Bell Media announced today that it has filed an application with the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission expressing its intention to convert TSN Radio 990 to RDS Radio 990 in Montreal.
The decision to convert TSN Radio 990 to RDS Radio 990 results from Bell's acquisition of Astral Media, announced in March 2024, and the CRTC's Commercial Radio Policy that outlines certain limitations surrounding the ownership of multiple radio stations in a given market.
With a continued focus on local sports, RDS Radio 990 is an extension of RDS's powerful brand as the #1 French-language specialty channel in Canada. As the country's 24-hour all-sports Francophone radio station, RDS Radio 990 will have comprehensive coverage of the Montreal sports scene, along with best-in-class analysis from RDS sports experts and Insiders.
English-language broadcasts of the Montreal Canadiens will move to Astral's CJAD 800, pending CRTC approval. The Montreal Canadiens broadcast is a great fit for CJAD 800, whose impressive stable of programming also includes the exclusive English radio broadcast of the Montreal Alouettes and the Montreal Impact games.
"With RDS Radio 990, we're presented with a formidable opportunity to enhance and extend the RDS brand by delivering best-in-class sports content and coverage across another platform to our fans," said Gerry Frappier, President, RDS. "For the past 23 years, RDS has set the benchmark for French-language sports broadcasting in Canada, and we look forward to raising the bar even higher now with RDS Radio 990."
"Powered by the strength of the RDS brand and its exceptional roster of on-air personalities, RDS Radio 990 is a natural and logical fit for francophone fans in the Montreal market," said Chris Gordon, President, Radio and Local TV. "We're excited to make an impact on the Montreal sports scene and engage listeners with the local stories and athletic coverage that matter to them the most."