The answer to the question, of course, is rights, but there's another issue here. WNED arguably gets more money from Canadian pledges than from its own Western New York audience - hence the "Buffalo-Toronto" branding on their station IDs, which no one else down south does.

Yet, I went to watch a promo for the upcoming American Masters I referred to in a previous post, only to find out it was geoblocked - along with the rest of their video on the site. You can access the text, however. I know cross border rights are a big deal, and I have a VPN which allowed me to see what I wanted in the end, but not everyone does. And so my question: why should Canadians who support this station be able to watch it for free over-the-air, but not watch anything video-related  - not even a promo - online? 

I put that question to someone at WNED Monday morning, and they admitted they've been asked about this before. The answer seems to be that PBS - not WNED - is in control of the programming rights and they can't break that just for Canadians. (And they'd also have trouble figuring out who's trying to watch from their signal range in the GTA and who might be in say, Medicine Hat.)

She admitted it does seem unfair. But PBS has offered a remedy - and to no one's surprise, it involves money. They've created an entry bridge called "Passport." If a Canadian joins as a member for $60 a year ($5 a month) they're given access to this service, which does allow them to watch some - but not all - of the PBS offerings on Channel 17 online. 

If this interests you, there's more info here.

But I have to say, this still doesn't sit well with me on behalf of all the VPN-less would-be web viewers. Those across the border can watch all of this stuff for free, without spending a dime. We're charge

I note that the voice of Winchell in the documentary is Stanley Tucci. He also played Winchell in an HBO movie of the same name in 1998. I really enjoyed it and would love to see it again.  It featured Paul Giamatti in one of his first big roles.

Damian wrote:

I agree with RA and Dale that the relative youth of the show’s producer is probably the main reason.  Remember when Roger presold ‘A World Without Love’ by Peter and Gordon and then they played the Bobby Rydell version?
The real question may be ‘Why do record companies allow their compilation cds to be contaminated with alternate versions and outtakes?’

Good question. Could be a rights thing, maybe they couldn't get the rights to the original or the original cost too much. I don't know, that's just a guess.
 

To be fair NBC had a Biden town hall the week before and ABC had a Trump town hall on September 15th. There was equal opportunity to watch both candidates on both networks in the last month.

Mr. Honickman - it's a pleasure to have you join SOWNY. I'm sure there's a lot of City TV memories you can share if you're in the mood. 

Here's one that I was told about by a former co-worker of yours on a day when you were anchoring CityPulse at 6. He said it was one of those lazy summer days when there was nothing really going on. The producer - I think he said it was the late Clint Nickerson - had changed the lead about four times. But by 4:30, there was just nothing that stood out as a top story.

And then, like a gift from God, the skies opened up and brought down a huge storm, filled with lightning and thunder, the kind you only see in the heat of a summer day.

Nickerson instantly changed the lead to "Toronto hit by major storm," and the great shots of Mother Nature tearing through the city. Unfortunately for him, the storm didn't last long and by the time the opening credits rolled, it was over and the sun was back out. I'm told you asked him repeatedly to change the lead to something else, since there wasn't any more weather to talk about. But he refused, having nothing else to fall back on. 

And so you threatened to go on the air and say, "Good evening, it's raining. Now let's go out to David Onley on Queen St. where it's not raining!"

Of course you didn't and the show went on from there.

True? False? Anyway that's the story I heard and I thought it was hilarious.  

RadioActive wrote:

Actually, I sometimes wish I could just hear a scoped version of the show. The stuff that Ashby says is often far more interesting to me than listening to the same oldies over and over. Unless he's playing something obscure, then it gets my attention.

Still a great show, but almost more because of when the music ISN'T playing than when it is. 

That's interesting, I like both the information and music.  I enjoy some of the more secondary hits that I haven't heard in years and some of the older cancon that never gets played.  What I have noticed is that quite a few of the requests on the show are B hits as well, which is interesting.

Some requests from listeners wouldn't normally see the light of day but Ashby to his credit will play it if he has it.   I am sure some people just would prefer to hear the hits and not the other stuff.  If Bell ever cancels his show, Ashby could find a home on CBC Radio or 740 with the program.  It's different and a little quirky,  and wouldn't sound out of place on CBC radio or Zoomer. 

Damian wrote:

I agree with RA and Dale that the relative youth of the show’s producer is probably the main reason.  Remember when Roger presold ‘A World Without Love’ by Peter and Gordon and then they played the Bobby Rydell version?
The real question may be ‘Why do record companies allow their compilation cds to be contaminated with alternate versions and outtakes?’

The answer to your question is fan interest. While 12 song comps covering just the original hits will concentrate on those. There are many expanded editions. The Sundazed label specializes in releasing Mono and Stereo editions of the same album on one set with many extra cuts and outtakes. There is a demand for such among the hardcore fan base. There has been great demand for alternate takes of the Beatles and Apple has obliged.

In fact well before any of that there was the "One World" version of "Across the Universe" by the Beatles. The one with the chirping birds at the beginning and that was played regularly by CHUM FM and others. Different version than the one which appeared on Let it be and some say the better one.
 

Interesting that SOWNY participants REALLY listen to Ashby's offerings (not just "have it on" as background noize)

paterson1 wrote:

geo wrote:

Dale Patterson wrote:

   Both Ashby and Vette are more likely to play the lesser-known version    

Now that Sirius Oldies, Stingray Oldies & even AM 740's top 10 @ 10:00/11:00 evidently rely heavily on Billboard (except of course for substantial doses of CanCon) it's arguable which version from 1958 is the one oldies listeners appreciate more than another

BOTTOM LINE:    DON'T TRUST ANYONE UNDER THIRTY
 

Well Ashby as far as I know mainly uses the CHUM chart for his program, and that is great.   CHUM's chart in some ways was superior to Billboard anyway, in my opinion.  Billboard tended to be more conservative, highlighting additional MOR cuts and CHUM's often was somewhat more rock/youth oriented.    The CHUM chart was never a mirror of Billboard and also reflected regional hits in the Toronto area.  Also showcasing non cancon songs that for whatever reason were more popular in Southern Ontario.

Usually Roger will mention if he is playing another version or first version of a song.  He did this with the Supremes months ago with the first version of I think Baby Love which Motown did release but quickly put out another version that upped Diana Ross' vocals.  This second release was the song that became the hit and heard on radio.    Not everyone will appreciate or like when he does this, but he usually offers an explanation, and sometimes doesn't play the whole cut.

 

He also played a track from the mostly demo quality Stones comp Metamorphosis. I think it might have been Heart of Stone and kudos to him for that as I don't believe that track would have aired on any other area commercial station.

I don't completely disagree with you - I love hearing alternate versions of familiar songs by the same artist who made them famous. But it has to be intentional and it helps if the host notes they're doing it on purpose. Too often, it sounds like, "OK here's your request," and then they launch into a version that never made the charts. That's where I have an issue.

It quickly becomes clear that whoever is in charge either a) didn't bother listening to what they were putting on the air or b) wasn't familiar enough with the song to know the difference. 

Either way, Original Hank is correct in his earlier post - "original song/original artist is a must!"

geo wrote:

Dale Patterson wrote:

   Both Ashby and Vette are more likely to play the lesser-known version    

Now that Sirius Oldies, Stingray Oldies & even AM 740's top 10 @ 10:00/11:00 evidently rely heavily on Billboard (except of course for substantial doses of CanCon) it's arguable which version from 1958 is the one oldies listeners appreciate more than another

BOTTOM LINE:    DON'T TRUST ANYONE UNDER THIRTY
 

Well Ashby as far as I know mainly uses the CHUM chart for his program, and that is great.   CHUM's chart in some ways was superior to Billboard anyway, in my opinion.  Billboard tended to be more conservative, highlighting additional MOR cuts and CHUM's often was somewhat more rock/youth oriented.    The CHUM chart was never a mirror of Billboard and also reflected regional hits in the Toronto area.  Also showcasing non cancon songs that for whatever reason were more popular in Southern Ontario.

Usually Roger will mention if he is playing another version or first version of a song.  He did this with the Supremes months ago with the first version of I think Baby Love which Motown did release but quickly put out another version that upped Diana Ross' vocals.  This second release was the song that became the hit and heard on radio.    Not everyone will appreciate or like when he does this, but he usually offers an explanation, and sometimes doesn't play the whole cut.

 

Dale Patterson wrote:

   Both Ashby and Vette are more likely to play the lesser-known version    

Now that Sirius Oldies, Stingray Oldies & even AM 740's top 10 @ 10:00/11:00 evidently rely heavily on Billboard (except of course for substantial doses of CanCon) it's arguable which version from 1958 is the one oldies listeners appreciate more than another

BOTTOM LINE:    DON'T TRUST ANYONE UNDER THIRTY
 

geo wrote:

If Roger Ashby or Freddy Vette (who else is left?) decides to play "Early in the Morning" they may rely on Billboard and play the version that charted there in '58 by the Rinky-Dinks which was a cover for Bobby Darin.   

An Ontario-Canadian might remark "I thought that was recorded by Buddy Holly".     Indeed, the version that charted on 1050 CHUM, also in '58, was by Buddy Holly.

They sound similar.    Which is superior?    Perhaps the version with which THE LISTENER is familiar is best, eh?   

Both Ashby and Vette are more likely to play the lesser-known version by the Rinky-Dinks, because they tend toward the lesser-played cuts. Just because it's better-known doesn't make it better.