Marty's Musings

Edmonton Sports Radio and Blue's Fest

    
     By Marty Forbes

Sunday August the 5th,  2011

                                                

One of my most enjoyable memories while in radio was launching Edmonton’s Sports Radio Team 1260 in June of 2002.  The station continues to evolve nicely and this past week announced several new additions including:


       Mark Spector

The Mark Spector Show – 1 pm weekdays starting this fall.  Mark brings his 25 years of sports experience to the table.


      Dustin Nielson

Replacing Oilers Lunch with Bob Stauffer will be a show called  Inside Hockey featuring some of the biggest names in Hockey including TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Darren Dreger, Doug McLean, Elliotte Friedman, Scott Burnside, Darren Pang, and a host of others joining Dustin Nielson weekdays at noon. TSN’s Ryan Rishaug will appear daily on the show live from Rexall, or wherever the Oilers happen to be.


     Jim Matheson

Completing the new shows is the Hall of Fame Report with Jim Matheson and the Edmonton Sun’s Terry Jones weekday mornings at 8:25.


      Terry Jones

This is actually a ‘return’ to the building for Terry as he and Gord Whitehead assumed Sportstalk duties early in the 1990’s on the 'then' CFRN AM 1260 frequency when former host John Short moved over to CFCW along with the Oiler Rights .

Terry would be considered one of the 'premiere' columnists in this city and will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame along with his partner Mr. Matheson this fall.

      
     Ross McCleod

Brand Director Ross McCleod states “We believe all three new elements will help us cover the Oilers better than ever.”

Where’s Bob Stauffer and the Oiler lunch then?

Nothing is confirmed at this writing but it is strongly believed that 630 CHED will once again be signed as ‘broadcast rights holders’ and there is a strong likelihood that Stauffer will find a ‘role’ in part of the Edmonton Oiler Hockey Club content on the radio station.

Oilers President Patrick Laforge sends his 'thank you' to Team 1260 for launching the show and reminds us that Astral's sports station will continue broadcasting the Edmonton Oil Kings as they head into year five of their relaunch in town.

                                                

It's understandable why we haven't heard from CHED in regards to the aforementioned information.  Sadly Program Director Syd Smith is off after badly injuring himself in a fall at the lake recently.   It's not known how long he will be off recovering but one thing is for sure....the staff miss him and send their best regards as well.

Syd is one of the 'good guys' in the business and we all wish him a very speedy recovery.

                                                      

This is my last column before my favorite festival of the year – Bluesfest.  It goes Friday, August 19th thru Sunday the 21st at Hawrelak Park.  I’ve been going for more than a dozen years and you don’t have to know a ‘lick’ about Blues to enjoy the music; food; ambience and the ‘crowd’ – many of whom make this their only concert of the year.


       Nick Moss

There’s less than a hundred three day passes left to once again make this a sell out.  And late breaking news is that a cancellation on Saturday night now brings in “Nick Moss and the Flip Flops’’(Blues guys have the best names!) multiple Blues Music Award nominee as guitarist and entertainer.    Come sit on the hill – pound back a Fat Franks – drink one of the ‘sponsors’ fine products – and groove to ‘real music.’

My compliments again to Larry Werner and Panhandle Productions for another highly successful ‘Sun sponsored’ Big Valley Jamboree.  I popped out for the Saturday evening show and it was spectacular right from the amazing low-level Snowbirds show to the Judds and Jason Aldean.   No rain.  No mosquito’s either.  I was very sorry to hear about the charges being laid by Occupational Health just as BVJ started, respectful of the loss of life in that terrible ‘accident’ two years ago, as this is one of the best organized events in the entire world of music.  In a terrible touch of irony almost the same thing happened at the Ottawa Blues Festival a few weeks back destroying almost 'all' of Death Cab for Cuties equipment.  Fortunately - no loss of life.  Mother Nature indeed can be cruel.


    Chris Scheetz

Both Edmonton country stations work very well 'together' to pull this weekend off - so compliments to both Jackie Rae Greening at CFCW and CISN's Chris Sheetz.

Not hard to tell it's August on the radio.  Almost every morning show is 'off' on holidays at this time and it's certainly interesting to see which stations have great bench strength at fill in time compared to those who don't.  

'Nuff said!

Marty



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.

Confirmed minutes ago.Oilers Rights deal extended and Bob Stauffers new "Oilers Now" show goes noon to 2pm on CHED starting August 22nd. We now have head to head hockey shows in Edmonton. Let the games begin!

UPDATE:  630 CHED and the Oilers announce a new 3 year broadcast agreement.  It also includes new noon to two show with Bob Stauffer.