It’s been an exciting week for the Kelowna curling world.
Last Friday, Curling Canada announced that the 2025 Montana’s Brier would be held in Kelowna after the city lost the 2021 edition of the men’s national championship due to the pandemic.
Two days later, the Pan Continental Curling Championship (PCCC) began at the Kelowna Curling Club (KCC) featuring Canada’s two biggest stars in the sport, Brad Gushue and Kerri Einarson, and teams from around the world.
But things went slightly awry Tuesday morning when, after two days of competition, TSN quietly moved the event to streaming only.
That meant that anyone trying to catch the action from the KCC would have to stream it through the TSN website or app instead of being able to watch it through their cable package.
It’s a move that may not seem like much to the younger demographic, but it’s one that will leave many unable to watch the event and that was made very obvious by the backlash online.
The World Curling Federation, which puts on the PCCC, told CBC’s Devin Heroux that it provides the feed to TSN and where the network decides to show that feed is entirely up to them.
When Heroux contacted TSN, a spokesperson blamed “ongoing technical and feed issues” as the reason for the sudden change to the network’s broadcast plans.
Before and after.
— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) October 31, 2023
Here is the Pan Continental Curling 🥌 Championship broadcast schedule at the onset of the event — and after this change made today.
From games being on TV to now everything, including playoffs and gold medal games now only online. #cbccurl pic.twitter.com/OlsdWZok5v
However the decision is justified doesn’t change the fact that it significantly diminishes the number of eyes that will be on the competition, and, as a result, on Kelowna.
“The decision to move the broadcast from mainstream TV to online platforms is the broadcaster’s to make, but understandably it’s a disappointing one,” Tourism Kelowna president and CEO Lisanne Ballantyne told KelownaNow.
“We’d like as many people as possible to be able to watch the great curling currently taking place in Kelowna.”
Despite the frustration surrounding TSN’s decision, Ballantyne is encouraging curling fans to check out the PCCC in person and encouraging those here for the event to enjoy their time in the Okanagan.
“Kelowna is proud to host the 2023 PCCC and welcome curlers and spectators from around the world to our beautiful destination,” she said.
“For those able and wanting to experience the action firsthand, it’s not too late to come join in the fun and explore Kelowna and the Central Okanagan.”
The round robin action continues for the next 24 hours before playoffs begin Thursday night, with medals set to be handed out on Saturday.
