It’s been a huge controversy for months. But now that it’s here, you’d be hard pressed to find a mention of it anywhere on any of Toronto's radio airwaves. It’s the infamous lack of SimSub for the Super Bowl, which has already involved court challenges from CTV and the NFL, an appeal to both Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau, a partial excuse for huge layoffs at Bell Media and more. So it's a pretty big deal.
 
Yet, turn on the radio Sunday on the day the game airs and there’s not been a single mention of this roiling controversy anywhere. It’s as though it's election day and newscasters are deliberately ignoring that you’re supposed to get out and vote.
 
This is not a surprise, of course. Bell Media would rather keep silent than talk about Fox’s coverage being allowed here for the first (and perhaps the last) time. According to an interesting article in Friday’s Globe and Mail, Bell is going out of its way to ignore the ruling:
 
“CTV has been promoting its broadcast more than usual, and on-air talent on its networks are being encouraged to mention the CTV broadcast when discussing the Super Bowl. (This does not apply to news staff, the company says.)”
 
And yet, despite that last caveat, their news seems to be scrupulously avoiding it, as well.
 
I’ve listened to a few newscasts on Rogers’ 680 News on Sunday, and while they can’t ignore that the game is a go, there’s not even a single mention of where to watch it or who’s showing it. Also not a surprise, although I suppose they could take a dig at arch-rival Bell by reminding viewers the thing is also airing unsubstituted on Fox.
 
I've only heard one Corus cast, and they didn't mention it, either.
 
It makes perfect sense, of course, except that you have to wonder if that old bugaboo about corporate interests interfering with news reporting is on display here. This is a big deal – the first time in more than 40 years in Canada that there will be two feeds of North America’s largest sporting event.
 
Yet every station is maintaining radio silence. This is not really much of shock, of course, but to me, it’s far more interesting than the game itself.  

Last edited by RadioActive (February 5, 2017 2:34 pm)