CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnson didn't mince words when it came to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. "The Blue Bombers are the model franchise of the CFL," Johnson said during a wide-ranging appearance on Winnipeg Sports Talk Daily. "And it's really I think impossible to argue with that." High praise — and it's earned. But Johnson was just getting started, because the biggest news surrounding the league right now has nothing to do with what happens between the hash marks.
The CFL just landed what Johnson called one of the most significant media rights deals in the league's recent history. New broadcast partners, new streaming, new digital platforms, and new money flowing to all nine teams starting in 2027. The future of Canadian football looks different — and it looks better.
A Deal That Exceeded Even the League's Own Expectations
TSN stays as the anchor partner. That's the foundation. But the headline addition is DAZN coming in as the exclusive Saturday night streamer, carrying one game per week at 7 p.m. Eastern. Johnson said negotiations began back in August with the existing TSN and RDS partners and carried through many months of discussions.
"The starting point was consistent," Johnson explained. "It is two amazing long-term partners who want to figure out a path that makes the most sense for both."
DAZN doesn't just bring a new platform — it brings the CFL to over 200 countries globally. Johnson sees that reach as a game-changer for how the league positions itself internationally.
"We knew the strength of this league and what it means domestically and certainly what it can mean globally, and that was recognized. We did achieve a significant, significant increase — and I'd suggest even in greater than our initial expectations, and that's been wonderful."
— CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnson
Here's what that means for teams and players: the new revenue kicks in for the 2027 season, with distributions flowing to all nine franchises. The salary cap formula tied to revenue growth then kicks in for 2028, when the 2027 revenues are reflected. Players will feel it in their contracts. Teams will feel it in their budgets. The whole league wins.
As for what DAZN will cost fans, Johnson said pricing hasn't been set yet. The streamer is still working through how to bring the product to market in Canada. "What I can count on is a world-class production and an incredible platform," he said.
YouTube Gets In the Game Too
Beyond TSN and DAZN carrying the 81-game regular season and playoffs, the CFL also partnered with YouTube as a premier platform for league content. That's not just highlights — it's exclusive behind-the-scenes documentaries, some live preseason games, and a creator network that Johnson wants operating in all nine CFL cities.
"Between some live content in preseason and some behind-the-scenes documentaries exclusive to YouTube, the next component for us is how do they help us deliver CFL content to maybe some viewers that don't access it in the way some traditional folks do," Johnson said.
The league is also working with YouTube on developing a dedicated CFL creator event. Still in development, but the ambition is there — and it fits with where sports media consumption is actually going.
New Rules in 2026: Faster Football, Smarter Special Teams
On the field, 2026 marks year one of a two-year rollout of rule changes. Johnson singled out the automatic 35-second play clock as the change he's most eager to watch in live action.
"All accounts from players to coaches, GMs, and our broadcast partners — it seems to have really sped up the game," he said. "There's no delaying for when a ref will blow in the clock. Teams are jumping to the line and getting going."
The modified rouge also comes into effect this season, with the goalposts moving to the back of the end zone in 2027 completing that transition. Johnson laid out what fans should watch for on special teams.
"Without a point to get on a punt or a missed field goal, perhaps the incentive is going to be to gamble and go for it on certain third and shorts. I think we'll see the start of that this year, but it won't come into full effect until next year."
— Stewart Johnson
Teams sitting in that 30-to-40-yard range on third down are going to have to make harder decisions. The almost guaranteed single from a long missed field goal won't be there anymore. That's going to change offensive strategy in ways that'll be fun to track all season.
Fantasy Glitch on Draft Night — Johnson Owns It
The CFL Fantasy platform launched with serious momentum — and then ran into serious problems on Sunday night when draft traffic overwhelmed the system. Johnson addressed it head-on.
"Good news is overwhelming number of people doing drafts — outstanding. Terrible news, our system didn't keep up with it," he said. "We've had a lot of conversations with our vendor since then, and those issues have been worked on for 24 hours and beyond. We apologize for any sluggishness on Sunday night."
Johnson said the platform should be running cleanly now, and the broader digital overhaul is on track. The target date for an entirely new CFL digital ecosystem — including a revamped CFL.ca and a new app — is September 1, 2026.
"If you're holding yourself out as an elite professional sports league, you've got to have these things," he said. "I cannot wait to get there."
If you want to get in on CFL Fantasy before the season kicks off, head to NewsHubFantasy.com for a clean, fully functional alternative built for CFL fans — free leagues, live scoring, and all nine teams covered.
Chris Strevler's Retirement Party at Princess Auto Stadium
Back to where we started — the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and why Commissioner Johnson has them on a pedestal.
Johnson spoke about the franchise's obsessive commitment to brand, atmosphere, and the game-day experience. Record sellouts. A coach and GM who have been together for over a decade. A front office that other clubs are actively studying as a blueprint.
"It's creating an unbelievable atmosphere outside the stadium, inside in various different sections of the stadium, and then all week long," Johnson said. "It really is a great example for all of our clubs and for the league office to look at and take best practices from."
That culture gets showcased again on Thursday, June 11th at Princess Auto Stadium when the Bombers host their 2026 home opener. The pregame party in the Princess Auto Tailgate Zone opens at 5:30 p.m. — and it doubles as the official Chris Strevler retirement party, complete with a Strevler lookalike competition. Big Sugar is set for the halftime show. The Bombers are hoping to come in 1-0. The fans will be there regardless.
With the new media rights money coming, the rules evolving, the digital platform getting rebuilt, and a franchise like Winnipeg setting the standard, the road to the 113th Grey Cup is officially underway. Week 1 is here. Let's go.