CPL Kicks Off New Era with STACKTV in Major Mainstream Media Push

TORONTO, ON – January 29, 2026 – The Canadian Premier League is set for a significant leap into the mainstream sports consciousness, as its commercial arm, Canadian Soccer Business (CSB), today announced a multi-faceted partnership with STACKTV, Corus Entertainment’s premium streaming service. The landmark deal is designed to dramatically elevate the league's national profile, leveraging Corus’s vast media empire to bring Canadian soccer to a broader audience.

The collaboration will see the STACKTV brand featured prominently as the front-of-kit sponsor for a new club, Inter Toronto, signaling future growth for the league. Beyond the on-field presence, the partnership promises extensive digital content integrations, fan engagement opportunities, and a significant advertising presence across Corus’s television and radio properties, including Global TV.

A Strategic Play for Mainstream Attention

For the Canadian Premier League, which will enter its eighth season in 2026, this partnership represents a calculated move beyond its dedicated streaming home, OneSoccer. While OneSoccer has been crucial in building a loyal fanbase, the deal with STACKTV is engineered to break through the crowded sports market and capture the attention of the casual Canadian sports fan.

The agreement will deploy Corus Entertainment’s considerable media assets to promote the CPL. This includes on-air advertisements on the national Global Television Network and Corus radio stations in key markets, alongside digital placements on STACKTV. This integrated approach aims to make the CPL a consistent part of the national sports dialogue, a key objective for a league focused on domestic talent development.

“Media and storytelling play a critical role in how sports grow, connect, and endure,” said Michael Beckerman, Chief Operating Officer at Canadian Soccer Business, in the official announcement. “This partnership with STACKTV reflects our responsibility to bring Canadian soccer into the national conversation through extensive on-air and digital promotion. By expanding our reach across both digital and linear platforms, we’re helping elevate our clubs, players, and competitions and build deeper, lasting connections across the country.”

Corus Enters the Sporting Arena

The partnership is equally strategic for Corus Entertainment. Historically focused on news and entertainment, this move marks a significant foray into the coveted live sports market, a domain long dominated in Canada by Bell Media’s TSN and Rogers’ Sportsnet. For STACKTV, a streaming platform that has shown strong growth since its launch—surpassing 600,000 subscribers by mid-2021—live sports content provides a powerful tool for attracting new subscribers and reducing customer churn.

In a media landscape where nearly 70% of Canadian adults subscribe to a streaming service, and with cord-cutting on the rise, exclusive content is king. Live sports remain one of the few appointment-viewing draws. By aligning with the CPL, Corus is not just buying ad space; it is investing in a growing, community-focused property. This allows STACKTV to tap into the passionate, engaged audience of Canadian soccer fans while positioning itself as a supporter of homegrown sport.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the Canadian Premier League on this collaboration bringing STACKTV into the heart of a deeply connected Canadian soccer community," stated Jennifer Abrams, Senior Vice-President of Content and Marketing at Corus Entertainment. “By connecting STACKTV with highly engaged fans through the front-of-kit sponsorship of Inter Toronto and league-wide media and digital programming, this partnership allows us to extend our reach, support the momentum of Canadian soccer, and align the brand with a national fan community.”

The Inter Toronto Factor and Future Growth

Perhaps the most intriguing element of the announcement is STACKTV’s sponsorship of Inter Toronto, a club that is not on the current CPL roster. This detail strongly suggests the league is actively planning for expansion, with Toronto being a prime target. By securing a major media partner as the founding jersey sponsor for a future club, CSB and the CPL are laying a financially and commercially secure foundation for growth.

For a new team entering a market with an established MLS franchise, this level of built-in promotion and brand association is invaluable. It provides immediate legitimacy and a significant marketing platform before a ball is even kicked. This move signals a long-term vision that extends beyond the existing eight clubs, reinforcing the league's mission to create opportunities across the country.

The financial and promotional injection from such a partnership also has a direct trickle-down effect on the CPL’s core mission: player development. A more visible and financially robust league creates a better environment for Canadian athletes, offering a more viable domestic career path and a stronger platform from which to launch international careers. This increased exposure can attract higher-quality talent, improve club infrastructure, and ultimately strengthen the pipeline to Canada’s National Teams.

Redefining the Canadian Sports Media Landscape

This partnership is a reflection of the evolving media consumption habits of Canadians. It’s a “Total TV” strategy that acknowledges audiences are spread across linear television, on-demand streaming, and digital platforms. By ensuring the CPL is present on all of them, CSB is future-proofing the league’s accessibility.

While OneSoccer will remain the hub for dedicated fans wanting comprehensive coverage, the STACKTV and Corus components will serve as a wide-reaching marketing funnel, introducing the league's stories, rivalries, and stars to millions of potential new fans. It’s a modern approach that bypasses the traditional need to fight for airtime on a conventional sports network, instead creating a bespoke media ecosystem with a partner invested in the league’s success.

As the 2026 season approaches, the impact of this collaboration will be closely watched. It represents a bold bet from both sides: for the CPL, it’s a chance to achieve a new level of relevance, and for Corus, it’s an opportunity to prove that a new player can find success in the Canadian sports media game by championing a uniquely Canadian story.