The Toronto Blue Jays are returning to CBC Sports as a result of a two-year deal announced Tuesday.

The rights package includes eight regular-season games in the 2007 Major League Baseball season, and up to 30 games next year.

Centre-fielder Vernon Wells will be one of the Blue Jays featured on CBC Sports this season.
(Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

The first televised game is set for June 23, with an interleague game against the Colorado Rockies at Rogers Centre. The action continues the following afternoon with the final match in the three-game series.

"We're proud to announce that the Toronto Blue Jays are back on CBC," said Scott Moore, executive director of CBC Sports.

"Blue Jays baseball is a natural big-league addition to a world-class CBC lineup this summer that includes major league soccer and our comprehensive FIFA coverage, including the FIFA U-20 World Cup taking place across Canada. This agreement brings the excitement of Blue Jays baseball back to CBC Television for Canadians across the country to enjoy."

The CBC's Jim Hughson, a five-time Gemini Award winner and play-by-play announcer for Hockey Night in Canada, will call the action.

Hughson previously worked on Jays telecasts during the early 1990s.

All broadcasts this season begin at 1 p.m. ET.

Other highlights for CBC coverage include a triple serving of baseball during the Civic Holiday Weekend, when the Texas Rangers visit Toronto on Aug. 4 and 5.

The Jays finish the holiday weekend against the New York Yankees on Monday in the first game of a three-game set against their American League East rivals.

CBC completes its broadcast schedule during Labour Day weekend, with the final two games between Toronto and the Seattle Mariners on Sept. 1 and 2.

"We are very excited to have CBC returning as a television broadcaster for Toronto Blue Jays games," said Toronto president and CEO Paul Godfrey.