| Type | Radio network |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Launch date | January 6, 2006 |
| Official website | CSRNUSA.com |
Champions Soccer Radio Network (CSRN) is a radio network based in Santa Monica, California that produces sports talk programmes, covering the news, scores and match highlights dedicated to the discussion of the sport of association football. CSRN was formed by English expatriates Graham J. Bell (former English FA-accredited referee) and Gary "Gazza" Richards[1] (former-Queen's Park Rangers F.C. footballer and soccer pundit on Fox Soccer Channel's Super Sunday Plus[2]).
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The 2G's Show was launched via Sirius Satellite Radio with a 2-hour pilot in December 2005 and this ultimately led to a regular hourly show in January 2006.[3]
Shortly after, Bell and Richards moved to create and market their own soccer talk radio network and in February 2006[4] through the company "Champions Soccer Marketing, Inc.". CSRN began with two soccer talk radio programmes, The 2 G's, and The Treble - both shows immediately creating interest with both soccer fans worldwide and the advertising media.
Since the formation of the network, CSRN has incorporated more shows including Around the League in 90 Minutes (a two-hour weekly show dedicated to Major League Soccer), Divers and Cheats, The Chivas USA Show, The Arsenal Hour, Kopshop USA (a show dedicated to Liverpool FC), The European Football Show, Fantasy Football Advisor, Forza Football, American Soccer Show, and Glory Glory Leeds.
CSRN broadcasts their live sports talk programmes Monday through Friday beginning at 0900 PST through 1300 PST. Although most shows can then be downloaded via podcast, the network continues the feed with rebroadcasts throughout the afternoon and during the weekends and can also be heard at any time on CSRN's "On Demand" player.
The flagship show, The 2 G's is first broadcast live, daily, for 120 minutes and is followed by The European Football Show on Mondays, Around the League in 90 minutes on Tuesdays, Forza Futbol on Wednesdays, Divers and Cheats on Thursdays followed by The Treble and then The Arsenal Hour on Fridays. During the MLS off-season, The American Soccer Show is broadcast in place of Around the League... and the programming is moved up an hour.
Because of their proximity to Hollywood and the hosts' previous association with the industry, CSRN regularly feature showbiz guest hosts as well as sports personalities on their soccer talk programmes. They also have regular interviews with popular and not so popular (in terms of likeability) household sports media names. The following personalities have all participated in CSRN broadcasts: