It was a year like no other. In fact, it was almost two years in one – January – March was its own time zone, followed by the COVID catastrophe that came after that. The disaster literally went viral and affected everyone – including broadcasting. This look back at the biggest stories on SOWNY in 2020 reflects some tough times, with the hope of better ones with next year’s edition. 
 
Click on the title to go to the thread in question.
 
January 
 
Jan. 6: Ken Shaw Drops Anchor From The Good Ship CTV
 
After a remarkable 40 year plus career, CTV Toronto News anchor Ken Shaw said a final farewell to viewers, leaving in 2019, but coming back for a day in the New Year to ensure he could say he’d been with the station in four separate decades. 
 
Jan. 12: The Nuclear Emergency That Wasn’t
 
It was a quiet Sunday morning when some phones went off warning of a huge emergency at the Pickering Nuclear Power Plant. But no one knew what happened, as many were close to panic. In the end, that’s because nothing did – a training accident sent out a message by mistake, leading to a very long day for news people and those who live near the plant. There was no Emergency Alert issued on TV and radio, and some local stations were on autopilot in any case and could have missed one of the biggest stories of the year if it had happened.
 
Jan. 15: Super Bowl-ed Over
 
The best part of the game – the American ads – were no longer available on cable or satellite, after a court overruled a CRTC edict designed to let Canadians see them without simsub here. Rights holder Bell Media complained it was costing them millions in commercial revenue.  
 
Jan. 31: CRTC Refuses To Sign Off On The Great Evanov Frequency Switch
 
It was certainly creative. After years of trying to find a way to get more exposure in the Toronto market, the CRTC finally ruled on an Evanov Radio proposal to move Proud FM over to 103.9, shift CIDC from 103.5 over to 103.7 and give itself more reach into the Toronto market. It took just under two years, but the answer was no.
 
February
 
Feb. 8: CHFI Turns 60 At 98.1
 
Unlike some other Toronto radio stations, which failed to notice their own anniversaries, CHFI celebrates 60 years on the air in a big way, one of the only FM stations that was on the air before its own AM counterpart. It wasn’t the only one with candles on the broadcasting cake. TVO turned 50 the same month.
 
 Feb. 9: Desmond Cole Leaves CFRB
 
Irritant or activist, Desmond Cole does his final Sunday show for CFRB. He’s replaced by Knia Singh, a lawyer, who shares his sensibilities about racial issues.
 
Feb. 12: Christie Blatchford Passes
 
They knew she was suffering from cancer, but they never expected it would take her so fast. Even though they were aware of her illness, CFRB hosts were still stunned and saddened when Roundtable regular and newspaper columnist Christie Blatchford died from the disease. Months later, the station would still often refer to her, missing her presence. She was only 68.
 
Feb. 13: Roger Ashby Proves Everything Old Is New Again
 
When Roger Ashby retired from a record run at CHUM-FM, he promised he’d return. So when the announcement came that he was resurrecting his 1050-style Oldies Show, it was big news on SOWNY. For most, the show would prove to be a big hit.  
 
Feb. 24: The Great Repack Preview
 
It was a thread that started with this subject line: “Having Trouble With WNED & WKBW OTA In The GTA? This May Be Why.” It certainly wasn’t the most important story of the year, but as Buffalo stations headed into the last few phases of the major repack, it quickly become one of the most read threads of the year, attracting 61 posts as the process continued through the spring and summer, and getting almost 16,000 page views. 
 
March
 
March 3: How Will Coronavirus Affect TV Shows & Sports?
 
This was definitely not the biggest SOWNY story of the year, but it’s significant in that it was the first time the word “coronavirus” was mentioned on the site. It marked the moment the world changed and a new reality would take over. And we’re not done yet. It asked the question about how the pandemic would affect TV shows and sports – when they ever got back to making the former and playing the latter. The thread attracted well over 16,000 views.
 
March 11: Going With The Flow’s New U.S. Morning Show
 
The Flow becomes the latest Canadian radio station to try a U.S. import, bringing in “The Breakfast Club” from across the border. The pandemic delays the move until May, but it eventually airs here, with a ton of American political content. It doesn’t click with listeners and is gone by October, with the original morning show hosts returning to the time slot.
 
March 12: Will COVID Spoil Sports?   
 
The arrival of the virus on these shores became stamped into memory by the stunning announcement that the NBA was canceling or delaying its season. It was the first time the seriousness of the situation sank in for many. Questions quickly arose on the board that would continue as all the major leagues went silent for months – what would sports radio stations in the city do to fill all that time?
 
March 18: CBC Suspends Supper Hour And Late Night Local News
 
They blamed the pandemic, but ratings weren’t great to begin with. When the CBC cancelled local news across the country, replacing it with CBC News Network coverage, the uproar was huge. Less than a week later, they reversed course and restored the regular shows. 

It wasn’t the only big change – the CBC’s Hockey Night In Canada, an institution in this country, would become Movie Night In Canada while the NHL was on hiatus.
 
March 25: Home Not So Sweet Home
 
As COVID-19 spreads, more and more local hosts are broadcasting from their homes. For CFRB’s John Moore, it’s his basement studio. For Jim Richards, his kitchen. And Jerry Agar sits on an uncomfortable chair with a mic in front of his face, instead of standing for his whole show, as he usually does.
 
A Canadian Press newscaster uses pillows to deaden the sound as he broadcasts the news across the country from his living room. And in the U.S., on air folks are everywhere – including one who does his newscasts from the front seat of his car. 
 
It’s a brand new world hastily arranged as the virus spreads, and it’s amazing how well it all works. 
 
April
 
April 2: Bell Stations Go “Viral” Overnight
 
It was the end of “Coast To Coast” in Canada – at least for a while. Reacting to the coronavirus panic, Bell Media launched an overnight live talk show on most of its stations across the country, a nightlight for those who were up working the late shift or simply couldn’t sleep over worries about the pandemic. Jason Agnew hosted. It lasted a few months before it was cancelled. It briefly provided competition for Drex, airing out of B.C. on Corus stations country-wide.
 
April 6: Nothing To Quibi-le Over
 
A new video streaming service for use over cell phones gets a multi-million dollar launch, with some well known Hollywood types backing it as “the next big thing.” It’s gone by October.  
 
May
 
May 6: RIP Nevin Grant
 
One of the true pioneers of Southern Ontario radio and a great music and program director passes away. Nevin Grant made his reputation guiding CKOC Hamilton to success in the 60s, 70s and beyond. He was a great booster of Canadian Content and is mourned by many. 
 
May 9: Rock & Roll Heaven: Little Richard Passes
 
Not necessarily a radio story, but he played such a seminal part in the history of not only rock and roll but also Top 40 radio that it’s hard not to note the passing of performing legend Little Richard. He was 87.
 
This particular week in May was a rough one. In addition to Little Richard in that week we lost Betty Wright of “Clean Up Woman” fame, Millie Small (“My Boy Lollipop”) actor Jerry Stiller (Seinfeld, King of Queens), and former CTV talk show host Joyce Davidson, and frequent radio guest Dr. Mickey Lester, at one time a regular on John Donabie’s CFRB show. Now that was a rough week. 
  
May 22: Anchors Aweigh: From CTV To Global

It was a quick turnaround. No sooner had CTV reporter Tracy Tong established herself as a CTV reporter, then she quit for a gig at Global, hosting newscasts in three different cities.
 
May 23: Roger Ashby & The Wrong Songs
 
This is the first time this topic appeared on SOWNY, but it would not be the last. The wrong version of Peter & Gordon’s “World Without Love” is played on the new Roger Ashby’s Oldies Show, with no explanation. It was a topic that would come up over and over again, with alternate or incorrect versions of hits being played on the show.
 
May 24: Sunday Will Never Be The Same
 
After 20 years of hosting CBC Radio’s Sunday Morning, host Michael Enright announces he’s leaving the show, but will return to front something else on the network.
 
May 26: A Star Is Sold
 
It’s rare that a newspaper makes it own headlines, but the announcement that the Toronto Star has been sold for $52 million comes as a surprise to many readers. The new owners pledge to maintain its long-held liberal principles.
 
 June
 
June 2: Durham Radio Held For Ransom-ware
 
It started with an innocent question on the board: what was going on with all the Durham radio stations that were either silent or playing the same song over and over? It turned out to be a ransomware attack that left stations like KX96 and CKDO without access to their record libraries or computer systems.
 
The full story emerged the following month, with the stunning revelation that they had no back-up, a situation that effectively forced them off the air for days.
 
June 12: Marsden In A Rush
 
Toronto radio legend (and SOWNY contributor) David Marsden gets forever enshrined as an inspiration in the Rush video for “Spirit of Radio.”
 
June 21: Ben Mulroney No Longer The eTalk Of The Town
 
With his wife Jessica caught up in a tweet scandal, Ben Mulroney steps down from his nightly eTalk gig, although he remains as one of the anchors for CTV’s Your Morning.
 
June 25: Drex-it
 
After a few years doing the overnight shift on Corus’ near national Night Shift Show, original host Drex (aka Justin Wilcomes) departs for other opportunities. One appears soon – he takes over the morning shift at another Vancouver station a few months later.
 
July 
 
July 7: A New Morning On CBC Radio
 
More than half a year after Matt Galloway announced he was leaving CBC Radio 1’s top rated Metro Morning in Toronto, the Corp. finally picks his replacement. His name is Ismaila Alfa and he comes from a similar show in Winnipeg. He officially begins in August.
 
July 15: Roger, Over & Out On BT
 
After more than 20 years as a reporter, anchor for CityNews and then host of Breakfast Television, Roger Petersen leaves the show and the station. It appears the departure was not his choice.
 
July 16: Sandy Beach Calls It Quits
 
He was a fixture in Buffalo radio for 60 years, in both Top 40 and talk. But WBEN’s Sandy Beach, nearing 80, decided the time has come to hang up the headphones. His final show airs July 30th.
 
July 22: Mike Stafford Suffers Serious Injury
 
One of the city’s veterans leaves the air, when Mike Stafford suffers a broken neck after falling off a ladder while painting. He’s gone for five long months, returning in November to a show that no longer features his former co-host.
 
July 22: Sports Return, Without The Crowds
 
Pro sports disappeared during the first wave of the pandemic but slowly made a return, leaving the Raptors, Jays and Leafs all playing at once. For the first time in modern history, there were no fans in the stands (although the noise was often added in to create the atmosphere) and no crews. Broadcasters were forced to do the play-by-play remotely from Toronto studios, creating a challenge they’ve never encountered before. 
 
July 30: Bye Bye Brucie
 
Cousin Brucie shocks Satellite XM listeners when he announces the coming Saturday night show would be his last after 15 years with the service. He advises fans to “stay tuned” for a coming announcement, which turns out to be a mini-bombshell – he’s returning to the place that made him a legend, WABC-AM for a new oldies show that airs every Saturday night.
 
When the show proves to be a hit, WABC’s new owner hires former hitmaker Tony Orlando to do a two hour show of his own that same night, followed by Joe Piscopo of SNL fame, who takes on a Frank Sinatra tribute show in the months that follow.
 
August
 
August 17: The Brady Bunch
 
Greg Brady sits in for Mike Stafford while the latter is off on a very long sick leave. He becomes the de facto morning show co-host for the next five months.
 
August 26: Haines Makes You Feel Good All Over
 
CTV’s Avery Haines is chosen to replace Lloyd Robertson as host of one of Canada’s longest running TV shows, W5.
 
 September
 
Sept. 2: Cogeco A No-Go For Rogers
 
Despite repeated attempts by Rogers to take over Cogeco cable, the family rejects and fends off the offers, keeping the company away from the huge conglomerate.
 
Sept. 22: And Now The Backyard News
 
After coming into contact with a suspected COVID patient, an isolating CTV national anchor Lisa LaFlamme sets up a mini-studio in her backyard and does the news from there for two weeks, another incredible moment in the virus’ assault on 2020.
 
October
 
October 14: G98 Gets New Owner – And Controversy
 
After months of turmoil and financial problems following the death of its owner and founder Fitzroy Gordon, CKFG (aka G98.7) is sold. The station, one of the few in the GTA specifically targeted at a black audience, is sold to a non-black owner, much to the dismay of many in the community. 
 
October 20: Limbaugh In Limbo
 
Rush Limbaugh is one of the must hated, loved and successful broadcasters on the air, but questions remain how long that can last, as the veteran host admits on his show he has Stage 4 terminal cancer and does not know how long he has left to live.
 
October 29: Bye City, Hello Canada
 
Ginella Massa, the first anchor to wear a hijab on Toronto television, leaves City TV for a bigger audience at CBC News World and a nightly show.
 
November
 
November 2: Radio Turns 100 – Or So They Say
 
In an anniversary that had been a century in the making, KDKA Pittsburgh celebrates 100 years on the air as a commercial radio station. Other outlets make the claim they were actually there first, including WWJ Detroit. CFCF Montreal, once known as XWA, signed on in 1919, but was off the air by the time it would have reached that milestone.
 
November 3: CanCon Streams – Whether You Want Them Or Not
 
There’s controversy on Big Yellow, after the federal government confirms it plans to force outside streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ to produce Canadian content on their platforms – and make it abundantly clear that it’s there.
 
November 5: Spoil Sports On ESPN
 
In one of the biggest mass firings of the year, American sports network ESPN cuts 500 jobs in one day. It’s part of a cost cutting move and it won’t be the only organization that wields the axe in the COVID era.
 
November 8: Alex Trebek Is Gone
 
It was almost inevitable, but it was still very sad – veteran Jeopardy! and former Canadian TV host Alex Trebek succumbs to the pancreatic cancer he’d been fighting for months. His last official appearance as host of the game show comes early in the New Year.
 
There’s no permanent new host named, although former GOAT contest Ken Jennings will move into the slot at least temporarily when new shows air in 2021.
 
 November 18: An Ex-89X As Windsor Station Changes Format
 
Talk about a complete reversal – veteran new rock station 89X in Windsor, which attracted a decent-sized audience in Detroit – stuns listeners by announcing it’s switching to a new format – and admitting most won’t like the change. At noon the next day, the rock gets replaced by country. And indeed, its cadre of loyal listeners are not pleased.   
 
November 25: Jack Will Not Be Not Nimble
 
In a major surprise, WBUF-FM in Buffalo, the long time Jack format there, switches to modern rock, sparking some interesting reactions from posters and listeners. It will not be the last time the Jack format gets jacked in 2020.
 
November 27: Yer Out! Mike Wilner Suddenly Let Go At Sportsnet
 
There’s still no explanation why a veteran of the Blue Jays broadcasting team is suddenly let go from Rogers with no real warning. In a statement, Wilner admits he is “heartbroken” but grateful for having been able to live his “absolute dream.”
 
November 27: 640 Morning Co-Host Suddenly Quits Over Online Threats & Station Support
 
It was a moment listeners of GNR640’s morning show never expected. Supriya Dwivedi suddenly quits in a tearful on air goodbye, after revealing threats were being made online against her newborn child. Soon after, a VICE article reveals she feels let down by the attitude of owner Corus, saying she didn’t feel they took the issue seriously.
 
December
 
December 3: Jack Off In Ottawa
 
In an unexpected move, Rogers flips its 1310 News to an FM signal, while retaining its AM roots. That pushes Jack FM off the air, as a game of musical chairs format switching takes the capital region by surprise.   
 
December 7: Mike Back At The Mic
 
After eight months of recuperation for a serious neck injury, Mike Stafford returns as sole host of the GNR640 morning show. It comes just over a week after his former on air partner resigns over online threats and feelings of non-support from the station owner.
 
December 13: Pam Stops Sticking With City TV
 
Was she pushed out or did she leave on her own accord? The answer isn’t clear, but what is, is that veteran City TV reporter and anchor Pam Seatle announces her retirement on the station’s weekend show. She’d been with the station for decades.
 
December 27: Bell Makes A "MOVE"

In a major shake-up at the very end of the year, Bell Media rebrands 10 radio stations across the country, using the name MOVE. The shake-up includes stations in Vancouver, Ottawa and St. Catharines. 
 
There’s a lot more news to come in 2021. But the biggest story is you – because this site wouldn’t exist without those who read it and those who post here. Thanks for all your contributions in 2020. Whatever the headlines are when you read the next “Year In SOWNY” in December 2021, let’s hope the word “COVID” isn’t anywhere to be seen. Have a better New Year!