From 3DN about TSN broadcasts this year....

 

"The CFL on TSN is taking a renewed approach to its broadcasts for 2025.

 

The network’s panel will travel to all nine stadiums over the course of the upcoming season, sources told 3DownNation, including visits to Regina and Montreal in Week 1. Kate Beirness is returning to host the panel with Henoc Muamba and Davis Sanchez filling the main roles alongside her.

 

Paul LaPolice will also frequently appear on the panel, though he will also perform colour commentary for one game per week. As previously reported, longtime panelist and Hall of Fame quarterback Matt Dunigan is no longer with the network.

 

As for Milt Stegall, who has been with the network since 2009, there is no timeline for his return after the death of his eldest son, Chase. The 20-year-old died unexpectedly at DePaul University on Monday where he was a member of the school’s soccer team.

 

“Our CFL on TSN family is absolutely devastated over Chase’s passing. If you know Milt, you know that his family is everything to him, and we cannot imagine the pain he is going through right now,” said producer Chris Edwards in a statement to 3DownNation. “Milt is our brother and we are going to give him our love and support him in any way we can, and in whatever way he needs.”

 

During a broadcast teeing up the 2025 season on Tuesday, TSN dedicated its coverage this year to Chase’s memory.

 

TSN plans to flesh out the panel by rotating in active players, though it doesn’t appear as though this will happen every week. Players will generally make panel appearances during bye weeks, though there may also be opportunities for in-studio appearances when players are in town to play the Argonauts or Tiger-Cats.

 

Friday Night Football, a longtime network staple, will have a brand new presentation featuring fresh animations, graphics, and music. One source called the scope of the production “bigger.”

 

The play-by-play personnel at the network has remained unchanged for 2025, featuring Rod Smith, Dustin Nielson, Marshall Ferguson, and occasionally Farhan Lalji. Colour commentary will be performed by Glen Suitor, Duane Forde, and LaPolice."

Sask has 9 DL and 4 QB's dressed, 0 backup DB's dressed aside from Dalke who can't do much outside playing center field and Exume who can't even look functional in pre-season vs rookies in his 30s.

2 hours ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

Sask has 9 DL and 4 QB's dressed, 0 backup DB's dressed aside from Dalke who can't do much outside playing center field and Exume who can't even look functional in pre-season vs rookies in his 30s.

Dalke too highly overrated...took some liberties with big shots on defenceless guys and TSN figured he was a stud...

56 minutes ago, Booch said:

Dalke too highly overrated...took some liberties with big shots on defenceless guys and TSN figured he was a stud...

Dalke is one of those who passes off being a goon as skill.  Two steps too late and he’ll still go through someone. No sportsmanship at all.

Looking forward to Lapo doing colour. TSN should retire Suits and make Lapo the lead colour guy.

Lapo is not good yet... I'd call him serviceable. He is very knowledgeable and seems like a great dude... But he's very very raw as a communicator. You can tell he has a lot to say, but he stumbles all over the place trying to spit it out. You can only get better by doing it more, so I have relatively high hopes for him... But right now.... As much as I dislike Suitor, both he and Forde are better at the job. It's kind of similar to Ferguson and his hardcore Ontario accent.... You can tell there's some natural ability there, but it's a ways off from being good at doing Play by Play. It takes time... Hopefully they both get there because they seem like legit good dudes who really care about the league. 

Edited June 5, 2025Jun 5 by Noeller

2 hours ago, Noeller said:

As much as I dislike Suitor, both he and Forde are better at the job.

Wrong

3 hours ago, Noeller said:

Lapo is not good yet... I'd call him serviceable. He is very knowledgeable and seems like a great dude... But he's very very raw as a communicator. You can tell he has a lot to say, but he stumbles all over the place trying to spit it out. You can only get better by doing it more, so I have relatively high hopes for him... But right now.... As much as I dislike Suitor, both he and Forde are better at the job. It's kind of similar to Ferguson and his hardcore Ontario accent.... You can tell there's some natural ability there, but it's a ways off from being good at doing Play by Play. It takes time... Hopefully they both get there because they seem like legit good dudes who really care about the league. 

You have an opinion like everyone else here & I respect that. However, as a viewer, I disagree, I'll take LaPo over Suits & Forde in a New York minute.

LaPo's going to be busy as TSN is now seriously short staffed with the idiotic layoff of Matt Dunigan & the udden death of Milt Stegall's son. As an aside, I'd hope if you were the Program Director of 620 CKRM, the radio station that did the Bomber game on the Rider Radio Network that you'd give both those guys  a talking to & a warning for being totally unprepared & unprofessional.... with the many mistakes they made on the air & didn't seem to care. 

Edited June 5, 2025Jun 5 by SpeedFlex27

8 hours ago, Noeller said:

From 3DN about TSN broadcasts this year....

 

"The CFL on TSN is taking a renewed approach to its broadcasts for 2025.

 

The network’s panel will travel to all nine stadiums over the course of the upcoming season, sources told 3DownNation, including visits to Regina and Montreal in Week 1. Kate Beirness is returning to host the panel with Henoc Muamba and Davis Sanchez filling the main roles alongside her.

 

Paul LaPolice will also frequently appear on the panel, though he will also perform colour commentary for one game per week. As previously reported, longtime panelist and Hall of Fame quarterback Matt Dunigan is no longer with the network.

 

As for Milt Stegall, who has been with the network since 2009, there is no timeline for his return after the death of his eldest son, Chase. The 20-year-old died unexpectedly at DePaul University on Monday where he was a member of the school’s soccer team.

 

“Our CFL on TSN family is absolutely devastated over Chase’s passing. If you know Milt, you know that his family is everything to him, and we cannot imagine the pain he is going through right now,” said producer Chris Edwards in a statement to 3DownNation. “Milt is our brother and we are going to give him our love and support him in any way we can, and in whatever way he needs.”

 

During a broadcast teeing up the 2025 season on Tuesday, TSN dedicated its coverage this year to Chase’s memory.

 

TSN plans to flesh out the panel by rotating in active players, though it doesn’t appear as though this will happen every week. Players will generally make panel appearances during bye weeks, though there may also be opportunities for in-studio appearances when players are in town to play the Argonauts or Tiger-Cats.

 

Friday Night Football, a longtime network staple, will have a brand new presentation featuring fresh animations, graphics, and music. One source called the scope of the production “bigger.”

 

The play-by-play personnel at the network has remained unchanged for 2025, featuring Rod Smith, Dustin Nielson, Marshall Ferguson, and occasionally Farhan Lalji. Colour commentary will be performed by Glen Suitor, Duane Forde, and LaPolice."

No Jim Barker? 

6 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

You have an opinion like everyone else here & I respect that. However, as a viewer, I disagree, I'll take LaPo over Suits & Forde in a New York minute.

LaPo's going to be busy as TSN is now seriously short staffed with the idiotic layoff of Matt Dunigan & the udden death of Milt Stegall's son. As an aside, I'd hope if you were the Program Director of 620 CKRM, the radio station that did the Bomber game on the Rider Radio Network that you'd give both those guys  a talking to & a warning for being totally unprepared & unprofessional.... with the many mistakes they made on the air & didn't seem to care. 

Has there been anything proof that Dunigan was laid off? He isn't exactly a young buck anymore. And let's be honest, he often struggled to put sentences together. I could see him just wanting a break and to relax in his well earned retirement. 

On Rider radio, its been like that forever. Had the misfortune of listening to it post game after the 02 LDG and you would have thought Rocky Butler was the second coming, the next Flutie.

49 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

 

Edited June 5, 2025Jun 5 by Pete Catan's Ghost

1 minute ago, Pete Catan's Ghost said:

You’re countering a presumption with a presumption. 

Yes but my presumption was not expressed as a fact. Which is why I was asking if there had been any proof of lay off. And then I started my presumption with "I could see". Not "He did" or "He has".

8 hours ago, 17to85 said:

Wrong

I concur...Lapo is finding his groove...and actually explains stuff....Suitor tries to explain the blatant obvious...or the utter irrelevamt...and fails at both...I like Ford tho

For tonight: Go Redblacks!

1 hour ago, Bigblue204 said:

Has there been anything proof that Dunigan was laid off? He isn't exactly a young buck anymore. And let's be honest, he often struggled to put sentences together. I could see him just wanting a break and to relax in his well earned retirement. 

I know he did a sit down a few years ago and really opened up about how multiple concussions have really impacted him both mentally and physically and how these behavioural changes concussions have caused have impacted his relationships with his family. I grew a whole new level of respect for him in how vulnerable he was to help others.

45 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

For tonight: Go Redblacks!

Or putting it another way:

Riders suck.

🙂

Matty, for as much as I love the guy and trust me I’m a fan, his bbq shows were fire also but I think matty was known to how you say, follow the money. Honestly my best guess is Henoc prob took Matt’s job for less $$$ or bringing in guys on bye weeks could be cheaper than flying Matty in from the USA. Could be completely Matt’s decision also tho. Who knows. He will be missed. I’m curious if Matty getting drunk or obviously having drinks on air at times maybe played a role also. Maybe corporate cfl don’t like that. Who knows. 

Edited June 5, 2025Jun 5 by Goalie

1 hour ago, Booch said:

I concur...Lapo is finding his groove...and actually explains stuff....Suitor tries to explain the blatant obvious...or the utter irrelevamt...and fails at both...I like Ford tho

We need another Chris Walby type color guy with crooked fingers wrapped around a mike providing perspective from the 'hogs' point of view. That was entertainment at its finest, especially in cold weather games.

6 minutes ago, Goalie said:

Matty, for as much as I love the guy and trust me I’m a fan, his bbq shows were fire also but I think matty was known to how you say, follow the money. Honestly my best guess is Henoc prob took Matt’s job for less $$$ or bringing in guys on bye weeks could be cheaper than flying Matty in from the USA. Could be completely Matt’s decision also tho. Who knows. He will be missed. I’m curious if Matty getting drunk or obviously having drinks on air at times maybe played a role also. Maybe corporate cfl don’t like that. Who knows. 

Time for him and Walby to do a weekly show now...that be fire...podcast style...

Edited June 5, 2025Jun 5 by Booch

1 minute ago, Booch said:

Time for him and Walby to do a weekly show now...that be fire...podcast style...

That would be great. Walby was a substitute gym teacher of mine in geez was it miles Mac? Probably. Wild. 
 

that would be great. I’d listen. 
 

suitor survives tho. 

Ford is aging out. He’s at point where he’s the bitter old guy who never got his gm shot that he so thought he deserved. 
 

I don’t hate Marshall Ferguson. He’s alright but they do need some better color guys. Matt was great. Lapo is good but coaching team Canada so duties cut a bit it seems. Suitor is insufferable. They need some new blood. 

3 minutes ago, Goalie said:

That would be great. Walby was a substitute gym teacher of mine in geez was it miles Mac? Probably. Wild. 
 

that would be great. I’d listen. 
 

suitor survives tho. 

age gap...I drank wobbly pops with him hahahaha

Pumped the CFL is back. Feels like summer.

4 minutes ago, greenrider55 said:

Pumped the CFL is back. Feels like summer.

Pumped knowing you're a Rider fan? Didn't see that coming. 

Love you.

12 minutes ago, greenrider55 said:

Pumped the CFL is back. Feels like summer.

How long before Maier starts?

Suits is terrible, has been for a long time and will continue to be....TSN should be grooming someone for this and think of succession planning

Milt will be missed

Dunnigan...wish we knew why, but I hope he is enjoying his time, wobbly pops, stumbles on words or not, he was one the most entertaining best they had!

I actually don't really like Henoc as a broadcaster.. don't know if I am in the majority or minority, but I just don't think he is very good at it

Ford is all right, not great but sooooo much better than Suits

Kate, ehhhh, she is a good communicator but whether it is her or the "role" they have her portray I find it can at times get annoying

Barker....turn down the yell.....

Furgusin I find pretty raw but good

Neilson is getting there, I think he is the future

Lapo if he keeps learning I think will become great

Smith is one of the most polished IMO, I like his calls

Lalji....eh, decent but his Rourke love is so over the top

I like the idea of some guest broadcasters, because IMO TSN needs to find some new blood, hopefully BLM joins when he retires, and hopefully we find some good ones to groom

 

GO Dru and teh Redblack!!

 

my completely unqualified opinion is that football commentary is a team sport.  You want complementary energy -- a high-energy goofball (Neilson, Dunigan, Walby) with a more chill straight man (Forde, Smith, Ferguson, Lapo).  Without Dunigan in the mix, the energy is imbalanced, and the only Team Goofball member is Neilson.

Smith in particular needs someone who brings energy into the booth.  I think the guy is the best PBP guy on TSN even though at times he's got the vibe of a funeral director.  But you put him in the booth with Dunigan and that's basically the best that CFL TV can do.

Gonna miss Matty.  I hope his retirement is awesome and completely on his terms.

Edited June 5, 2025Jun 5 by johnzo