Jets will fly on CJOB airwaves

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This article was published 05/10/2020 (1800 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s a new home for Winnipeg Jets radio.

It was announced Monday that Global News Radio 680 CJOB has acquired the Jets exclusive radio broadcast rights in a multi-year deal for all pre-season, regular season and playoff games from the 2020-21 season through 2026-27. The games will also be simulcast on Power 97. TSN 1290 previously held the radio rights.

“As part of our normal course of business, when a partnership agreement expires, we explore all options, including with the most recent partner and other media outlets that have expressed an interest in working together,” Rob Wozny, True North Sports + Entertainment’s vice-president of communications and content told the Free Press in an email.

“Given the good standing 680 CJOB has had in the past with the Manitoba Moose and the Winnipeg Jets, along with where they wanted to be in the market, we felt it was a mutually beneficial fit for both organizations.”

TSN will, however, continue to broadcast Jets games on television as it was also announced Monday that the station has agreed to a multi-year extension of their regional television rights partnership with True North.

The new radio agreement also includes the Moose, the Jets’ AHL affiliate, being heard live online at www.cjob.com.

“For quite some time, we’ve known we’ve wanted the opportunity to get the (radio) rights,” said Brent Williamson, news director and station manager for Global Winnipeg and 680 CJOB.

“We made that pretty well known to True North and one day they gave us a call and said ‘If you guys are interested in sitting down to talk about it, we’d be interested as well.’ It went quite well, quite smoothly after that.”

Williamson and Wozny both added that details are still being worked out, including what the programming will look like and who will be behind the mic calling the action. CJOB, which will be celebrating its 75-year anniversary next year, also owns the radio rights to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the WHL’s Winnipeg Ice. CJOB previously had the rights to the Jets in 1996 before the franchise moved to Phoenix.

“We’re very excited to be working with 680 CJOB again as it’s also about what is in the best interest of our fans, giving them the best opportunities to hear Winnipeg Jets hockey live,” Wozny said.

“The station has a proven history of sports broadcasting excellence and has significantly grown in its online platforms as well. Having Winnipeg Jets hockey simulcast on an FM signal (Power 97) is also new for our fans in our market, and we’re confident it will be well-received.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31