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Name it a very lengthy station break, if you’ll.
Sports activities 1440 will rise from the nonetheless smoldering ashes of TSN 1260 on Sept. 5 and discuss radio junkies in Alberta’s capital area who’ve been denied their repair since mid-June will certainly be tuned in and turned onto the latest participant within the AM market.
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Anchored by The Kevin Karius Present within the morning and The Jason Gregor Present within the afternoon, Sports activities 1440 will give attention to native video games and groups in any respect ranges, in addition to community-building content material, supplemented ultimately by syndicated choices by way of the night time and on weekends.
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It’s a moderately distinctive three way partnership between Stingray, a conglomerate that operates 101 radio stations in Canada, Simply A Sport Productions and the Nation Community. Stingray owns and operates W1440, a little-known oldies station situated in Wetaskiwin that may give approach to the sports activities discuss format.
Gregor, a former TSN 1260 host, is the brains and bucks behind Simply A Sport Productions and acted because the catalyst for the brand new station. The Nation Community provides a digital part that was essential to the combination.
“The day that TSN shut down 1260, the wheels began turning,” stated Jackie Rae Greening, program director for Sports activities 1440 and a long-time radio character. “It has been enjoyable. Jason Gregor, he’s the quarterback actually of all of it. He’s the one who pieced collectively the entire expertise.”
Gregor received his begin within the radio recreation from the legendary John Quick, former host of a long-running and profitable night present. Gregor knew the native market was nonetheless hungry for up-to-the-second sports activities information and opinion, so he began engaged on another virtually instantly after getting the gong from Bell Media.
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“I believe town actually wanted it,” Gregor stated. “True story. I had a girl come as much as me in Costco. She stated, ‘I didn’t know my husband was courting you.’ I stated ‘pardon?’
“She stated ‘my husband cherished the present and he’s been distraught because it was cancelled.’ This was a few month in the past. I advised her you inform him it’s coming again quickly. You need to have seen the look on her face.”
Gregor’s present on TSN 1260 was the highest-rated sports activities discuss program available in the market. On condition that success and his contacts, he was the right particular person to assemble a alternative roster of expertise. Convincing Karius to depart World TV after 25 years there as a reporter and anchor was a little bit of a coup.
“I wanted anyone from the market,” Gregor stated. “I felt that was essential, and he has coated sports activities in any respect ranges. He understands that the College of Alberta and MacEwan and NAIT and the AJHL and Prairie Junior Soccer issues simply as a lot because the Oil Kings, Oilers and Elks, and Stingers and clearly now the Riverhawks. He’s a sports activities man, he’s not only a hockey man, and that’s essential. He’s a reasonably humorous man, don’t inform him I stated that, and I believe individuals are going to love him.”
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The opposite native applications are Fantasy Frenzy with Connor Halley and Brandon Douglas from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and the Lowdown with Lowetide from midday to 2 p.m.
Bell Media shut down TSN 1260 and 5 different stations throughout Canada on June 14 as a part of a downsizing plan that additionally slashed 1,300 individuals from the corporate payroll. Greening stated Stingray is dedicated to the AM dial.
“We love radio,” Greening stated. “For us, with an AM stick, you take a look at the success of 840 CFCW, the AM dial doesn’t scare us in any respect.”
Gregor is one other cagey AM veteran. He has owned his personal present for 18 years — he buys air time and indicators up his personal sponsors and advertisers — and he has constructed a loyal following, partially due to his tireless dedication to philanthropic efforts and community-building.
“I believe I can take that mannequin, and that’s what our plan is, in a three way partnership with Stingray and the Nation Community. The philosophy on my present is one we may have on the entire station. Sports activities discuss for certain is the primary focus, however there can even be tons on the group, and serving to out in the neighborhood. Individuals within the capital area wish to give again and that’s what we’re going to do.”
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