The University of the Fraser Valley athletic department is pleased to participate in a new era in Canadian university sport streaming set to unfold in August, as Canada West (CW) and Yare Media announced a multi-year partnership Wednesday.
The UFV Cascades are one of 17 Canada West conference members across B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The Cascades have competed in CW basketball and soccer since 2006, wrestling since 2014, and the women’s rugby sevens pilot project which launched in 2017.
More than 1,100 CW games were streamed during the 2016-17 season on Canada West TV – the official streaming home of the conference. CW is proud to be taking its product to Yare’s made in Canada streaming solution for the 2017-18 season, as the Surrey, B.C. based company emerged as the successful bidder after a thorough review of Canada West TV that spanned more than eight months.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with a Western Canadian company, which is committed to helping Canada West deliver our product to fans,” said Adrienne Healey, Canada West’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “We received several strong bids to be the conference’s streaming provider and Yare rose to the top with their user-friendly platform we are sure our fans will enjoy.”
As was the case last season, every CW football, hockey, volleyball, and basketball game will be available live and on demand this coming season, along with every conference championship event (swimming, track & field, and wrestling). In addition to these sports, an extensive offering of conference soccer games will also be available on Canada West TV.
The conference’s streaming schedule will be available in a new, responsive platform that can be viewed on PCs, iOS and Android devices, and connected televisions using AirPlay and Chromecast. Fans can expect an enhanced viewing experience this season, with video being delivered using HTML5 technology in adaptive bitrate that will automatically provide users with the optimal resolution for their device and internet connectivity.
“Canada West has established itself as an innovative leader in delivering university sports online,” said Hugh Dobbie, Yare Media’s CEO. “As a western based Canadian company we have staff, friends, family, and colleagues with strong connections to CW and we are delighted to be able to share our advanced platform and experience to help the conference deliver next generation video technologies to its fan base. The new enhancement of adaptive bitrate video will eliminate buffering and seamlessly provide the highest quality HD video experience for CW viewers.”
Launched in 2011, Canada West TV was the first university sports streaming network of its kind in Canada and has since evolved into a key strategic initiative for the conference, which was also the first in the country to monetize the online streaming platform beginning with the 2015-16 season.
“The conference and our members have made great investments to showcase our student-athletes on Canada West TV,” said Ian Reade, CW President. “The conference remains committed to improving Canada West TV in the years to come, working closely with Yare to assure the continued development of the Canada West brand through our enhanced digital offerings.”
Pass options and pricing for the 2017-18 CW season will be unveiled in mid-August when the new Canada West TV launches as part of the conference’s upcoming rebrand.
About Canada West:
Canada West is the leading university athletic conference in the country and is home to champion student-athletes that excel in the classroom and their communities. Canada West and our 17 members from across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba collectively carry on a legacy of competitive excellence, as our champions proudly go on to represent the conference at U SPORTS national championships.
Canada West – training leaders, building champions
About Yare:
Yare provides solutions to address changing content distribution models in sports, broadcasting and entertainment. The company focuses on helping sports and entertainment properties underserved by traditional broadcast channels to implement market strategies that generate new OTT revenues and enhance brand awareness. The Yare platform provides transcoding, transaction processing, content delivery services and casting technologies for organizations wanting to deliver a high-quality video experience to a lean back, large screen audience. The management and operations teams have structured deals involving major sports and entertainment brands worldwide, including the Canadian Football League (CFL), which used Yare to showcase last year’s Grey Cup Playoffs in 150+ countries.
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