Rogers Media, the parent company of Sportsnet, will acquire Vancouver AM radio station CISL from Newfoundland-owned Newcap Inc. and plans to launch Sportsnet 650 – an all sports radio station – in Vancouver this fall, subject to CRTC approval.
The station will cover Vancouver Canucks games as well as Blue Jays and MLB post-season coverage. Sportsnet said more details about programming and hosts will be announced “in the coming months.”
“We are excited to build upon our strong radio brands in the Vancouver market, said Rogers Media senior vice-president of radio Julie Adam. “With Vancouver being such a passionate sports town, there is a strong appetite for all-sports radio that delivers engaging conversation, wide-ranging opinion and top-tier live sports content.”
Scott Moore, president of Sportsnet, said the company has been committed to the Vancouver sports community since it began televising Canucks games in 1998.
“Vancouver has an incredibly loyal fan base, and this is a natural fit to expand our Sportsnet offering,” Moore said.
Sportsnet 650 will be Sportsnet’s third all-sports radio station, along with Toronto’s The FAN Sportsnet 590 and Calgary’s The FAN Sportsnet 960 in Calgary.
CISL 650 AM Smooth & Easy will continue to air until Sportsnet takes over in the fall.
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