ctv to launch tsn radio 1050 april 13

After months of speculation, it's finally been confirmed. The legendary signal of 1050 will once again be all-sports. CTV is set to launch TSN Radio 1050 come April 13 - just in time for the hockey and basketball playoffs to take loose. Another thing that was confirmed today is that Mike Richards has been hired on as the stations morning man. What does this mean for AM640 as being the part-time sports wagon? Do they keep the Leafs for next season? What's going on over at the Fan? Do they have a reason to be scared? Here's the official press release sent out today..

Toronto, ON (February 17, 2011) – Setting the benchmark for sports broadcasting in Canada since 1984, TSN, along with CTV Inc. and CHUM Radio, announced today that TSN RADIO 1050 will launch on Wednesday, April 13. Debuting just as the NHL and NBA Playoffs heat up, the highly-anticipated all-sports radio station will be available to sports fans in the Greater Toronto area on AM 1050 and nationally online at TSN.ca and on TSN MOBILE.

The next evolution of the TSN brand, TSN RADIO 1050 will feature best-in-class analysis from TSN’s sports experts and insiders and coverage of live sporting events such as Toronto Argonauts games during the 2011 CFL season. Headlining TSN RADIO 1050’s weekday programming lineup is the station’s marquee morning show, THE MIKE RICHARDS SHOW, with host Mike Richards.

TSN RADIO 1050 will broadcast from CTV’s historic Queen Street headquarters and TSN’s studios in Toronto.

“TSN’s mandate has always been to be Canada’s Sports Leader and TSN RADIO 1050 gives the network yet another platform to deliver industry-leading sports coverage to Canadians across the country,” said Phil King, President of Sports and Executive Vice-President of Programming, CTV. “The powerful combination of TSN’s all-star broadcast team and CHUM Radio – one of the most successful radio organizations in Canada – enables TSN RADIO 1050 to make an immediate impact on the sports radio landscape.”

TSN RADIO 1050 is a joint effort between TSN and CHUM Radio. TSN RADIO 1050 will work closely with CHUM Radio’s portfolio of market-leading all-sports radio stations in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montreal and Ottawa.

“With the strength of the TSN brand and an incredible stable of on air talent, TSN RADIO 1050 will definitely set a new benchmark for sports radio in Canada,” said Chris Gordon, President, CHUM Radio. “We are looking forward to making our mark in the GTA right away and having a premier talent like Mike Richards in the all-important morning drive time slot is the perfect way to do it.”

TSN and CHUM Radio will announce additional details on the launch of TSN RADIO 1050 in the coming weeks.

Live Events
Headlining TSN RADIO 1050’s live events lineup are the Toronto Argonauts, as the station has secured the exclusive radio broadcast rights for the team’s pre-season, regular season and playoff games through the Eastern Final during the 2011 CFL season. TSN RADIO 1050 will also have a pre- and post-game show for every Argos game, plus a weekly show on Toronto’s CFL team. TSN is the exclusive English-language television broadcaster for the CFL in Canada.

Toronto Argonauts President and CEO Bob Nicholson remarked, “We are excited to embark on this journey on TSN RADIO 1050, allowing our fans access to all of our games on radio. We have a long history with the leadership at TSN so we know the quality of work they produce and the excellent standard with which they cover our team. Their radio arm will take this relationship to a new level and we couldn’t be more excited.”

Along with live Argos broadcasts, TSN RADIO 1050 is also the official radio broadcaster for two of golf’s major championships – THE BRITISH OPEN and the U.S. OPEN – and EURO 2012 and 2016.

Broadcast Team
TSN RADIO 1050 will feature the best in sports talk radio utilizing TSN all-star roster of sports broadcasters, experts, analysts and insiders, including Bob McKenzie, Darren Dreger, Pierre McGuire, Dave Hodge, Ray Ferraro, Dave Naylor, Glen Suitor, Chris Schultz, Matt Dunigan, Jack Armstrong, James Duthie, Michael Landsberg and Dave Randorf.

In addition, veteran radio broadcaster Mike Richards joins TSN RADIO 1050 as the host of the station’s marquee morning drive program, THE MIKE RICHARDS SHOW. The outspoken and always entertaining Richards was previously the host of the highest-rated sports morning show in Canada, Mike Richards in the Morning. Richards returns to the biggest radio market in Canada after his highly successful stint in Calgary, where his show was the fastest-growing male-targeted radio program in the province.

ESPN’s Dan Shulman will also make exclusive contributions TSN RADIO 1050. It was announced earlier this week that Shulman will work exclusively in Canada for TSN, providing analysis and reports across TSN’s platforms and programs.

Program Lineup
Along with Mike Richards hosting TSN RADIO 1050’s highly-anticipated morning show, the station’s weekday lineup marks the return of the JIM ROME SHOW to the Greater Toronto area with outspoken host Jim Rome, along with the Toronto debut of the DAN PATRICK SHOW with SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL’s Dan Patrick.