2021 was a year. It was not the year; I would argue that 2020 takes the crown in that regard. Regardless, 2021 was a time of adjustment and desire for normalcy, as many of us had to become accustomed to what the world became in the previous year.
Some things remained going with alterations. The media world as we knew it before COVID-19 is long gone, even though many companies and platforms have weathered the storm that has devastated other places. That nature of immediate change that we began to experience with the arrival of this pandemic impacted many industries, not just media. And yet, the loss of something monumental to a fanbase and dedicated listenership can hurt more than anyone ever expected.
Today, it will have been exactly one year ago that we heard the following message on CKST AM, better known as TSN 1040 at the time, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Just before 9am, the station’s morning show had been cut off suddenly and syndicated programming from the US had taken over. An automated voiceover came on during ad breaks, asking listeners to tune in at 9:30am for a special announcement regarding the station.
Then, at the bottom of the hour, we heard this:
February 9th, 2021 was a difficult day for many people, not just in Vancouver. With no warning whatsoever, Bell Media shuttered three of its AM sports stations, reformatting them to business or comedy genres. This was in addition to bombshell cuts that Bell announced weeks earlier, dropping many TSN hosts and personalities from their jobs in January.
In the case of the TSN radio stations (especially 1040), it was astounding how the news spread online, with listeners and friends of staff reaching out to personnel, questioning why the feed had been cut and the social media feeds were down. Many heard about what was going on from those close friends and audiences before the official exit meeting was called. Later that day, we would hear the news that Bell planned to change the format to comedy radio on 1040, airing stand-up bits on a loop with little to no staffing necessary.
The jokes about the change wrote themselves.
To say what occurred was disrespectful is a huge understatement. While corporations may share charts and numbers as evidence of why decisions were made, it does not excuse how it was done. The station was coming up on its 20th anniversary and was getting ready to celebrate in the coming months with countdowns of top moments. A milestone cut short in the name of declining revenue, when said company received over $100 million from pandemic-related wage subsidies.
Bell. Even if this was going to be the endgame going forward, have some respect for those who have worked hard to produce the content that engaged sports fans in Vancouver for almost two decades. Give the staff and listeners effective closure and make the anniversary an official farewell that everyone would not forget.
How we said goodbye to TEAM 1040 was unforgettable for the wrong reasons.
The weeks that followed were reflective, as many wondered what was next. We can safely say that a considerable amount of individuals have found work elsewhere, even making content that is pushing the envelope for what we consider locally-driven sports programming in both audio and video. These new initiatives are incredibly important as what we knew as the sports media industry shifts dramatically into new formats and concepts.
The people working both on the mic and camera and behind the scenes to bring us local, independent sports content are some of the most talented and driven individuals out there. They are filling a void that fanbases desperately need, especially as the tides turn away from formats that used to dominate the airwaves.
There were also many individuals that decided to depart the media industry entirely. It is not without merit; there is little certainty of job security in what we have known as traditional media. The newspaper and its sports section is not the eye-catcher it once was. Dedicated sports channels on television are struggling for ratings. Even booming mediums operating online are an adventure of their own.
I want to salute them for all they have done in their careers, wherever they have worked. They have been dedicated to the craft of discussion and sharing stories, whether in sports or not.
As for the legacy of what was left behind, it has not been forgotten. TEAM 1040 had grown to become Vancouver’s definitive sports station, even when new competition snagged broadcasting rights to its heart and soul. It is evident that the work put in by its hosts and staff made it one of the best places to listen and speak out about sports, especially in an era when dissenting thoughts were not appreciated in their time.
With that, we look to what is to come. Things in sports media have and will continue to change. What will not change is the appetite for talking sports, especially in a city like Vancouver.
Wins, losses, debates, polls, jokes, pre-game, post-game. The articles, podcasts, and livestreams on all of these will continue and new ones are bound to join the fun.
As you know, you cannot satisfy that demand with one place or platform. You need an army, made of individuals and platforms, working in tandem (and competitively) to make it one of a kind.
Jacob New 