680 CJOB

680 CJOB is Manitoba’s premier news-talk and sports radio station. Broadcasting for 80 years, its studios are now located right at the iconic intersection of Portage and Main. For locals, it’s far more than just a radio station—it’s the go-to source for breaking news and emergency information.

If you wake up in the morning during a severe winter blizzard and need to know if the Perimeter Highway is closed or if school buses have been cancelled, 680 CJOB is the station you tune into. In Winnipeg, where winter weather is a matter of survival, this station is absolutely essential.

Key Features of the Station

You won't find the endless music loops typical of FM stations here. The broadcast is fully live, with hosts focusing heavily on the city and the province. The station's biggest draw is its exclusive sports coverage. 680 CJOB is the official broadcast voice of both the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) and the Winnipeg Jets (NHL), offering live play-by-play commentary and extensive post-game analysis.

Beyond sports, the station acts as a civic watchdog, with journalists holding local politicians accountable and breaking down City Hall decisions.

Pros and Cons

• The Good: Fresh news updates every half hour, alongside live Jets and Bombers game coverage. A powerful 50,000-watt transmitter ensures the signal reaches deep into rural Manitoba and the Interlake region.
• The Bad: Because it broadcasts on the AM band, the audio quality on a standard radio isn't as crisp as FM (though the online stream is crystal clear). Due to the talk format, there are more commercial breaks than on music-focused stations.

Shows to Check Out

• The Start: The morning show hosted by Greg Mackling and Brett Megarry. Features local news, quick-hitting interviews, and discussions on the city's trending topics.
• Connecting Winnipeg: The midday show with Hal Anderson. Covers Manitoba-centric issues, taxes, local prices, and everyday life for Manitoba families.
• Sports Broadcasts: Live game coverage. If you miss a game, you can catch up on post-game analysis and interviews in the official podcast archive.

Winnipeg Radio Station Comparison

Personal Experience: Three Hours Tuned Into 680 CJOB

I decided to run an experiment and listen to the station for three consecutive hours on a weekday, catching the tail end of the morning show and the start of Hal Anderson’s afternoon broadcast. First impression: the pace is incredibly tight. Between news segments, the hosts manage to cover everything from construction updates in the North End to grocery prices at the local Superstore. Caller segments roll in back-to-back, with locals passionately debating on air—and it feels completely genuine. There are a lot of commercials, hitting predictably every 15 minutes, which can be a bit tiring at first. However, the moment the discussion shifts to last night's Jets game, the hosts throw the clock out the window. If you want an unpolished, unfiltered pulse of the city without censorship or non-stop pop music, this station delivers exactly what it promises.

Technical Specifications:

Frequency: 680 AM

Power: 50,000 Watts. The station is a Class B station with a directional signal. At night, due to the nature of AM skywave propagation, the broadcast can even be picked up in the northern United States.