Bell Media to switch TSN Radio 990 to French

Bell Media wants to change Montreal's only all-sports radio station from English to French.

The company has filed an application with the CRTC to convert TSN Radio 990 to RDS Radio 990.

Bell Media says the decision comes after acquiring Astral Media earlier this year, and there are CRTC restrictions on the ownership of multiple radio stations in the same market.

In other cities BCE is selling radio stations it recently acquired in order to comply with CRTC guidelines.

In the proposal, Bell Media writes that English-language broadcasts of the Montreal Canadiens will be transferred to CJAD 800 AM, which also broadcasts football and soccer games for the Alouettes and Impact.

It is not known what would happen to TSN Radio 990 employees, including Ted Bird, who signed a two-year contract in May 2012.

There has not been a French-language all-sports radio station in Montreal since September 2011, when CKAC was switched to reporting traffic information 24 hours a day.

The decision is still subject to CRTC approval.

A hearing to discuss the switchover will be held on Sept. 10, 2012 in Montreal.

Bell Media is the parent company of CTV Montreal.