Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors pick up BlackBerry as their official device

Toronto Maple Leafs

BlackBerry and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment announced today that the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL, the Raptors in the NBA, and the Marlies (another hockey team) are all adopting BlackBerry as their official smartphone. Obviously this means that we’ll see a bunch of marketing around the teams, but it will also mean plenty of apps for fans and some BBM Channels. It looks like the Channels are already live – C000E8336 for the Raptors and C000A8B9C for the Leafs.

It’s worth noting that major service providers Rogers and Bell jointly own MLSE, so this is a pretty solid fit. The funny thing is, Rogers also owns the Blue Jays, who are already very comfortable with their BlackBerry sponsorship. After talking with BlackBerry, it sounds like the arrangement was made more directly with MLSE and that the Rogers/Bell connection was really just the icing on the cake.  That said, don’t expect TELUS to be shouldered out of anything because of vertical integration issues. Likewise, the kind of content we’re expecting, like being able to hear from players in between periods, likely won’t have any geographic restrictions. The agreement is for the next three years, and we should start seeing the content from the partnership becoming available in the late summer. 

The full press release is below. Any Raptors or Leafs fans in the house? 

Read More »

Related posts

Latest posts

Dell Tech Days: Big Savings on AI-Ready PCs and More

Dell / Dell Good news if you’ve been waiting for the right time to , Dell Tech Days is offering deals that make waiting worth it. on top PCs, monitors, and accessories, plus 2x Dell Rewards. Pull the trigger and get yourself an AI-ready machine and score big on premium hardware. Savings on Products Recommended […]

I tried roaming on Google Fi and T-Mobile, this is the best

If you travel abroad frequently, you’ve probably wondered how to cut back on bill shock. We’ve all been there: you have a great vacation, get back home, and your next postpaid bill drops. Except, it’s much higher than you expected thanks to roaming charges for using your phone abroad. Most networks offer some form of […]

Updated macOS malware variant uncovered by Microsoft

Microsoft has observed a once formant macOS malware that has now began targeting Apple’s Xcode platform in a new, more enhanced variant.

Research suggests cutting down screen time can work better than antidepressants

With access to internet cut off, screen time came crashing down, leading to better mental health, improved sleep, and positive behavioral changes in users.

Google makes it harder to accidentally call 911 with your Pixel Watch

A new feature will help reduce the number of accidental 911 calls from Pixel Watches, and it's rolling out to Pixel Watch users now.

Google’s new policy tracks all your devices with no opt-out

Google has implemented the same strategy they once called wrong and subverts user choice. The tracking has begun and it's happening without your permission.

Amazon is replacing its TikTok-like Inspire with Rufus the AI bot

Amazon shut down Inspire and will be replacing it with AI shopping assistant, Rufus.

This Lenovo ThinkPad is normally $3,229 — today it’s $1,453

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 provides reliable performance from a portable body. The laptop is on sale from Lenovo at 55% off, or savings of $1,776.

Meta’s new ‘Llamacon’ event is all about open-source AI

Meta Connect returns in September but will be preceded by the new Llamacon AI conference in April.

Chase’s latest move will help cut fraud, but Zelle users may not like it

Chase Bank will be blocking Zelle payments to sellers on social media platforms and messaging apps starting March 23.