It happened fast. One minute you’re expecting the latest traffic update on the Lincoln Alexander Parkway, and the next, there’s nothing but a weirdly short 25-second goodbye message. If you’ve been trying to am900 chml listen live lately and only getting static or a "stream unavailable" error, there’s a massive reason for that.
The station is gone.
Honestly, it’s still a shock to most of us in the GTHA. On August 14, 2024, Corus Entertainment pulled the plug on 900 CHML after nearly a century of broadcasting. We aren’t talking about a rebrand or a frequency shift. The transmitter was literally powered down, and the CRTC formally revoked the license in early 2025. It’s a ghost station now.
What Happened to the AM900 CHML Live Stream?
If you go to the old Global News Radio website or try to fire up the TuneIn app, you’ll likely see the old branding. It looks like it should work. But when you hit play, nothing happens. Corus cited "years of financial loss" and a brutal advertising landscape as the reasons for the sudden kill-switch.
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It wasn't just a business move; it was a gut punch to Hamilton's identity. Mayor Andrea Horwath basically called it the "DNA of the city." For 97 years, this station was where you went for Tiger-Cats games, local politics, and those weirdly comforting "Old Time Radio" shows late at night.
Why the sudden silence?
- Advertising Shift: Money moved to "unregulated foreign platforms" (basically Google and Meta).
- Corporate Debt: Corus has been struggling under massive financial pressure.
- Audience Habits: Fewer people carry actual AM radios, and the digital transition didn't pay the bills fast enough.
Where to Find Your Favorite CHML Personalities Now
Just because the 900 AM signal is dead doesn't mean the people who made the station great have disappeared. If you're looking to "listen live" to the voices you trust, you have to follow them to their new homes.
Rick Zamperin, the legendary voice of the Tiger-Cats and the morning show, didn't stay quiet for long. While he initially kept things alive with a self-funded YouTube show called The 5th Quarter, he has since landed a major role as a co-anchor on CHCH Morning Live. If you miss his sports takes and steady morning presence, that's where you'll find him.
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As for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the broadcasts moved over to CJXY-FM (Y108) and are also available via the Ticats Audio Network. You can still hear the games live, just not at the 900 spot on your dial.
The Reality of Local News in 2026
The death of CHML is part of a larger, kinda terrifying trend in Canadian media. We've seen similar shutdowns in Vancouver and Edmonton. When a local powerhouse like this goes dark, we lose more than just weather reports. We lose the people who actually show up at City Hall or the local crime scene.
Nowadays, if you want "live" Hamilton news, you're looking at a patchwork of sources. You've got 93.3 CFMU for community vibes, CHCH for TV-based news, and a handful of independent podcasts. But that 50,000-watt blowtorch signal that reached into Western New York? That's history.
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The Search for an Alternative
People keep searching for am900 chml listen live because it was a habit. It was "Hometown Radio." If you’re looking for a replacement that feels similar, your best bets are:
- 640 Toronto (CFIQ): For general GTA news and talk, though it lacks the specific "Steel City" soul.
- Global News Podcasts: Many of the syndicated shows like The Roy Green Show or The Alex Pierson Show are still available as podcasts or on other Corus-owned stations.
- Local Digital News: Sites like The Hamilton Spectator or The Bay Observer have stepped up their digital game, though they don't have that "live radio" immediacy.
How to Stay Connected to Hamilton News
You can't bring the station back, but you can stop hitting "refresh" on a dead link. If you want to stay informed in the post-CHML era, you need to change your "listen live" strategy.
First, follow the reporters on X (formerly Twitter) or LinkedIn. Many of the former staff are still out there doing journalism as freelancers or for other outlets. Second, support community radio. Stations like CFMU are now more important than ever because they are some of the last places where a human actually picks up a phone to talk to a listener.
Finally, stop using the old CHML apps. They are essentially trackers at this point, collecting data for a stream that will never return. Clear your bookmarks and move your presets. It's the end of an era, but Hamilton's stories are still being told—you just have to look a little harder to hear them.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Update your car presets: Remove 900 AM and replace it with Y108 if you want Tiger-Cats coverage.
- Follow the talent: Search for Rick Zamperin on CHCH or follow Scott Thompson on social media to see where his next project lands.
- Check the Ticats Audio Network: Bookmark their official site for live game-day streaming that works on mobile and desktop.