Canadian Radio: Sportsnet Revamps

• Ailish Forfar, Nick Kypreos, Will Lou, Blake Murphy and Alex Wong join Sportsnet as show hosts, contributors and content creators –
• New audio strategy features flexible slate of programming that caters to fans’ personal interests

Sportsnet has announced an original slate of multiplatform audio content featuring both new and familiar names and voices. Whether on live radio or on-demand podcasts, Sportsnet’s new audio content plans replace the traditional radio lineup in Toronto in favour of seasonal, sport-specific and spontaneous programming so that fans can consume the content that matters most to them on their preferred platforms, beginning this Monday, Oct. 4.

“This is a fan-inspired approach to programming that will focus on team-centric content, recognizing that audiences are most interested in listening to shows that talk about their favourite teams and players,” said Dan Toman, Director of Audio Programming, Sportsnet. “Our new slate of programming is more podcast-friendly and personality driven as we continue our efforts to build a community of sports fans.”

Flexibility is the name of the game with Sportsnet’s new audio content in Toronto as shows can and will move timeslots and increase or decrease frequency to reflect the news of the day. Many of the shows will offer on-demand only episodes, ensuring the conversation continues when and where fans are having it outside the live broadcast windows.

Sportsnet’s new and returning audio shows include:

The FAN Morning Show with JD, Blake & Ailish | Weekdays - Sportsnet 590 The FAN’s new morning show features resident Sportsnet host JD Bunkis joined by two newcomers to the network – former Raptors beat reporter for The Athletic Blake Murphy and former Yahoo! Sports digital host Ailish Forfar. The morning show will air live Monday to Friday from 6-10 a.m. ET and be available on-demand.

Blair & Barker  | MLB Season - Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker talk all things Blue Jays on Sportsnet’s flagship MLB show. During baseball season, Blair & Barker will air Monday to Friday from 5-7 p.m. ET on Sportsnet 590 The FAN and be available on-demand.

Jays Talk | Blue Jays Season - Sportsnet 590 The FAN’s popular Blue Jays postgame show will expand this fall and next spring to include daytime episodes hosted by Ben Ennis from 10-Noon ET, in addition to the post-game edition which will now be hosted by Blair and Barker.

Real Kyper and Bourne | NHL Season - Former Toronto Maple Leaf Nick Kypreos returns to Sportsnet, teaming up with hockey analyst Justin Bourne to bring fans the preeminent Leafs talk show. During the hockey season, Real Kyper and Bourne will air live on Sportsnet 590 The FAN Monday to Friday from 3-5 p.m. ET and be available on-demand.

The Jeff Marek Show | NHL Season - Sportsnet insider Jeff Marek is joined by a rotating cast of contributors during this new national NHL show airing daily across the Sportsnet Radio Network and available on-demand. The Jeff Marek Show will be live Monday to Friday from Noon-2 p.m. ET in Toronto, 9-11 a.m. PT in Vancouver and 10 a.m.-Noon MT in Calgary during the hockey season.

The Raptors Show with Will Lou | NBA Season - Sportsnet 590 The FAN’s new Raptors-dedicated program features former Yahoo! Sports podcaster and blogger Will Lou, who will also host Raptors postgame shows. Lou is joined by writer and NBA personality Alex Wong, who will produce The Raptors Show and host an episode weekly. The Raptors Show will air live Monday to Friday from 2-3 p.m. ET and be available on-demand during the basketball season.

The FAN Drive Time | NHL & NBA Seasons -  Sportsnet’s new afternoon drive show will feature former Good Show host Ennis and award-winning journalist Stephen Brunt. During hockey and basketball season, The FAN Drive Time will air Monday to Friday from 5-7 p.m. ET and be available on-demand.

Leafs Nation Post-Game | NHL Season - Leafs Nation returns with hosts Brent Gunning and Gord Stellick providing pre- and post-game coverage this NHL season on Sportsnet 590 The FAN.

All shows to be made available on-demand wherever fans consume their podcasts including Sportsnet.ca, the Sportsnet App, Apple and Spotify.

“We are incredibly excited to start this new chapter of audio programming at Sportsnet,” said Toman. 

“However, in making these changes, we are saying goodbye to some incredibly talented and valued colleagues. We would like to thank those individuals for their unwavering passion and the dedication they have shown to entertaining our listeners day in and day out, especially through the challenges of the pandemic over the past year and a half.”