TSN鈥檚 flagship radio show “OverDrive” is going through a transformation that reflects how Canadians are now consuming content听鈥 and not just sports content.
Hosted by Bryan Hayes, Jamie (Noodles) McLennan and Jeff (O-Dog) O鈥橬eill,听“OverDrive” has long been the gold standard in Canadian sports radio. It鈥檚 familiar, smart and funny. The chemistry feels like three buddies talking sports on the couch, minus the shouting and posturing that often pollutes the format.
The trio broke from the Bob McCown mould years ago. They weren鈥檛 trying to out-Bob Bob. They brought lived experience and casual insight, not an arms race of exclusives and first takes. It worked, and the audience grew.
But now, things are changing.
Earlier this week,听“OverDrive” shifted from a three-hour block (4 to 7 p.m.) to just two (4 to 6 p.m.). That alone is a headline. But the bigger shift is the evolution from a radio show to a full-scale, multi-platform content brand.
“OverDrive” is no longer just about live radio 鈥 it鈥檚 about YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and podcast platforms.
鈥淭he expansion of the ‘OverDrive’ brand across multiple TSN platforms gives fans more ways to connect with the show and its popular hosts throughout the day,鈥 said Shawn Redmond, vice-president of Bell Media Sports. 鈥淭he show鈥檚 expansion and new format allows fans to experience even more from this beloved brand.鈥
The NFL has taken a 10 per cent equity stake in ESPN, which will assume full control of the NFL Network and RedZone. ESPN also struck a deal with WWE.
The NFL has taken a 10 per cent equity stake in ESPN, which will assume full control of the NFL Network and RedZone. ESPN also struck a deal with WWE.
Make no mistake, the听strategic move is as much about survival as growth. Radio ratings have been on a slow decline for years as podcasts and social media changed the game. Today鈥檚 fan doesn鈥檛 need to catch “OverDrive” live. They can scroll a best-of clip on TikTok late at night or listen to the podcast version the next morning.
The concentrated version of the show is not meant to degrade the live listening experience. In many ways it will improve. And, as one industry source explained, it makes for more “snackable content for digital.”
鈥淭he reality is, people are going to find us in so many different ways,鈥 Hayes said. 鈥淲e think this will be better for us, better for the audience, to make sure those first two hours are preserved. At 3:59, we鈥檙e like caged animals dying to get on.鈥
The move to digital-first content isn鈥檛 just a reaction to the challenges of the radio industry. It鈥檚 the next step to what “OverDrive” has already become.
鈥淲e probably stopped considering ourselves a radio show years ago,鈥 Hayes said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e content creators now, and TSN has been really supportive of getting the show out everywhere 鈥攔adio, TV, YouTube, podcast, social.鈥
And yes, the third hour might return when news breaks.
鈥淚f something big happens, we鈥檙e going to stay on,鈥 Hayes added. 鈥淚f the Leafs lose Game 7 on a Friday night, we鈥檙e going to produce something Friday night or Saturday morning and blast it out. That鈥檚 the plan.鈥
In the meantime, Leafs or Raptors pre-game shows will fill the 6 to 7 p.m. gap on game nights while on other nights listeners can expect reruns or 鈥渂est of鈥 content. It鈥檚 a tradeoff, and it does leave a gap.
Still, not all fans will celebrate the change. As industry insiders point out, pre-game shows and highlights from the previous two hours aren’t equivalent to a live hour of “OverDrive” and loyal listeners who have been tuning into all three hours will feel like they’ve lost something.
Hayes understands that concern. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not going to lose what made the show work,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e love what we do. It鈥檚 still going to be us having fun, talking sports, doing what we do best.鈥
That includes Leafs talk, even if the playoff endings feel inevitable.
鈥淚鈥檝e thought about that,鈥 Hayes admitted. 鈥淵ou start to get cynical. But what if they do it? What if you check out and miss the moment? I鈥檒l always want to talk about the Leafs.鈥
And “OverDrive” fans, wherever they live and however they listen, will still be part of that ride.
Hot off the press
We don鈥檛 know how many owners might be skirting the cap and we don’t know whether this was a significant aberration in the NBA. We don’t know how
We don鈥檛 know how many owners might be skirting the cap and we don’t know whether this was a significant aberration in the NBA. We don’t know how
鈥he takedown of Streameast, a piracy giant logging 1.6 billion visits last year, comes just as the NFL season kicks off, reminding us of the league鈥檚 unmatched influence on digital enforcement. Still, in the never-ending game of streaming whack-a-mole, history tells us this shutdown won鈥檛 be the end, just the start of a new URL.
鈥SN 1200 in Ottawa has this season, a move that not only limits in-game storytelling but also undermines the critical relationships broadcasters build with players and coaches while travelling, which add nuance and depth to the final product.
鈥he developing story on Kawhi Leonard and Clippers is a mess for the NBA. Pablo Torre broke the story on allegations of a $28-million (U.S.) salary-cap circumvention involving team owner Steve Ballmer and an unreported side deal. A seven-month-long trail of whispers, off-the-record texts and quiet confirmations tells me what you already know: where there鈥檚 smoke, there鈥檚 fire. And whether it ends with penalties or just a public shrug, this isn鈥檛 a good look for the league.
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation