The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum » AM 640 & CFTO Both Fail During Much Hyped “Tory Tolls” Speech

RadioActive · November 24, 2016 2:12 pm

I can certainly understand why things aren't always perfect when there’s breaking news. If something important happens, you take what you can get. But there’s far less excuse when you had nearly a day to prepare and you still miss the boat. Or in this case, you might call it "for whom the road tolls."

Like many stations in town, all morning AM 640 was going on and on about John Tory’s controversial plan for tolling of the Gardiner Expressway and the DVP. They even pledged to take his announcement of the idea live, something they rarely do. But when Tory started to speak, AM 640 was deep into a commercial set, even though they knew very well that the speech was scheduled to start at 12:40 PM – which it did.

But after missing the start of the speech, it got worse. When they finally joined it in progress, the sound was nearly unlistenable. Although the Toronto Board of Trade has a very good sound system, 640’s feed was way off mic, sounding more like someone was holding up a cell phone in the next room trying desperately to catch the words. They had the whole day to prepare and apparently that was the best they could do. Incredible, especially when there was a board feed available. I know that, because CFRB’s version of the speech was crystal clear

After letting this go on for about 20 minutes, 640 finally dumped out of it, just as Tory was finally getting to the point. For its part, 'RB let the entire thing air until it ended at 1:04 PM.

Meanwhile over on CTV, they also chose to take the speech live on their noon newscast, after hyping it repeatedly early in the show. But when it came up and Tory began reviewing how we got here – without actually making the big reveal – CFTO took about five minutes of the blather, then interrupted before Tory got to the point, asked an expert from the Cdn Taxpayers Federation for her opinion – then stopped her in mid-sentence, insisting, “sorry, we’re out of time, we have to go to a break and we’ll return with sports!”

Tory doing the wind-up for 10 minutes before letting go of his big pitch was completely predictable. If CTV News wasn’t going to take the whole thing, then don’t bother at all. At the very least, they could have told viewers to tune into their own CP24, which was taking the entire talk live. But they didn't even mention them.

In the end both stations really failed on what could well be one of the biggest stories of the year and something that could have lasting effects into the next municipal election. Considering they knew exactly what was coming and when, it was a pretty inexcusable performance on both their parts.

Amateur at best. A waste of listeners/viewers time at worst. All this in the number one market in Canada.

Unbelievable.

Last edited by RadioActive (November 24, 2016 2:20 pm)

unclefester · November 24, 2016 3:29 pm

I listened to Jane Brown do the 7 a.m news this morning at AM 740...

I had heard John Moore starting from about 5:45 a.m. this morning so I knew the BIG story was John Tory and his forthcoming announcement...

Man was I surprised when Jane Brown (a.k.a. Debbie Downer) led her newscast with the 11 million dollar art record auction purchase of a Canadian group of 7 painting....LEAD with it...Tory was story #2...

Last edited by unclefester (November 24, 2016 8:10 pm)

RadioActive · November 24, 2016 3:35 pm

Are you sure it was Jane Brown? I thought she was working for AM 740.

Radiowiz · November 24, 2016 4:13 pm

unclefester wrote:
I listened to Jane Brown do the 7 a.m news this morning at AM 640...

640 or 740? http://www.zoomerradio.ca/hosts/jane-brown/

November 24, 2016 6:26 pm

unclefester wrote:
Man was I surprised when Jane Brown (a.k.a. Debbie Downer) led her newscast with the 11 million dollar art record auction purchase of a Canadian group of 7 painting....LEAD with it...Tory was story #2...

Wonder if that was a foreshadowing of what was to come ?

I hope so. For those of us who own original Group of 7 [8 if you choose to include Tom Thompson...and you SHOULD] 'works' the lead story is way more important. I'm rich!!! I'm RICH!!! And, no doubt, Geddy Lee is now a multi billionaire. But I digress. Did I mention that I wouldn't give John Tory the sweat off my... ... ...oh forget it. I'm freakin' R I C H!!!

Last edited by Old Codger (November 24, 2016 6:31 pm)

RadioActive · November 24, 2016 6:30 pm

That's great! Because only rich people will soon be able to drive on the Gardiner and the DVP!

November 24, 2016 6:35 pm

But I no longer HAVE to do the driving. And the Fred Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Floodway are no longer routes which bear even a remote amount of interest in my new and expanded travels. Those routes remain in use only for the pions. Neither leads even remotely to a golf course worth gracing with my ever-improving swing.

[Although, I must admit, that 407 'thing' seems to be a needless reach into my pockets. When do I get my portion from the proceeds of the sale of a roadway I helped to bankroll back when I wasn't outdoing the Donald at the deposit window?]

Last edited by Old Codger (November 24, 2016 6:41 pm)

Radiowiz · November 24, 2016 7:21 pm

RadioActive wrote:
That's great! Because only rich people will soon be able to drive on the Gardiner and the DVP!

...said the person who refuses to pay for cable. lol

I do wish for a lot less cars, allowing for cars to move a lot faster, but then there's this thought:
What will actually happen is an overload of vans instead of cars, transporting (car pooling) people to work and back.

Hopefully more vans won't mean the same amount of traffic.
I welcome tolls-but ONLY if it delivers faster ability to get from point A to point B. (and back)

(One thing that never came up is whether or not a van should pay more than a car, lol)

unclefester · November 24, 2016 8:12 pm

RadioActive wrote:
Are you sure it was Jane Brown? I thought she was working for AM 740.

Yes...of course...you're right...AM 740 and Jane Brown...now corrected...

Last edited by unclefester (November 24, 2016 8:16 pm)

unclefester · November 24, 2016 8:14 pm

Radiowiz wrote:
unclefester wrote:
I listened to Jane Brown do the 7 a.m news this morning at AM 640...
640 or 740? http://www.zoomerradio.ca/hosts/jane-brown/

AM 740 it is/was...and Jane Brown...

Last edited by unclefester (November 24, 2016 8:17 pm)

unclefester · November 24, 2016 8:21 pm

Old Codger wrote:

For those of us who own original Group of 7 [8 if you choose to include Tom Thompson...and you SHOULD]

Oh I most certainly do !!! Tom is my absolute favourite !!!

November 24, 2016 9:27 pm

Mine too ... although I also have an affinity for A.J. and A.Y. as well. J.E.F. too if the truth be told. The 'little lady' prefers Lawren...and I like his earlier works a whole LOT as well. I also appreciate his more recent 'takes' on our mountainous landscape. Got an original Fred as well...a late winter/early spring river scene And then there's the accepted 'icon' series...perfectly recreated right down to the actual texture of the brush strokes.

The first icon series was a failure. I have a 'Tom' from that time and space hanging in our main floor pissatorium.

One of the Casson's was done a boat ride and 2 Lakes over from the old family cottage near Huntsville. A.J. spent some time on Lake Vernon and I bought the painting up in Kleinburg maybe 15 years ago. We went to the exact spot and took a photo of what it looks like 'now' back in 2005. Neat to have the two to compare.

So John Tory news? It pales by comparison. He means nothing to me except that he was an obvious opportunist who was willing to say whatever he thought would work without actually having to follow through in order to land a political assignment. That that tactic finally worked to his favour makes him neither unique nor an icon. [just a tory]

Kilgore · November 24, 2016 10:00 pm

Van Gogh's ear is in my freezer; should I gift it to the R.O.M. or barbecue it at Sunday's tailgate party?

November 24, 2016 10:01 pm

Was he a mayor?

RadioActive · November 24, 2016 10:14 pm

Radiowiz wrote:
RadioActive wrote:
That's great! Because only rich people will soon be able to drive on the Gardiner and the DVP!
...said the person who refuses to pay for cable. lol

My refusal to subscribe to Canadian cable has nothing to do with not being able to afford it. It's the principle of giving my hard earned money (what's left of it after the John Tory's and Kathleen Wynne's of the world are done) to companies like Bell and Rogers, which I consider unethical at best and gougers at worst. They may get your dough and you're welcome to shovel ever-increasing forkfuls of it over to Ted's Big Red Machine, and I'm glad for you that you feel you're getting a bang for your bucks.

But I chose never to give them a dime of my money simply because I consider their business practices completely immoral. And believe me, I sleep a lot better for it without feeling I'm missing any good TV - and out of the leprous grasp of the assorted Canadian cable greedmongers.

Last edited by RadioActive (November 24, 2016 10:15 pm)

Radiowiz · November 25, 2016 4:07 am

RadioActive wrote:
Radiowiz wrote:
RadioActive wrote:
That's great! Because only rich people will soon be able to drive on the Gardiner and the DVP!
...said the person who refuses to pay for cable. lol
My refusal to subscribe to Canadian cable has nothing to do with not being able to afford it. It's the principle of giving my hard earned money (what's left of it after the John Tory's and Kathleen Wynne's of the world are done) to companies like Bell and Rogers, which I consider unethical at best and gougers at worst. They may get your dough and you're welcome to shovel ever-increasing forkfuls of it over to Ted's Big Red Machine, and I'm glad for you that you feel you're getting a bang for your bucks.

But I chose never to give them a dime of my money simply because I consider their business practices completely immoral. And believe me, I sleep a lot better for it without feeling I'm missing any good TV - and out of the leprous grasp of the assorted Canadian cable greedmongers.

Your comments clearly indicate that you expect the world and everything in it to always be free free free.
You whine and complain about tolls and argue no one will be able to afford it, but you fail to suggest an alternative.
So typical of you Radioactive.
Fact is, eventually we all have to pay the piper!
The previous mayor was not any better than Tory. Rob Ford's solution was to open up casinos here in Toronto.
That idea was thrown out, but I don't doubt for a second that Doug will (if elected) restore plans to open those casinos.
He whines and complains about Mr. Tory's sudden decision to support tolls, but he never once opened his mouth about a better option...all he did is stand there and stare into a CityNews camera looking stupid crying out that Tory is a liar.
It was his great chance to suggest alternatives to tolls...ones that actually pay for things without pathetic deep cuts.
At this time, I hate to say it, but Tory is the best mayor Toronto has ever had.
(Give or take, I mean hey? Unless maybe a casino for Toronto is not a bad idea...)

RadioActive · November 25, 2016 11:15 am

Radiowiz wrote:
Your comments clearly indicate that you expect the world and everything in it to always be free free free.
You whine and complain about tolls and argue no one will be able to afford it, but you fail to suggest an alternative.
So typical of you Radioactive.
Fact is, eventually we all have to pay the piper!
The previous mayor was not any better than Tory. Rob Ford's solution was to open up casinos here in Toronto.
That idea was thrown out, but I don't doubt for a second that Doug will (if elected) restore plans to open those casinos.
He whines and complains about Mr. Tory's sudden decision to support tolls, but he never once opened his mouth about a better option...all he did is stand there and stare into a CityNews camera looking stupid crying out that Tory is a liar.
It was his great chance to suggest alternatives to tolls...ones that actually pay for things without pathetic deep cuts.
At this time, I hate to say it, but Tory is the best mayor Toronto has ever had.
(Give or take, I mean hey? Unless maybe a casino for Toronto is not a bad idea...)

Wow, there are more leaps in your logic than an Olympic high jumper.

I don’t expect anything for “free.” And I believe in paying for what I get. What I won’t do is allow myself to be ripped off by unscrupulous companies who overcharge and take advantage of a regulatory system that’s allowed them to assume absolute control of this country’s media and its distribution.

That, by the way, is not entirely their fault – they’re just playing by the rules they’re given. The fact they're allowed to control a substantial amount of both media outlets and the way it gets to your house is absolutely unconscionable and sets up a system that's ripe for gouging. And that’s why Canadians pay some of the highest cable and cell rates on earth. That’s simply indefensible. And despite the CRTC's (stocked with former executives from both of the Big Two) tepid attempts to fix things, there’s no end in sight.

I’ve never understood your constant defence of everything Rogers, but you’re certainly entitled to that opinion. I’m guessing the vast majority of Canadians would not share that feeling.

You’ve also intimated that I’m a member of Ford Nation. Not true either. The only thing I ever said about Rob or his brother during their time in power was to my newsroom colleagues, noting that it was going to be an entertaining four years and that the headlines to follow would be good for the news business. Unfortunately, I wasn’t wrong about that.

I actually like John Tory as mayor, although I disagree with his toll plans. Far better to raise property taxes, which are lower than any other place in the GTA - even though that would affect me.

I don’t usually respond to personal attacks here, but this one was so completely wrong, I just wanted to clear up these inaccurate misconceptions.

g121 · November 25, 2016 11:40 am

i'm so sick of "Ford Nation" & their simplistic blowhard leader. if we never hear from them again, it would still be too soon.

as for Gardiner\DVP tolls vs increasing property tax ..
the road tolls means some of the costs are shared by those outside Toronto who are using the Toronto roadways .. whereas the property tax option means all costs are borne by those in Toronto.

there's no perfect, pain-free option. Tory is addressing the issue. the bulk of the blame should be directed to those who neglected Toronto infra-structure maintenance\expansion for decades.

p.s. but the Road Toll option does need to include a daily max.

Last edited by g121 (November 25, 2016 11:44 am)

ig · November 25, 2016 11:44 am

What G121 said.

Wait till the shitstorm that happens when the provincial government is forced to address health care spending. City transit will look like a spit in the bucket.

the original hank · November 27, 2016 2:32 am

perhaps the mayor was hoping to drone opponents to sleep before he made the "big announcement"?

Dial Twister · November 28, 2016 2:42 pm

g121 wrote:
as for Gardiner\DVP tolls vs increasing property tax ..
the road tolls means some of the costs are shared by those outside Toronto who are using the Toronto roadways .. whereas the property tax option means all costs are borne by those in Toronto.

Given that our property tax rates already well exceed Toronto's, wait until 416ers start bumping into the tolls we're going to institute on those county roads all the way to cottage country...and back.