The Team
Encyclopedia
The Team was a Canadian
sports radio
network, which broadcast from 2001 to 2002. It was owned and operated by CHUM Limited
, based on the existing format of their Ottawa
station The Team 1200, and incorporated virtually all of the company's AM radio stations across Canada.
, for example, the network had to compete against Telemedia
's The Fan 590, and found that much of its potential audience had already built a strong sense of loyalty to the more established station. The switch of 1050 CHUM
, the network's flagship station, away from its popular former oldies
format was also controversial.
The network aired both original programming — its marquee Canadian sportscaster was Jim Van Horne
— and syndicated sports programming from the United States
, such as The Jim Rome Show
.
In August 2002, after just over a year on the air, CHUM pulled the plug and most of the network's stations reverted to their old pre-Team formats. However, the sports format and the Team branding were retained in Ottawa, where it had already been the station's established format before the network was launched, and in Montreal and Vancouver
, where it was also successful in the ratings. These stations, and one in Edmonton
which had licensed the brand name but was owned by a different company, continue to use the Team branding as of early 2011, but are no longer considered a network. Many of the stations are expected to be rebranded and reintegrated into a new TSN Radio
network in 2011, starting with Toronto's radio station CHUM
(1050 AM) on April 13, 2011.
in Calgary
and CFRN
in Edmonton
were also affiliates of the Team, although the stations were not CHUM-owned — CFAC was owned by Rogers
and CFRN by Standard Broadcasting
. After the Team network folded, both stations retained the sports format, although CFAC adopted the name "The Fan 960", as Rogers had by this time acquired Toronto's Fan 590. CFRN, now owned by Astral Media
, continues to use the Team branding.
Following the 2007 acquisition of CHUM by CTVglobemedia
, majority owner of TSN
, there had been occasional reports about CTV potentially using the remaining Team stations and/or the 1050 frequency in Toronto to launch a new sports radio station in Toronto or full radio network using TSN content and personalities. Plans on launching a new TSN Radio
brand began in January 2011 and Toronto's radio station CHUM
(1050 AM) became the first station under the new TSN Radio network as TSN Radio 1050 on April 13, 2011.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
sports radio
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
network, which broadcast from 2001 to 2002. It was owned and operated by CHUM Limited
CHUM Limited
CHUM Limited was a media company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from 1945 to 2007. Immediately prior to its acquisition, it held full or joint control of two Canadian television systems — Citytv and A-Channel — comprising 11 local stations, and one CBC Television affiliate, one...
, based on the existing format of their Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
station The Team 1200, and incorporated virtually all of the company's AM radio stations across Canada.
History
The network was launched on May 7, 2001, but struggled to build an audience in many cities. In TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, for example, the network had to compete against Telemedia
Telemedia
Telemedia was a Canadian media company, which had holdings in radio, television and magazine publishing.The company was launched in 1968 by Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien.Telemedia was held privately until it became publicly traded in the late 1980s....
's The Fan 590, and found that much of its potential audience had already built a strong sense of loyalty to the more established station. The switch of 1050 CHUM
CHUM (AM)
CHUM, branded as TSN Radio 1050, broadcasting at 1050 kHz in the AM band, is a Canadian radio station licensed to Toronto, Ontario. The station is owned and operated by Bell Media....
, the network's flagship station, away from its popular former oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
format was also controversial.
The network aired both original programming — its marquee Canadian sportscaster was Jim Van Horne
Jim Van Horne
Jim Van Horne is a Canadian sports anchor.Van Horne began his broadcasting career on CKMP in Midland, Ontario, in 1971. From 1972 to 1980, Van Horne was one of the top disc jockeys in Canada at 1050 CHUM in Toronto. He was named Billboard Magazine's Disc Jockey of the year in 1972, the only...
— and syndicated sports programming from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, such as The Jim Rome Show
The Jim Rome Show
The Jim Rome Show is a sports radio talk show hosted by Jim Rome. It airs live for three hours each weekday from 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. The show is produced in Los Angeles, California, syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, and can be heard on more than 200 affiliate radio stations in the U.S...
.
In August 2002, after just over a year on the air, CHUM pulled the plug and most of the network's stations reverted to their old pre-Team formats. However, the sports format and the Team branding were retained in Ottawa, where it had already been the station's established format before the network was launched, and in Montreal and Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, where it was also successful in the ratings. These stations, and one in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
which had licensed the brand name but was owned by a different company, continue to use the Team branding as of early 2011, but are no longer considered a network. Many of the stations are expected to be rebranded and reintegrated into a new TSN Radio
TSN Radio
TSN Radio is a semi-national sports radio network in Canada carried on AM radio stations owned by Bell Media's Bell Media Radio division. The TSN Radio brand, and much of the network's content, is partially shared with Bell Media's television sports channel, The Sports Network...
network in 2011, starting with Toronto's radio station CHUM
CHUM (AM)
CHUM, branded as TSN Radio 1050, broadcasting at 1050 kHz in the AM band, is a Canadian radio station licensed to Toronto, Ontario. The station is owned and operated by Bell Media....
(1050 AM) on April 13, 2011.
CHUM-owned
| Broadcast area | Station | Previous format | Subsequent format | Current format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halifax, Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the... |
CJCH | Talk radio Talk radio Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live... |
Oldies Oldies Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day.... with some talk programming |
Now on FM; contemporary hit radio Contemporary hit radio Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts... as "101.3 The Bounce" |
| Montreal Montreal Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America... , Quebec Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level.... |
CKGM | Oldies | Retained The Team | TSN Radio 990 |
| Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
CFGO | Adopted The Team in 1998 | Retained The Team | Retains The Team |
| Kingston Kingston, Ontario Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
CKLC | Oldies | Oldies | Now on FM; modern rock Modern rock Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre... as "98.9 The Drive" |
| Peterborough Peterborough, Ontario Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
CKPT | Oldies | Oldies | Now on FM; hot AC as "Energy 99.7" |
| Toronto Toronto Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
CHUM CHUM (AM) CHUM, branded as TSN Radio 1050, broadcasting at 1050 kHz in the AM band, is a Canadian radio station licensed to Toronto, Ontario. The station is owned and operated by Bell Media.... |
All news as "CP24 Radio 1050" | Oldies as "1050 CHUM" | reverted to a sports format on April 13, 2011, as "TSN Radio 1050 TSN Radio TSN Radio is a semi-national sports radio network in Canada carried on AM radio stations owned by Bell Media's Bell Media Radio division. The TSN Radio brand, and much of the network's content, is partially shared with Bell Media's television sports channel, The Sports Network... " |
| Kitchener Kitchener, Ontario The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census... -Waterloo Waterloo, Ontario Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener.... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
CKKW | Oldies | Oldies | Now on FM; oldies as "KFUN 99.5" |
| Winnipeg Winnipeg Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name... , Manitoba Manitoba Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other... |
CFRW | Oldies | Oldies | returned to all-sports as "Sports Radio 1290" as of September 27, 2010, now TSN Radio 1290 |
| Vancouver Vancouver Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,... , British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858... |
CKST | "Nostalgia music" | Retained The Team | Retains The Team |
Affiliates
CFACCFAC (AM)
CFAC is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at AM 960 in Calgary, Alberta. The station, owned by Rogers Radio, broadcasts sports programming with the brand name Sportsnet 960, The Fan.-History:...
in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
and CFRN
CFRN (AM)
CFRN is a Canadian clear-channel radio station in Edmonton, Alberta. Owned by Astral Media and broadcasting at 1260 kHz on the AM radio dial, the station airs an all-sports format, branded as The Team 1260...
in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
were also affiliates of the Team, although the stations were not CHUM-owned — CFAC was owned by Rogers
Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications Inc. is one of Canada's largest communications companies, particularly in the field of wireless communications, cable television, home phone and internet with additional telecommunications and mass media assets...
and CFRN by Standard Broadcasting
Standard Broadcasting
Slaight Communications is a Canadian radio broadcasting company. The company was first formed as Slaight Broadcasting in 1971, when owner J. Allan Slaight acquired CFGM in Richmond Hill...
. After the Team network folded, both stations retained the sports format, although CFAC adopted the name "The Fan 960", as Rogers had by this time acquired Toronto's Fan 590. CFRN, now owned by Astral Media
Astral Media
Astral Media Inc. is a Canadian media corporation. It is Canada's largest radio broadcaster with 83 radio stations in eight provinces, and is a major player in premium and specialty television in Canada, including The Movie Network, Super Écran, Family, Teletoon, Canal D, Canal Vie, VRAK.TV,...
, continues to use the Team branding.
Later
Vancouver's CFTE, a sister station to CKST, also converted to the Team branding in 2009, airing a similar but distinct schedule of sports programming from its sister. Meanwhile, CHUM's Winnipeg AM station CFRW returned to an all-sports format on September 27, 2010, at the time, the station was known as "Sports Radio 1290" (without any Team branding). The station was subsequently relaunched as TSN Radio 1290 on October 5, 2011.Following the 2007 acquisition of CHUM by CTVglobemedia
CTVglobemedia
CTVglobemedia , was one of Canada's largest private media companies. Its operations include newspaper publishing , television broadcasting and production , radio broadcasting , and their respective Internet properties.Originally established by BCE and the Thomson family in 2001 combining CTV Inc.,...
, majority owner of TSN
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
, there had been occasional reports about CTV potentially using the remaining Team stations and/or the 1050 frequency in Toronto to launch a new sports radio station in Toronto or full radio network using TSN content and personalities. Plans on launching a new TSN Radio
TSN Radio
TSN Radio is a semi-national sports radio network in Canada carried on AM radio stations owned by Bell Media's Bell Media Radio division. The TSN Radio brand, and much of the network's content, is partially shared with Bell Media's television sports channel, The Sports Network...
brand began in January 2011 and Toronto's radio station CHUM
CHUM (AM)
CHUM, branded as TSN Radio 1050, broadcasting at 1050 kHz in the AM band, is a Canadian radio station licensed to Toronto, Ontario. The station is owned and operated by Bell Media....
(1050 AM) became the first station under the new TSN Radio network as TSN Radio 1050 on April 13, 2011.