Campaign to Save TSN Radio 690 Begins Today

Campaign to Save TSN Radio 690 Begins Today


- TSN Radio 690's many Montreal supporters can now sign a petition at SaveTSN690.ca -



To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/ZfNw3C


MONTREAL, March 6, 2013 /CNW/ - TSN Radio 690 in Montreal officially began its campaign today to retain its status as
an English-language, all-sports radio station. After an impressive
response from sports fans in Montreal who passionately voiced their
support, parent company Bell Media has filed an application with the
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to
keep TSN Radio 690 as it is.



Beginning today, listeners can help save TSN Radio 690 by signing a petition and/or writing to the CRTC at a newly launched
website, SaveTSN690.ca.



Bell Media had earlier proposed to convert the station to a
French-language RDS sports station to meet the CRTC's radio ownership
policy, which led to an outpouring of community support to preserve TSN Radio 690 in its present English-language format. As a result, the company is now
requesting to operate four English-language stations (two AM and two
FM) in Montreal - one more than what is generally permitted under CRTC
rules. This exception will allow Bell Media to continue to own and
operate TSN Radio 690 and maintain its current format as an English-language, all-sports
radio station.



"We filed this application on behalf of the thousands of loyal sports
fans in Montreal who passionately articulated how TSN Radio 690 and English all-sports radio coverage remains such a valued service to
the community," said Wayne Bews, General Manager, TSN Radio 690 Montreal. "All of us at the station were overwhelmed and humbled by the support
of Montreal sports fans last summer. We are asking our listeners to
rally once again and join the drive to save TSN Radio 690 and ensure the English all-sports format remains a vibrant part of the
Montreal sports scene."



As part of the request for an exception to the CRTC's common ownership
policy for radio, made public today, Bell Media has confirmed the
following:



-- Bell Media would continue to own and operate TSN Radio 690 -
and maintain its current English all-sports format for at least
the next seven years
-- English-language radio coverage of Montreal Canadiens games
will continue to be broadcast in the greater Montreal area on
TSN Radio 690 for the duration of its current broadcast
agreement with the team
-- TSN Radio 690 will contribute $245,000 over the next seven
years to sports journalism scholarships at Concordia University
and to amateur sports in Montreal
-- The exception will have no adverse effects on other radio
stations in the market or on the entry of new competitors

About TSN Radio 690 Montreal
TSN Radio 690 is Montreal's English-language all-sports station. As the official home
of the Montreal Canadiens, the station broadcasts every Habs game live
on AM 690 in Montreal and nationally online at TSN.ca/Montreal. Along with wall-to-wall coverage of the Canadiens, TSN Radio 690 delivers in-depth coverage of all Montreal sports teams, including the
Alouettes and the Impact. Led by Elliott Price, Ted Bird, and Shaun
Starr in the morning, Tony Marinaro in the mid-morning, and Mitch
Melnick in the afternoon, TSN Radio 690 delivers an all-star line-up of local coverage. The station was
launched in 2001 under its original name Team Radio. It was rebranded
to TSN Radio in October 2011 and moved to AM 690 in September 2012 to
improve the station's reception for fans.


Links

Website: SaveTSN690.ca

Hashtag: #saveTSN690


SOURCE TSN

TSN

CONTACT: Greg McIsaac, (w) 416.384.5180, (c) 416.458.3591, greg.mcisaac@bellmedia.ca


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