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TSN 990 radio to be replaced by RDS 990

Techman

The Grim Reaper
Dec 23, 2004
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http://blog.fagstein.com/2012/07/10/bell-to-convert-ckgm-to-french/

In another genius decision, the CRTC is forcing Bell Media to replace one of their English language radio stations with a French one once their takeover of Astral Media is completed. It seems that Bell is not allowed to own 4 English language stations in such a small market. So instead of owning 4 stations in a 5 station market, they will own 3 in a 4 station market. WOW! What a difference that will make. But losing one station will make a huge difference for English radio in Montreal, especially a successful sports station that is probably the best English language station in Montreal. So now English TSN-990 will become French RDS-990. French sports radio was tried in the recent past with CKAC and it was an abysmal failure and it's not a traffic station. I doubt that it will be any different under the RDS banner. Once again the English in Montreal get screwed, but this time it's the federal goverment doing the screwing.

There's a Facebook group for anyone interested and it has links to comment directly to the CRTC about this decision.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/502167856466765/

This is a big loss for the English community in Montreal.
 

lgna69xxx

New Member
Oct 3, 2008
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Totally agree with you both.... I listen to the Team 990 all the time, especially when driving like MA.
 

gugu

Active Member
Feb 11, 2009
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Why blame the CRTC? That's a Bell decision, not a CRTC decision. Now you expect the CRTC to bend their regulations because Bell made a business decision that happens to be detrimental to the Montréal sports fans?
 

Techman

The Grim Reaper
Dec 23, 2004
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You're wrong. Bell is being forced into this because the CRTC refused their request for an exemption to the regulations. And yes, the CRTC has granted exemptions in the past. It has nothing to do with sports radio but everything to do with the state of English media in Montreal. The loss of this station is the loss of 20% of the English radio stations in Quebec. They should have to sell one of the 4 stations instead of removing another English voice from Montreal and it should be one of the newly acquired stations instead of the one station in this market that they owned previous to the Astral purchase. In recent weeks we've lost the Mirror, we've lost Hour and now we're losing a radio station - CKGM - that has been broadcasting in English since the day it first went on air. The CRTC has not yet approved either the sale of Astral Media or the proposed change of the station and comments can be submitted to the CRTC at this address: http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2012/2012-370.htm

I encourage anyone who listens to TSN 990 or anyone who is concerned about losing yet another English voice in Quebec to submit their views, It can make a difference!
 

gugu

Active Member
Feb 11, 2009
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No I am not wrong. You request an exemption to the regulations, just what I said. It is a Bell decision based on business opportunities. Bell could have decided to sell the TSN 990 after the transaction. I want to assure you, however, that I think the request for the rule bending in this case is legitimate IMHO. But who will compensate Bell for the loss? The tax payers?
 

ManApart

Respect & Honour
Jul 4, 2011
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On The Front lines
I'm sure if the sale goes through and TSN 990 does become RDS 990 because of CRTC regulations, another company will swoop into the vaccuum and establish another English language all sports station.
 

Techman

The Grim Reaper
Dec 23, 2004
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What loss would Bell have to be compensated for? They are responsible for the decisions they make and they also have a responsibility to the community they serve. Bell knew the situation with CRTC regs before they made the offer to buy Astral Mediaand they did request an exemption which was refused by the CRTC which makes the CRTC the bad guy in this situation and Bell at the very least are screwing the employees at TSN 990 and the English community in Montreal. This is why it's important for people to make their feelings known to the CRTC. Decisions have been changed in the past as a result of the hearings they hold before giving clearance for such purchases and mergers and they can be changed again.

No other company will step up and start an English language sports station. For one thing, there are no available clear channels on the AM band. TSN/RDS 990 will be moving to AM 690 and their existing frequency is already assigned to a new French station that caters to the gay community. The other thing is that broadcasting rights to a major Montreal sports team: the Als, the habs or the Impact, would be required to have any chance to be successful and the rights to those teams are owned by, yup-you guessed it, Bell Media. That's also the reason that RDS 990 will probably fail because the radio rights to the Als and the habs are owned by Cogeco.
 

TheDon

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Jun 21, 2003
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I think I heard that the Canadians english broadcasting rights are going back to CJAD 800
 
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