The legal marathon between OneSoccer and Rogers has come to a final whistle, with the Federal Court of Appeal delivering a decisive blow to the telecom giant.
In a ruling released this on May 11, the court dismissed Rogers’ appeal of a 2023 CRTC decision, which found that the company had acted unfairly by refusing to carry the OneSoccer channel. Justice David Stratas was blunt in his assessment of the appeal, writing that while Rogers raised “a forest of issues” against the regulator’s findings, every single one was “without merit.”
The dispute dates back to 2022, when Timeless Inc., the owner of OneSoccer, complained to the CRTC. They argued that Rogers was intentionally freezing out the soccer-focused channel to protect its own Sportsnet properties. While OneSoccer carries critical matches for the Canadian Premier League and Canada’s national teams, Rogers had argued the service had “limited appeal.”
The court’s decision marks a massive turning point for soccer fans across the country, reports Northern Tribune. By upholding the CRTC’s order, the ruling paves the way for OneSoccer to move from a niche streaming service to a standard channel available through Rogers TV. This could potentially put the domestic game in front of millions of new viewers just as Canada prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup next month.
The CRTC had previously confirmed that OneSoccer is a Canadian-controlled entity, dismissing a major argument of Rogers’ original defence. With the appeal now dismissed, the two companies are expected to enter final arbitration to settle the details of the channel’s launch.
For OneSoccer, the win is being hailed as a “game changer” that removes a major barrier to growing the sport’s commercial profile in Canada. While OneSoccer was able to make deals with the likes of fuboTV, Telus, CBC, and TSN, it now looks like it’s only a matter of time before Rogers will be forced to join the mix.
What does this mean for soccer fans? Once the channel goes live on Rogers, subscribers will have cable access to the Canadian Premier League, Canadian Championship, and Canadian national team matches, along with international leagues like the Bundesliga and NWSL.
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