Bell Media files to launch RDS Radio 990 in Montreal

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Bell Media in Canada has filed an application with the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) expressing its intention to convert TSN Radio 990 to RDS Radio 990 in Montreal. TSN (The Sports Network) Radio is Canada’s English-speaking national sports radio network, owned by Bell Media. TSN Radio 990 is CKGM-AM.


The airs with 50,000 watts and was previously known as The Team 990 until it switched to the TSN Radio branding as TSN Radio 990 in October 2011, but is best known for having been a legendary and influential top 40 station in its heyday from 1970 to 1986.

The decision to convert TSN Radio 990 to RDS Radio 990 results from Bell’s acquisition of Astral Media, announced in March, and the CRTC’s Commercial Radio Policy that outlines certain limitations surrounding the ownership of multiple radio stations in a given market. Astral includes CJAD 800, Virgin 96 and Chom 97.7 FM in Montreal. Perhaps CJAD will be branded TSN.

RDS (Le Réseau Des Sports) is the country’s 24-hour all-sports Francophone radio station. It will have comprehensive coverage of the Montreal sports scene, along with best-in-class analysis from RDS sports experts and Insiders.

English-language broadcasts of the Montreal Canadiens will move to Astral’s CJAD 800, pending CRTC approval. CJAD programming also includes the exclusive English radio broadcast of the Montreal Alouettes and the Montreal Impact games.