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SOWNY » Remembering A Hamilton Radio Veteran Who Passed Away In January » March 11, 2024 7:57 am

A great guy. A competitor who became a friend. Passionate about radio. Worked well into his 80's. Truly among the last of a breed of broadcasters.

SOWNY » Warren Beck » January 8, 2024 8:59 am

Just heard that an old friend Warren Beck, former News Director at CHML and Coordinator of the Broadcast Journalism Program at Mohawk College in Hamilton, passed away last night. He was 90. Visitation will be at Smith's Funeral Home, 454 Highway #8 (east of Millen Road) STONEY CREEK (905-664-4222) on Friday, January 12, 2024 from 3 - 5 and 7 - 9 p.m. Funeral Service will take place on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 1 p.m. at SMITH'S FUNERAL HOME, 454 Highway #8 (east of Millen Road) STONEY CREEK, (905-664-4222). 

SOWNY » Former CHCH News V.P. Decries Shrinking Sources Of Local News » January 1, 2024 1:21 pm

While the  tsunami of consolidation has left a scarred earth in its wake, technological change, the lifting of market ownership restrictions, and the end to the Fairness Doctrine, among other things, made those changes inevitable. It is truly sad that many of my former colleagues have had their lives upended in its wake but as we all know, the industry not driven by those with any kind of altruistic vision. The reality is the "good old days" are gone and it's pointless to lament their passing. Adapt or die. If you want change, start lobbying for it.  Every individual has the power to change things. Whether we use it is completely up to us. 

SOWNY » Local Radio Stations That Don't Exist Anymore » October 10, 2023 8:01 am

Carl Patrick
Replies: 54

Go to post

I had the distinction of working at CHNR , CHEX, CHAM and, technically, CKSL (when we shared newscasts while I was at CHAM). That's quite a scorched earth resume.

SOWNY » I'm Ready To Give Up » July 31, 2023 7:23 am

Forgive them. . .they know not what they do.

SOWNY » Tony Bennett, Last Of The Great Crooners, Gone At 96 » July 23, 2023 8:17 am

I got a chance to see him live about 12 years ago at the Royal Alex. Glad I did. About halfway through the show, he asked the sound guy to turn off his mic. He told the audience he was going to show young singers the importance of filling a room with just your voice. He sang acapella and it was truly amazing for a guy already in his 80's.
 

SOWNY » Bob Segarini RIP » July 13, 2023 8:11 am

Carl Patrick
Replies: 10

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Saw him several times playing around southern Ontario in the 80's. Gotta Have Pop is a great album. A funny, talented guy. 

SOWNY » Former Fox Execs. Apologize For Helping To Create Fox News Network » July 13, 2023 8:04 am

It's a bit like closing the barn door after the horse has bolted. They could reinstate the Fairness Doctrine, but that's highly unlikely. 

SOWNY » Bill Carroll Receives RTDNA Lifetime Achievement Award » June 16, 2023 6:32 am

Congratulations to Bill. Well deserved. I had the pleasure of working with him at CHEX for a bit. Solid broadcaster and a good guy.

SOWNY » For Fox Sake! U.S. News Network Shows Its Other Side » February 19, 2023 9:32 am

Carl Patrick
Replies: 20

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For what it's worth, and it's not much, to me, it comes down to this: truth has become malleable. Facts don't matter. The emergence of the 24 hour news cycle and its incessant need for content, combined with the concentration of media ownership, the dumbing down of news as infotainment and the seeming obsession with the cult of personality has reduced debate on anything to a tribal, binary loop: "You're wrong, and not only that, you're dangerous and not one of us". Anyone who dares deviate from the script is easily replaced. The film Network brilliantly illustrated this almost 50 years ago. But you know what they say about history. . .

SOWNY » Mendelson Joe » February 10, 2023 10:26 am

Musician and visual artist, passed away from Parkinson's this week at 78.  I remember McKenna-Mendelson Mainline getting some airplay in the early 70's on CHUM with Get Down To. Here's the link to the CBC obit

Get Down To
 

SOWNY » Sean Vedell Obit » January 6, 2023 8:43 am

Sean spent most of his on-air career at 820 CHAM, during the station's heyday in the 80's and 90's. He also spent time at CKOC. He could frequently be seen at various remotes with the Star Cruiser, when he wasn't working a swing shift.  A man with a huge heart, who loved his family and had time for anybody, especially if you wanted to talk about Rush or NASCAR. Sadly, it was that huge heart that failed him.  After CHAM, Sean spent many years as an IT specialist with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. Tragically, his death came just weeks after his daughter passed away from cancer. A celebration of life will be held tomorrow. Here is the link to the obit:

Sean Vedell Obit

SOWNY » Longtime Peterborough Broadcaster Ends 46 Year Career » August 1, 2022 8:20 am

Gord was my PD at CHEX. Great guy - I wish him well.  46 years is quite a run.

SOWNY » Local Radio Stations That Are No Longer On The Air » June 21, 2022 7:39 am

Carl Patrick
Replies: 18

Go to post

Here's two more:

CHNR 1600 in Simcoe, where I started, switched to FM as CHCD and 980 CHEX in Peterborough where I also worked, also went to FM as CKRU.

SOWNY » Veteran Newsman Wonders If CNN Can Win Audiences With Actual News? » May 10, 2022 5:31 pm

Watching CNN/FOX is like watching tag team wrestling. Every three hours they tag up and change the talking heads, but the heel stays the same. Because of the nature of the 24 hour news cycle and it's penchant/need for  drama/confrontation, neither could survive as a straight up news service. You'd also need an audience that could at least spell cat without spotting them the c and the t. . 

SOWNY » It's Embarrassing » May 6, 2022 8:44 am

Carl Patrick
Replies: 11

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Back in the day, I was at CHEX when it was still a CBC affiliate. I recall we used to get regular  pronunciation guides from Ken Haslam of the mother corp. I still managed to mangle a few local names, but I always got Saw-ooo-dee Arabia right.

SOWNY » CFRA's Bill Carroll Off The Air After Contracting COVID » April 19, 2022 7:20 am

I hope Bill recovers quickly. A good guy I had the pleasure to work with years ago at CHEX.

SOWNY » "The Honeymooners" reboot in the works - with a female lead » January 9, 2022 7:13 pm

Radio Bob wrote:

Originality is dead.  Close the lid of the coffin on your way out.

Agreed. Hollywood has run out of ideas. Coming Soon: Godzilla Goes to Washington - the first 20sec feature available only on Tik Tok. Given attention spans these days, even that may be 10 seconds too long.

SOWNY » CHML's Ted Michaels retiring tomorrow » December 15, 2021 9:53 pm

Worked with him at CHAM. Enjoy the next chapter, Ted!

SOWNY » Entertaining Game But Poor Ratings for 108thGrey Cup on TSN » December 14, 2021 8:10 am

Carl Patrick
Replies: 23

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The CFL has always been a gate-driven league -and the in-game stadium presentation is weak.  There's virtually no promotion or interest in Toronto. The Argos play in a decent stadium, but MLSE treats the team as an after thought. The league has lost generations of fans, save for aging baby-boomers, such as myself. Constant roster shuffling hurts the opportunity of fans to develop deeper attachments to individual players or their teams. The league also needs to look at ways to increase scoring - too many low-scoring games aren't helping. Until these get addressed, it doesn't matter who has the broadcast rights.

SOWNY » Will You, Did You Watch The Grey Cup? » December 12, 2021 9:03 am

Carl Patrick
Replies: 41

Go to post

As a life-long Tigercat fan, I'll be tuning in - bowl of chili in hand!

SOWNY » Radio Network Faces Dilemma After Star Threatens To Quit Over Vaccine » October 19, 2021 8:42 pm

Carl Patrick
Replies: 22

Go to post

mike marshall wrote:

Tell him it's your company, not his. Dan, you're done. Can we get you a cab. You've just voided
your contract.

Exactly.
 

SOWNY » Jazz FM has a morning show host » October 15, 2021 1:49 pm

Glad that the morning slot is filled. I enjoy listening to both Heather and Raina.

SOWNY » JWR » September 12, 2021 5:34 am

Timing, as they say, is everything. 

SOWNY » Geoff Scott Obit » August 19, 2021 7:50 am

Those of us who worked in Hamilton will remember Geoff as both a reporter for CHCH and an MP. He was also on the short-lived Global series "Shhh - It's The News"  between 1973 and 75. Here is a link to the obituary:

Geoff Scott

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