Bell Media shutters TSN Radio in Vancouver, Winnipeg and Hamilton

[rugratsonline]

...in a very abrupt matter:

https://torontosportsmedia.com/2021/02/ ... liminated/

[Calvert DeForest]

And for a Comedy format?

That's been tried, and everywhere it's been tried, it's died.

Sports is a tried and true format that has a proven audience. Why would they ditch it for a something with a dismal track record at best. Makes no sense. I give it six months before they switch back.

[fairbankshockeypuck]

Six months...gives them an easy back in if the teams can return to normal...full seasons...fans in the stands...etcc...

[radioandtventhusiast]

It looks like most employees were surprised about the news, even asking "What news?". That's very bad, and I agree that comedy won't increase ratings. Comedy probably only works on satellite radio.

[rugratsonline]

And for a Comedy format?

That's been tried, and everywhere it's been tried, it's died.

One that literally died was the first "Funny" station, London's CKSL -- it was the very first station to carry a comedy format in Canada in 2011, after flipping from Oldies. It ceased operations almost 5 years later in 2016, due to poor ratings and expensive-to-replace equipment on an undesirable frequency:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CKSL

[Turkeytop]

As of right now, Sunday afternoon. The Hamilton station identifies itself as CKOC Bloomberg Radio. But their actual programming is FOX Sports.


Edit: It's now mid-morning on Monday. They're just playing recorded music. Jazzy. Now if they would only adopt that as a format, I'd be a listener.

Edit: Monday afternoon. Jazzy music interspersed with Public Service Announcements and interviews with beople on a variety of subjects, not necessarily related to business. No paid advertising.

Doesn't seem like a sustainable business model.

[Turkeytop]

It appears that CKOC has now completed the switch to Bloomberg. That's an improvement. I have zero interest in sports radio. I always listen to Bloomberg when I'm in Florida but, up until now, it hasn't been available in Canada.

I think it may be successful for them. CKOC get's into the Toronto market. There's a large potential audience there.

[fuzzpower]

CKOC drew abysmal numbers, at times lower than CHAM, the automated comedy station. They were more successful with an oldies format, although with an older audience.

If there isn’t anything local, this is another throwaway station. I can’t recall how well the station is received in Toronto; even AM740 is mostly wiped out in the heart of downtown.

[Turkeytop]

Been listening to Bloomberg for a few days now and I have only one complaint. Just when you're interested in an item, they cut away to an ad. I know they need advertising to pay the bills, but they should wait for the end of the story before cutting away. When the ad is over, they don't return to the item. They just start in the middle of the next one.

Actually, I have two complaints. The second one is that there's no on to complain to. Their website doesn't give any contact information. No address, no telephone number, no e mail address.

[rugratsonline]

Been listening to Bloomberg for a few days now and I have only one complaint. Just when you're interested in an item, they cut away to an ad. I know they need advertising to pay the bills, but they should wait for the end of the story before cutting away. When the ad is over, they don't return to the item. They just start in the middle of the next one.

Maybe their automation was still set up for the previous format?

Actually, I have two complaints. The second one is that there's no on to complain to. Their website doesn't give any contact information. No address, no telephone number, no e mail address.

Doesn't Bell Media's corporate website have any information?

[Turkeytop]

Been listening to Bloomberg for a few days now and I have only one complaint. Just when you're interested in an item, they cut away to an ad. I know they need advertising to pay the bills, but they should wait for the end of the story before cutting away. When the ad is over, they don't return to the item. They just start in the middle of the next one.

Maybe their automation was still set up for the previous format?

Actually, I have two complaints. The second one is that there's no on to complain to. Their website doesn't give any contact information. No address, no telephone number, no e mail address.

Doesn't Bell Media's corporate website have any information?

On the Bell Media web site there is a contact us button. When you click on it it opens up and asks what kind of advertizing campaign you want to run, in what markets and on what platform?

[rugratsonline]

On the Bell Media web site there is a contact us button. When you click on it it opens up and asks what kind of advertizing campaign you want to run, in what markets and on what platform?

In other words, Bell cares more about its advertisers and they don't give a damn about its listeners. Remember that the next time you pay Bell Canada for their phone or TV bill.

The only other alternative would be to search Google, but knowing Bell's demeanor, any contact info there would also have disappeared.

[Turkeytop]

Been listening to Bloomberg for a few days now and I have only one complaint. Just when you're interested in an item, they cut away to an ad. I know they need advertising to pay the bills, but they should wait for the end of the story before cutting away. When the ad is over, they don't return to the item. They just start in the middle of the next one.

Actually, I have two complaints. The second one is that there's no on to complain to. Their website doesn't give any contact information. No address, no telephone number, no e mail address.

I had it on today and it seems like they may be getting it together. I didn't hear them breaking away from the program to run ads. They insert them into the breaks in programming that are intended for ads.

But sometimes when they return, the next item is already in progress. I suppose that is a positive sign. They're selling lots of ads. It bodes well for their success. And they aren't all local ads. They've had ads for Telus, Tim Horton's and OLG. They even had an ad for an out of town car dealer.

I'm encouraged. I want them to succeed.