ESPN acquires Canadian curling series rights

US pay-television broadcaster ESPN has acquired rights to the Canadian Curling Association’s Season of Champions events for the 2014-15 season.

ESPN will broadcast live more than 300 hours of coverage of the 2014-15 series via its ESPN3 online streaming service.

The agreement came into effect earlier this week with live coverage of the Canada Cup, which began on December 3 and concludes on Sunday.

Other live coverage will include the Continental Cup, the Tournament of Hearts and the Canadian Junior Curling Championships.

Canadian Curling Association chief executive Greg Stremlaw said: “We know there’s an appetite in the United States, particularly with snowbirds who spend their winters in warmer weather, Canadians working or attending school south of the border, and the many curling enthusiasts who travel throughout the United States.”

Canadian pay-television broadcaster TSN holds the rights to the Season of Champions in the series’ native country.