sowny.net | The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum


You are not logged in. Would you like to login or register?

April 23, 2026 8:54 pm  #1


CFRB & AM640 Feature The Exact Same Guest At The Exact Same Time

I'm sure this has happened before, but it's still a rarity. Both Newstalk 1010 and CFIQ had the exact same guest on at the exact same time - just after 7:30 PM Thursday. 

On the Last Show with David Cooper on 640, tech expert Carmy Levy was discussing the latest in tech, including A.I. 

Meanwhile, over on CFRB, there was the same Carmy Levy looking back on video games of the past. 

Levy is one of those ubiqutous guests whose services are available to almost any station that calls. Obviously one (or both) of the segments were pre-recorded. Equally odd - at the end of the NT1010 segment, host Shane Hewitt wound up doing the last part of the interview over the phone, after he lost power. 

Just another strange coincidence on a night full of them. 

 

April 23, 2026 9:40 pm  #2


Re: CFRB & AM640 Feature The Exact Same Guest At The Exact Same Time

Not to mention Vassy Kapelos' "best of" show being on both CFRB and AM 640 at the same time (the former station starts it an hour earlier, but she ends up being on both during part of the 2-hour reroll) on weekends. 

     Thread Starter
 

April 23, 2026 10:00 pm  #3


Re: CFRB & AM640 Feature The Exact Same Guest At The Exact Same Time

I recently invited Prof. Eric Kam from TMU Economics on another Toronto radio station. He apologized for having to turn me down, but this is exactly the reason he gave me for only accepting Corus invitations. I wonder what he will do if and when Corus ceases to exist?

 

April 24, 2026 7:46 am  #4


Re: CFRB & AM640 Feature The Exact Same Guest At The Exact Same Time

Carmi Levy certainly is the ubiquitous guest! I have heard him on AM1010, AM640, AM740 and even on the CBC and that’s just this market. He lives in London ON, so he is probably on-air there as well. He’s pretty informative, knowledgeable about tech and good natured, so no wonder he’s a popular pundit!

 

April 24, 2026 8:20 am  #5


Re: CFRB & AM640 Feature The Exact Same Guest At The Exact Same Time

this is just sloppy producing 

 

April 24, 2026 9:06 am  #6


Re: CFRB & AM640 Feature The Exact Same Guest At The Exact Same Time

Dparker wrote:

this is just sloppy producing 

If producers don’t share lineups in advance, there’s no practical way to know a guest is booked elsewhere unless you ask. And even if you did know, what’s the expectation here, exclusivity? Unless that’s explicitly agreed to, it’s not a reasonable assumption. Carmi appears on multiple stations because he’s valuable to listeners. That’s the only part that actually matters.



 


Madness takes its toll.  Please have exact change.
 
 

April 24, 2026 11:23 am  #7


Re: CFRB & AM640 Feature The Exact Same Guest At The Exact Same Time

Carmi Levy was back on Jerry Agar's show Friday (on a different topic.) Meanwhile, over on AM640, morning host Greg Brady had former Conservative MP Lisa Raitt on his show - and then just a few hours later, Brad Smith had her back on his program, as well. 

These guys need a new bigger virtual "rolodex."

     Thread Starter
 

April 24, 2026 12:20 pm  #8


Re: CFRB & AM640 Feature The Exact Same Guest At The Exact Same Time

Lisa is on with Brady every day.

 

April 24, 2026 1:23 pm  #9


Re: CFRB & AM640 Feature The Exact Same Guest At The Exact Same Time

jughead jones wrote:

Lisa is on with Brady every day.

Even less reason, then, to have her on twice on the same station just hours apart. Surely there are other pundits who could comment on a given issue. One of the problems some here have complained about in the past is the "dial-a-guest," the same voices on the same stations all the time. 

As a former radio producer, I can attest to how hard it is to find really good, articulate and knowledgeable guests to comment on certain issues and be available when you need them. And I can see why they keep coming back to them. But the same voices just dilute their presence, even in different dayparts. There must be other experts who would like to add their opinions. Let's give them a chance to opine, too. 

     Thread Starter
 

April 24, 2026 2:57 pm  #10


Re: CFRB & AM640 Feature The Exact Same Guest At The Exact Same Time

Carmi Levy also writes a weekly tech column in the Sunday Sun.

 

April 26, 2026 8:30 am  #11


Re: CFRB & AM640 Feature The Exact Same Guest At The Exact Same Time

Just mean less voices are being heard and stations are not separating themselves from each other