Sports Streaming
How to Watch the Brier in Canada Without Cable
The Montana’s Brier is the Canadian men’s curling championship and one of the most-watched annual events on Canadian television. It is played over nine days in late February and early March, with the host city rotating across the country. TSN and RDS are Curling Canada’s official broadcast partners and carry every draw.
Key takeaways
- TSN carries the Brier in English; RDS carries it in French.
- It runs nine days from late February into early March.
- Multiple games run simultaneously across four sheets, so multi-feed access matters.
- There is no free over-the-air broadcast.
- TiviLeaf includes TSN, TSN2-5 and RDS from $9 CAD/month.
How the Brier Works
Teams represent provinces and territories, with the defending champion returning as Team Canada. The format has expanded over the years to accommodate the full field:
| Stage | Format | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Pool play | Two pools, round robin | Days 1 to 6 |
| Championship pool | Top teams carry records forward | Days 7 to 8 |
| Page playoffs | 1v2 and 3v4 | Day 8 |
| Semi-final and final | Single games | Day 9 |
The Page playoff system is worth understanding: the 1v2 winner goes straight to the final, and the loser drops to the semi-final against the 3v4 winner. It rewards finishing top of the standings with a second chance, which the straight knockout format does not.
Why You Need More Than One Channel
A Brier draw runs four games at once on four sheets for about two and a half hours. TSN spreads coverage across its five feeds during the biggest draws, which is the difference between watching your province’s rink and watching whichever game the producers selected as the feature.
Over nine days with three draws a day, that is upwards of sixty hours of live curling. A replay window is what makes it followable for anyone with a job — a Tuesday afternoon draw becomes weekend viewing.
Draw Times
Draw times are set by the host city’s local time zone, which changes what you see depending on where the Brier is that year:
- Morning draw: typically 9:00 a.m. local.
- Afternoon draw: typically 2:00 p.m. local.
- Evening draw: typically 7:00 p.m. local.
- Playoff weekend: afternoon and evening games only.
A Brier in St. John’s and one in Kamloops produce completely different national viewing schedules — four and a half hours apart. Check the host city before planning your week.
Options
- TSN Direct: approximately $19.99 CAD per month. Because the Brier and the Scotties fall within about five weeks of each other, a two-month subscription covers both.
- TiviLeaf IPTV: includes TSN, TSN2–5, RDS and RDS2 from $9 CAD per month, with a 7-day replay window. Plans and pricing are listed at tivileaf.com/#pricing.
What Comes Next
The Brier champion represents Canada at the World Men’s Curling Championship later in the spring, also on TSN. Our full curling guide covers the season including the Scotties, the Grand Slam series and the world championships.
Best Devices for Watching
- Amazon Firestick / Fire TV: the most common streaming stick in Canadian homes. See the Fire TV setup guide.
- Samsung and LG smart TVs: app support built in, no extra box needed. See the Samsung guide or the LG guide.
- Apple TV: the smoothest option for 4K streams. See the Apple TV guide.
- Android TV, Google TV and NVIDIA Shield: including budget boxes like the Walmart onn. See the Google TV guide.
- iPhone, iPad and Android phones: for watching on the move or on a second screen.
FAQ
What channel is the Brier on in Canada?
TSN carries the Montana's Brier in English across its TSN1 to TSN5 feeds, and RDS carries the French-language coverage. There is no free over-the-air broadcast.
When is the Brier played?
It runs nine days from late February into early March, following the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in late January and early February. The host city rotates across Canada each year.
What are the Page playoffs?
A playoff format where the top two teams meet with the winner going straight to the final, and the loser dropping into the semi-final against the winner of the third-versus-fourth game. It rewards a strong round robin with a second chance.
Why do I need multiple channels to watch the Brier?
A draw runs four games simultaneously across four sheets. TSN spreads coverage across its five feeds during major draws, so single-channel access only shows you the feature game rather than the rink you want to follow.