CFGO
CFGO is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at 1200 on the AM dial in Ottawa, Ontario. The station broadcasts sports programming, using the brand name TSN 1200 Ottawa. CFGO is a Class B station operating on the clear-channel frequency of 1200 kHz, operating from a 6-tower transmitter array near Manotick, with studios located in the Bell Media Building on George Street in Downtown Ottawa's ByWard Market.
City | Ottawa, Ontario |
---|---|
Broadcast area | National Capital Region |
Frequency | 1200 kHz (AM) |
Branding | TSN 1200 Ottawa |
Slogan | The Evolution of Sports Radio Home of the Hockey Experts |
Programming | |
Format | Sports |
Ownership | |
Owner | Bell Media (Bell Media Ottawa Radio Partnership) |
CFRA, CJMJ-FM, CKKL-FM, CJOH-DT, CHRO-TV | |
History | |
First air date | 1964 |
Former call signs | CKPM (1964-1972) CJBZ (1997-1999) |
Former frequencies | 1440 kHz (1964-1986) |
Call sign meaning | CF Greater Ottawa (broadcast area) |
Technical information | |
Class | B |
Power | 50,000 watts |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | iheartradio.ca/tsn/tsn-ottawa |
History
Music format
The station was launched in 1964 by Confederation Broadcasting, with the call letters CKPM at 1440 AM. CKPM aired an MOR music format with a heavy local news commitment.
In 1970, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission revoked Confederation's licence, alleging that the company had failed to live up to its financial and management obligations. Confederation appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, who ruled in April 1971 that Confederation had not had a fair hearing before the CRTC.
In 1972, majority interest in the station was sold to Baton Broadcasting. The station also adopted its current CFGO callsign that year and moved to a Top 40 music format to compete with top-rated CFRA.
Frequency and format changes
On November 15, 1984, CFGO Radio Ltd. received approval from the CRTC to change CFGO's frequency to 1200 kHz with power remaining at 50,000 watts day and night.[1] The station moved to its current 1200 (with a better AM signal) on January 5, 1986, and was sold to Rawlco Communications the following year.[2]
Playing Starship's "We Built This City" as the inaugural song on the new 1200 AM frequency, Rawlco transitioned the station from Top 40 to adult contemporary as "Adult Rock, Go 1200" at the same time as the frequency switch, with local actress Abby Hagyard (of You Can't Do That on Television fame) serving as morning co-host. However, following CFRA's move from contemporary hits to a soft rock/oldies mix in August 1986, CFGO switched back to its previous all-hit presentation within a month. On March 8, 1988, Rawlco relaunched the CHR format, with the station now downplaying its call letters in favour of the name Energy 1200. The station subsequently changed its callsign to CJBZ and its brand name to The Buzz in late 1997, with a focus on more alternative and underground rock.
All-sports format
On September 9, 1998, at 7:30 a.m., the station switched to its current all-sports format, using the brand name OSR1200 - Ottawa Sports Radio. It was acquired the following year by CHUM Limited, reverting to its CFGO callsign. In 1999, the station adopted the Team 1200 brand name.
On May 7, 2001, the station formed the basis for CHUM's short-lived national sports radio network The Team, which adopted the Ottawa station's brand identity. The station retained its format and brand when CHUM subsequently folded the network.
On June 22, 2007, CFGO along with the other CHUM stations were sold to CTVglobemedia.
On September 30, 2013, CFGO re-branded as TSN Radio 1200.
TSN 1200 broadcasts a wide variety of sports programming, as well as news and weather, and the station streams Fox Sports Radio at night. As the official radio station of the Ottawa Senators, it broadcasts every Ottawa Senators game live. The station also broadcasts Ottawa 67's games, Ottawa Redblacks games, Atlético Ottawa games, Ottawa Blackjacks, and formerly broadcast Ottawa Lynx games.
Notable programs include 3 Guys on the Radio (TGOR), In the Box, The Drive, Offside, RedBlacks Radio, The Buzz on Junior Hockey, i-Run, Corner Kicks Soccer Show, among several others.
Live sports
TSN Radio 1200 is the flagship station for the following teams' radio broadcasts:
- Ottawa Senators (NHL hockey)
- Ottawa 67's (OHL hockey)
- Ottawa Redblacks (CFL football)
- Atlético Ottawa (CPL Soccer)
- Ottawa Blackjacks (CEBL Basketball)
TSN Radio 1200 also features live coverage of the following:
- NFL Football (select games)
- Belleville Senators (select games)
Podcasts
- Three Goofs on the radio
- In the Box
- The Drive
- Sens Post Game Show
- Offside
- RedBlacks Radio
- The Buzz on Junior Hockey
- i-Run
- Corner Kicks Soccer Show
References
External links
- Official website
- CFGO AM history – Canadian Communications Foundation
- CFGO in the REC Canadian station database