Corus back in the field with Whitecaps on radio
Broadcast rights switches, sports media disruptions affect city's other pro teams
Corus Entertainment is getting back into the sports play-by-play business in the Lower Mainland with the announcement of a twoyear agreement Thursday to carry Vancouver Whitecaps games.
What's next for the former broadcast partner of both the Vancouver Canucks and B.C. Lions?
Corus executive vice-president of broadcast networks Troy Reeb cautioned about reading too much into the contract with the Whitecaps.
The Whitecaps' and Corus' new pact sees live play-by-play on AM 730, as well as “regularly weekly programming and a coach's show ” on CKNW 980 and “fresh content and promotional support” on CFOX 99.3 and ROCK 101.
“This deal does not represent a new pivot to sports, but rather is part of our ongoing strategy to always have our radio properties at the centre of the biggest events in their respective communities,” Reeb said in an email. “Whitecaps FC are an important part of the Lower Mainland and we look forward to bringing their loyal fans continued coverage and play-byplay action this season.”
The sports media landscape in these parts changed Feb. 9, when parent company Bell Media called a sudden audible on TSN 1040, changing it over to an all-comedy format, even though it was winning the all-sports ratings battle with crosstown Sportsnet 650.
The Whitecaps and Lions both were having their games broadcast on TSN 1040. The Lions are looking for a new partner. The Canucks' five-year deal with Sportsnet 650 is up after the 2021-22 campaign.
Reeb was “unable to comment on other teams at this time,” when asked about possible interest in the Lions or the Canucks. That's standard operating procedure.
There's history with Corus and the teams. The Canucks had been with CKNW for its entire 36-season existence prior moving to 1040 (then known as Team 1040) for the 2006-07 season, and the Lions had been with CKNW for 18 years running when they jumped to 1040 for the 2004 campaign. Corus also got into the hockey play-by-play business in Winnipeg in October, signing a deal to cover Winnipeg Jets games via its CJOB 680 affiliate through the 2026-27 campaign. The Jets had been on TSN 1290 previously. Bell Media switched it to a comedy network on Feb. 9 as well.
As for the Lions, a team representative said Friday that “we're continuing to explore our options to secure an appropriate audio partner.”
That comment, along with the time that has passed, suggests the Lions have given up on trying to make something work with Bell Media. The Lions and TSN 1040 had signed a five-year extension in January 2018 that would have had them on the station through the 2022 season.
Going forward, the prospect of broadcasting CFL games on a comedy station that had previously been an all-sports format is likely unpalatable for both sides.
The representative's comment also implies that the Lions could go the online streaming route. NHL teams are streaming games off their websites. Hamilton Spectator columnist Steve Milton wrote in February about how the CFL'S Hamilton Tiger-cats could do the same thing. TSN 1150, which had carried the Ticats games, became a business station as a part of Bell Media's Feb. 9 moves.
On the Corus side of the equation, it's undetermined whether they could open up the air time on their various news and music stations to find room for both the Whitecaps and Lions.
The Whitecaps, who are based out of Sandy, Utah to at least start the season due to border restrictions brought about by COVID -19, have their second pre-season game scheduled for today and are slated to kick off league play on April 18. Their regular-season finale is set for Nov. 7.
The Lions' pre-season opener is set for May 23, their regular-season debut is supposed to go June 12 and their final league game is scheduled for Oct. 29.
The Lions could try to make things work instead with Sportsnet 650, but the CFL has strong ties to the various TSN brands and Sportsnet has traditionally given it limited play on its various platforms seemingly because of that.
Sportsnet 650 also is slated to broadcast Vancouver Canadians baseball games. The Toronto Blue Jays' high-a level farm club is set to begin its season based out Hillsboro, Ore.
The Canadians' season opener is slated for May 4, and their home opener in Hillsboro is scheduled for May 11. Their final regular-season series is set to end on Sept. 19.