The countdown has begun for the Grey Cup’s return to Toronto on Nov. 25, and there’s lots of programming lined up on CBC, TSN and other sportscasters.

The big game — which last year hit number two on the BBM/Nielsen national chart with an average minute audience of 2.8 million — airs Sunday, Nov. 25 on CBC, with Lenny Kravitz performing at half time. The Ceeb’s programming will start on Nov. 24, however, with host Elliotte Friedman giving the latest news on the Grey Cup match-up from Rogers Centre in Toronto.

Friedman will also interview CFL commissioner Mark Cohon and, on Sunday from 3:30 pm until the 5:30 p.m. kick-off, will count down to the championship with an expert panel. CBCSports.ca will stream Grey Cup programming on-demand, along with extras. (All times Eastern.)

The five-year deal TSN and RDS signed for the Grey Cup and CFL rights last December doesn’t kick in until next year, but CTVglobemedia’s TSN and ESPN Classic also have programming set to surround the action this month.

TSN’s CFL Countdown, a one-hour post-season show, features insights and analysis and went to air on Sunday. On Saturday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m., the show will go live on location at the Grey Cup Festival, and the following morning will broadcast live from the Rogers Centre field at 9 a.m.

On Grey Cup Sunday, TSN will air a half-hour CFL Player Awards Highlight Show at 3 p.m. The channel will also put extended highlights and exclusive content on TSN Broadband, while its SportsCentre news program will serve up pre-game and post-game coverage.

With the Grey Cup game being played in Toronto for the first time since 1992, ESPN Classic has programmed a Toronto-themed weekend, airing Friday evening and noon to midnight on Saturday.