Canada’s ESPN—TSN (The Sports Network) cable network—has launched TSN Radio 990 (CKGM) in Montreal and TSN Radio 1290 (CFRW) in Winnipeg. TSN Radio 990 and TSN Radio 1290 can be heard nationally on TSN Mobile and also online with their own specialized pages. They add to TSN Radio 1050 Toronto (CHUM), which launched 4/13.
TSN is owned by CTV Specialty Television, a JV of Bell Media (80%) and ESPN (20%). Plans were made to re-launch TSN as ESPN Canada in 2001. However, due to the name recognition and value of the brand, the TSN name was maintained. However, TSN would begin incorporating elements of ESPN’s branding, including a new logo using a similar design to ESPN’s, and the re-naming of its sports news program SportsDesk to SportsCentre (a variation of ESPN’s SportsCenter).
Formerly an affiliate of Team sports radio network, TSN 990 was one of three stations to retain the sports format after the network folded in 2002. It is the official home of Montreal Canadiens play-by-play, with John Bartlett, Sergio Momesso and Bobby Dollas behind the mike. The station also provides coverage of the Canadiens with pre-game shows, post-game shows and hours of talk radio dedicated to the team. TSN Radio 990 is also the home of the Montreal Impact. TSN Radio 990’s weekday programming includes the Melnick in the Afternoon show with Mitch Melnick and The Morning Show with Denis Casavant, Elliott Price and Shaun Starr. Online, TSN.ca/Montreal offers the latest sports news, videos, podcasts and blogs from TSN Radio 990 and TSN, featuring the Canadiens, Montreal Alouettes, and the Impact.
In Winnipeg, TSN Radio 1290’s (previously Sports Radio 1290) weekday programming line-up is anchored by Winnipeg’s most popular and influential sports radio show Hustler & Lawless with Winnipeg Free Press columnist Gary Lawless and Andrew (Hustler) Paterson. In the morning, sports fans can wake up with The Big Show with Jets public address announcer Jay Richardson and former long-time Winnipeg Blue Bombers kicker Troy Westwood. For Winnipeg sports fans, TSN.ca/Winnipeg covers local sports news and info that includes coverage of the Jets and Blue Bombers.
In Toronto, TSN Radio 1050 can be now be heard live on TSN.ca/Toronto – the new online destination for the latest news, videos, podcasts and blogs related to Toronto. It’s the place to see and hear the latest from Mike Richards, Brian Hayes, Cybulski and Company, and 1050 Leafs reporter Jonas Siegler.
