CISL (650 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Vancouver, British Columbia, serving the Greater Vancouver radio market. Owned by Rogers Radio, a division of Rogers Sports & Media, it broadcasts a sports format branded as Sportsnet 650.
CISL's radio studios are located at 2440 Ash Street in the Fairview neighbourhood of Vancouver. By day, CISL is powered at 20,000 watts; to avoid interference at night to other stations on 650 AM, it reduces power to 4,000 watts. CISL uses a directional antenna at all times with a three-tower array.
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History
CISL originally signed on the air on May 1, 1980, at a frequency of 940 kHz and a power of 2,500 watts. The call letters were pronounced "C-Isle". The original music content was primarily middle of the road songs, branded as AM Gold Music Radio. Around 1985, the frequency was changed to 650 kHz (CFML's former frequency) and the daytime power increased to 10,000 watts, still at the same Richmond transmitter site.
On December 27, 1988, CISL shifted to a full-time oldies format, with its playlist featuring music from 1955 to 1975. The new format helped CISL become a major player in the Vancouver radio scene. The original Richmond community programming expanded to include all of the Lower Mainland. CISL enjoyed its greatest ratings and sales success from 1986 to 1989.
In 1990, South Fraser Broadcasting was issued an FM license, which went on the air as CKZZ-FM the following year.
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Format Changes
In September 2007, CISL stopped using the Oldies 650 CISL name and rebranded as SuperHits 650 CISL. The format remained similar. The classic hits/oldies format moved to Rogers-owned CKKS-FM in September (that station has since moved to a modern rock format). The move was a result of Jim Pattison Group flipping CKBD from its adult standards format to an adult album alternative (AAA) format and switching to FM on November 13.
In March 2013, the Competition Bureau approved a proposal by Bell Media to acquire Astral Media, under the condition that it divest itself of several television services and radio stations.
On April 8, 2014, Newcap applied to move the CISL transmitter site to the former CKBD site, due to the imminent expiration of the lease on the transmitter site in August, and the unstable ground at that location. The application was approved on August 14. The move included a boost in the daytime power to 20,000 watts, coupled with a reduction in CISL's nighttime output to 4,000 watts.
On April 25, 2017, Rogers Media announced that it would acquire CISL, and switch the station to a sports format branded as Sportsnet 650 later in the year. The move came as Rogers had acquired the radio rights to the Vancouver Canucks hockey team beginning in the 2017-18 season. The station would also assume the Toronto Blue Jays radio rights in Vancouver in the 2018 season.
Sportsnet 650
Sportsnet 650 (CISL AM 650) is Vancouver’s premier all-sports radio station, broadcasting from Richmond, British Columbia, and serving the Greater Vancouver area. As the official radio home of the Vancouver Canucks (NHL), Vancouver Giants (WHL), Abbotsford Canucks (AHL), Vancouver Canadians (MiLB), Toronto Blue Jays (MLB), Seattle Mariners (MLB), and Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Sportsnet 650 delivers comprehensive live coverage of games, in-depth analysis, and exclusive interviews.
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Sportsnet is the official Canadian NHL national multiplatform rights holder, and is the regional broadcaster for the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Sportsnet also has extensive coverage of the Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Raptors, and UFC, as well as NBA, MLB, Grand Slam of Curling, National Bank Open presented by Rogers, FIBA, Super League Rugby, Premiership Rugby, FA Women’s Super League, and FA Cup.
Sportsnet 650 Coverage
- Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
- Vancouver Giants (WHL)
- Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)
- Vancouver Canadians (MiLB)
- Toronto Blue Jays (MLB)
- Seattle Mariners (MLB)
- Seattle Seahawks (NFL)
The final song on CISL was "American Pie" by Don McLean; by coincidence, the song was cut off right on the beginning of the titular lyric, specifically cutting off on the words "Bye bye".
Similar Stations
- CKLF Star94.7 FM - Brandon, Pop, Rock, Top 40 & Charts
- CJCQ Q98 FM 97.9 - North Battleford, Hits
- Grand Falls' BOUNCE 93 - Grand Falls, 2000s, 80s, 90s
- CJDJ Rock 102 FM - Saskatoon, Rock
- CKIX Hits FM 99.1 - St. John's, Hits
- CKKO K96.3 FM - Kelowna, Classic Rock
- CJUV Sunny 94 FM - Lacombe, Hits, Oldies, Pop
- CFAI 101.1 FM - Edmunston, Hits
- CFXM M105 - Granby, Pop
- CFMM Power 99 - Prince Albert, Hits
- KCIM - 1380 AM - Carroll IA, Ballads
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