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Some Changes At 680 News Radio
Broadcast Dialogue reports some changes at Toronto's only all news station.
It says Alex Seixeiro has given up the :15 and :45 sports reports to become the co-anchor of the afternoon news run alongside Laura Carney. Pretty nice promotion.
Zack Bodenstein, whom you frequently heard doing sports updates, has switched to a more permanent sports position, getting a gig as a host on sister Fan 590.
That's the good news. The bad is that reporter Geoff Rohoman, who has been with the station since 2006, just returned from a battle with colon cancer. And in a classless move, Rogers welcomed him back by laying him off. There's no word on where he may turn up. He once toiled for AM640 in his early career, but since they've cut almost their entire newsroom, it's unlikely he could end up back there.
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Re: Some Changes At 680 News Radio
Just saw this on The Buffalo News site:
"[Meteorologist] Carl Lam is now a freelancer for 9 News in Denver and did weather reports last weekend before the Broncos loss to the Bills. He previously worked weekends at KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh for six months but has kept his full-time job in Western New York. He is a resource/budget analyst for the University at Buffalo."
Not mentioned, of course, is that he also does weather on CFTR and CKGL Kitchener on the weekends. Lam is a multi-talented and pretty amazing human being. In addition to all the stations he does weather for, and his job at UB, he's also an accomplished concert violinist.
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Thread Starter- yyzradioveteran
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Re: Some Changes At 680 News Radio
Word on the street is that Rohoman was harassing his co-workers (mainly females) and that led to his firing. He also lied about having cancer. He only had polyps removed.
- ToRon
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Re: Some Changes At 680 News Radio
roho is solid and will find a better position soon but probably in pr
Binson Echorec wrote:
I briefly worked with Alex Seixeiro. He is a good man but his wheelhouse is sports so this move seems odd. Didn't Alex also take time off recently to battle a cancer diagnosis? Why does he get a promotion while Mr. Rohoman hits the bricks?
- radiokid
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Re: Some Changes At 680 News Radio
Problem is, is that younger audience interested?
Based on 680's ratings, and demographics from those ratings, I would say on a few of your points, Yes... 25-54 and 18-34 are very much interested. They may listen on digital streaming, or in the car... but 680 is the go to for them, as well as older demos. The thing is, it doesn't matter how... it's just if they do...+ have a PPM. 680 isn't even playing in the same ball park as 1010 and 640. They are not even close to their share.
I think regular people also are not into the older style of authoritative delivery.. they want the info to be accurate, and the info they need when they want it. They also want it from voices they can relate to, especially in younger demos. I would argue 680 has found the balance based on the results in the ratings.
680 being just the news... and not the opinion goes a long way. Younger demos don't want to be told what to think. They want the facts and immediate information. The same thing is happening in A LOT of US major markets with ALL NEWS formatted stations. It's why Talk and News Talk has aging and shrinking demos mostly, while all news is growing in younger 25-54.
Last edited by radiokid (January 16, 2025 12:41 pm)
- bbqguy1962
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Re: Some Changes At 680 News Radio
I briefly worked with Alex Seixeiro. He is a good man but his wheelhouse is sports so this move seems odd. Didn't Alex also take time off recently to battle a cancer diagnosis? Why does he get a promotion while Mr. Rohoman hits the bricks?
Guess this also means Sladjana Tamindzic is out as PM anchor, which is a shame.Sladjana has been gone for many many months, along with James Monroe (sp?) That's a damn shame, but I do admit that I've always liked Laura Carney. I'm glad to see her in a more prominent shift.
I am divided on the delivery quality of all of the younger voices now on 680. They just seem to lack the gravitas of past on-air folks. Keep in mind, those who've departed from Rogers were not all older. I think Sladjana is a mid-millennial (maybe born in the 80s), but she has an experienced-sounding delivery that belies her age. Just a terrific listen. However, the younger folks have an uneasiness in their approach, and sound "green". On one hand, I miss hearing an authoritative delivery; I want the anchors to sound as though they know more than me. On the other hand, perhaps it's better that Gen Z broadcasters sound like Gen Zs, so that they can relate to, and attract, a younger audience.
Problem is, is that younger audience interested?
I'm not a radio professional but it has struck me many times that the folks they let loose on the weekends are getting credits for a high school broadcasting course. If you're broadcasting in Toronto at least learn how to pronounce the street names correctly. And isn't there coaching from management when that doesn't happen?
- KenkuKwanchi
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Re: Some Changes At 680 News Radio
Broadcast Dialogue reports some changes at Toronto's only all news station.
It says Alex Seixeiro has given up the :15 and :45 sports reports to become the co-anchor of the afternoon news run alongside Laura Carney. Pretty nice promotion.
Zack Bodenstein, whom you frequently heard doing sports updates, has switched to a more permanent sports position, getting a gig as a host on sister Fan 590.
That's the good news. The bad is that reporter Geoff Rohoman, who has been with the station since 2006, just returned from a battle with colon cancer. And in a classless move, Rogers welcomed him back by laying him off. There's no word on where he may turn up. He once toiled for AM640 in his early career, but since they've cut almost their entire newsroom, it's unlikely he could end up back there.
I noticed Alex was anchoring since last Monday with Maria Kestane. I was think why he was not doing sports on :15 and :45. Good for him though.
Surely I will miss Roho's Christmas turkey crank calls.
This is off topic, but I noticed Asher Roth became more of a permanent traffic news reporter than anchoring. He was anchoring weekend afternoons then left for 570 News covering for someone who was on mat leave, then returned as weekend morning news anchor with Christine Richey. All of a sudden, he was reporting traffic news only.
- unclefester
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Re: Some Changes At 680 News Radio
I am divided on the delivery quality of all of the younger voices now on 680. They just seem to lack the gravitas of past on-air folks. Keep in mind, those who've departed from Rogers were not all older. I think Sladjana is a mid-millennial (maybe born in the 80s), but she has an experienced-sounding delivery that belies her age. Just a terrific listen. However, the younger folks have an uneasiness in their approach, and sound "green". On one hand, I miss hearing an authoritative delivery; I want the anchors to sound as though they know more than me. On the other hand, perhaps it's better that Gen Z broadcasters sound like Gen Zs, so that they can relate to, and attract, a younger audience.
Problem is, is that younger audience interested?
Very well said Jody!
Simply spot on
- RadioActive
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Re: Some Changes At 680 News Radio
They haven't updated their "Our Team" page, which still lists Geoff Rohoman as being a staffer and Alex Seixeiro as a sportscaster.
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Thread Starter- ckg927
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Re: Some Changes At 680 News Radio
Binson: It's not unusual for sports folks to move into news. Here in Buffalo, Jeff Russo started at WKBW(7 News)in its sports department many years ago, but later on moved into the anchor chair for its 5 & 6pm newscasts.