MONTREAL—TSN and RDS are providing hockey fans a chance to change up their viewing experience, using 5G to power a new service that offers a range of unique broadcast camera angles, as well as game highlights and replays.

TSN 5G View/Vision 5G RDS is an exclusive in-app smartphone (iOS and Android) feature that uses Bell 5G to not only offer footage from more than 80 time-slice cameras around an arena to see the game from various angles, but also to rewind and rewatch a play, and zoom in at any time during a live game. Fans can also access on-demand highlights during the broadcast and post-game.

In addition to the 80 cameras, 1,500 meters of fiber, 96 dedicated servers and a specialized control center were installed at the Bell Centre to support the 5G services. The Bell Centre is the home of the Montreal Canadiens.

TSN 5G View/Vision 5G RDS will only be available during select Canadiens games and only throughout the team’s designated broadcast region. The service is expected to expand to more events, venues and teams over time.

“We’re literally handing control of the viewing experience to our fans through their Bell 5G smartphones,” said Nathalie Cook, vice president, TSN & RDS. “Because they can’t attend the games in person, we think hockey fans will be delighted with this innovative new option to get close to the action.”

MLB utilized a similar technology with T-Mobile last year for World Series broadcasts.

For more information, visit TSN.ca/5GView or RDS.ca/Vision5G. 

TORONTO—As part of the Toronto Raptors’ celebration of Women’s History Month this March, the team has announced that its March 24 game against the Denver Nuggets will be called by an all-women broadcast team.

Women will hold every on-air role for the broadcast on TSN. Play-by-play will be handled by Meghan McPeak with TSN analyst, and member of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, Kia Nurse alongside her. Kayla Grey, TSN host and reporter, will handle sideline duties, while TSN’s Kate Beirness and Amy Audibert, Raptor 905 analyst, will host a pre-game show and provide analysis.

“We wanted to highlight the contributions that women make individually—across so many broadcasts—by bringing them all together,” John Wiggins, Raptors vice-president of organizational diversity and inclusion, said. “Yes, we’re making a point. We hope this leads to more recognition of the many roles women play in pro sports.

“And we especially hope that one of the takeaways from this is for girls at home who see Meghan or Amy or Kayla, and think—hey, I could do that. There’s a place for me in sports.”

“We’re proud to work with the Raptors to advance our shared goal: creating opportunities for women in our industry, not just this month, but throughout the year,” said Nathalie Cook, VP, TSN & RDS. “Kate, Kayla and Kia are gifted broadcasters and valuable contributors to TSN’s fan-favorite Raptors coverage all season long. Along with Amy and Meghan, these uniquely talented women will come together as a tribute to the power of women in sport.”

The Raptors shared this promotional video for the game:

TORONTO, NEW YORK & LONDON—If you wondered what a slam dunk would look like in 4K, you won’t have to wait long to find out. On Thursday, Jan. 14, the National Basketball Association, Rogers Communications and BT Sport will broadcast the first live NBA game in 4K, a matchup between the Toronto Raptors and the Orlando Magic in London. Raptor fans will get a second chance to see their team in 4K, when Canadian sports broadcaster TSN delivers a 4K broadcast of the Raptors host the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, Jan. 20.

The NBA previously tested a 4K broadcast during a regular season game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 23, 2014.

In 2015, Rogers rolled out the NextBox 4K set top box to handle 4K broadcasting with HDR and announced it would broadcast more than 100 live sporting events in 4K; this includes all Toronto Blue Jays games for the 2016 season and marquee NHL games.

TSN has announced that after its broadcast on Jan. 20 it will feature a slate of 4K broadcasts that will include games for the Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators. A full schedule of the upcoming 4K broadcasts can be found here, with more set to be announced in the coming months.

Rogers broadcast of the Raptors vs. Magic on Jan. 14 will air at 3 p.m. EST on NextBox channel 999. TSN’s broadcast on Jan. 20 of the Raptors vs. Celtics will air at 7:30 p.m. EST.