Where will Calgary Flames air games on radio next season?
The Calgary Flames organization was as shocked as anybody to learn that Sportsnet 960 had been pulled off the airwaves on Tuesday.
All Sportsnet 960 employees learned abruptly on Tuesday that the station, which served as Calgary’s only all-sports radio coverage in the city, had been shut down.
It has also been confirmed that Sportsnet will no longer produce Flames radio broadcasts. The unexpected news also caught the Flames organization off guard, with Sean Kelso, their vice-president of communications, telling CTV’s Damien Wood that they were “blindsided” by the news.
In a statement provided to Daily Hive, Kelso said the organization will update fans on future radio broadcasts once they figure out something to put in place.
“We just received the news,” Kelso wrote. “We will formulate a plan for our broadcast and share that when we have more information.”
Sportsnet 960 also served as the radio broadcast for the Wranglers, Hitmen, and Toronto Blue Jays. Many fans in Calgary are now left wondering where they will be able to hear such broadcasts going forward.
One potential option is 770 CHQR, which is owned by Corus Entertainment. The company has been struggling in recent years, but could look to add broadcasts of the Flames, Wranglers, and Hitmen as a way to drive up revenue. Another AM radio station in Calgary to keep an eye on is 1010 CBR.
Another option could be the Flames electing to go with their own streaming service, something which we’ve seen from the Anaheim Ducks radio broadcasts in recent years. Ducks Stream is an official 24/7 audio channel that broadcasts live games, podcasts, and news. It is also a completely free platform, making it easy for fans to access.
Whatever ends up happening, the entire sports media scene in Calgary changed in a massive way on Tuesday. While change can be good, it is difficult to see so many talented and hard-working people lose their jobs. Let’s just hope they can all land back on their feet in a short time.
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