recap from the final regular-season event of the year in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on October 31 and November 1.
The 2023 slate of Canadian program will culminate with a two-part, two-hour PBR Canada Finals special on November 21 and 28.
