The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / I Guess Exclusivity On Radio Is No Longer A Thing

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** March 10, 2025 8:04 am

Last month, Sharan Kaur sat in for two weeks on AM640 when John Oakley went on vacation.

On Sunday, she turned up as a major panelist for around five hours on CFRB's coverage of the Liberal leadership finale.

Less than 24 hours later, she was back - on 640's Greg Brady morning show doing analysis.

I know it doesn't matter anymore, but there used to be a somewhat unwritten rule that you appeared on one station as an expert panelist but not on the competition. Apparently that no longer applies. She's a free agent and can do whatever she wants.

But I'm a bit surprised that CFRB would have had her on since she's been associating herself with their biggest rival. Or that 640 would have her back so soon after she appeared for hours on 1010's airwaves.

I guess it's a new era, but I'm old fashioned that way - if you're on the guy competing against me, I don't want you on my station less than a day later.

**Posted by paterson1** March 10, 2025 9:40 am

Unless they are getting paid to be exclusive, or have a contract, the guest panelist should be free to do as they want.

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** March 10, 2025 10:41 am

paterson1 wrote:
Unless they are getting paid to be exclusive, or have a contract, the guest panelist should be free to do as they want.

You're absolutely right about that. To me, it's not the guest but the station that should consider whether they want someone who's been featured prominently on a close competitor.

As I type this, Ben Mulroney is chatting with Tony Chapman of the Chatter That Matters podcast. He also does a regular segment with John Moore on CFRB every single week. (I believe it's on Friday morning.) I wouldn't be so quick to have him on 640 when he's so closely associated with my competition. (Plus, he's not all that interesting a guest, but that's another issue.)

**Posted by paterson1** March 10, 2025 5:50 pm

Former Conservative cabinet minister Lisa Riatt has been a pundit on CTV News Network's Power Play for years. But over the last few months she also appears on CBC News Network's Power and Politics which is on at the same time as Power Play. She is on CBC this afternoon and likely will appear on a panel on CTV in a few days. Same with James Moore another cabinet minister from the Harper government appearing on panels on both news networks.

**Posted by Walter** March 10, 2025 6:08 pm

RadioActive wrote:
paterson1 wrote:
Unless they are getting paid to be exclusive, or have a contract, the guest panelist should be free to do as they want.
You're absolutely right about that. To me, it's not the guest but the station that should consider whether they want someone who's been featured prominently on a close competitor.

As I type this, Ben Mulroney is chatting with Tony Chapman of the Chatter That Matters podcast. He also does a regular segment with John Moore on CFRB every single week. (I believe it's on Friday morning.) I wouldn't be so quick to have him on 640 when he's so closely associated with my competition. (Plus, he's not all that interesting a guest, but that's another issue.)

Tony Chapman stinks. While we're on the subject of stinking, am I the only one that hates that Ronald McDonald House commercial that runs about 5 times an hour every single day, with some guy growling like a werewolf while presumably critically ill children giggle?

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** March 10, 2025 6:12 pm

Walter wrote:
RadioActive wrote:
paterson1 wrote:
Unless they are getting paid to be exclusive, or have a contract, the guest panelist should be free to do as they want.
You're absolutely right about that. To me, it's not the guest but the station that should consider whether they want someone who's been featured prominently on a close competitor.

As I type this, Ben Mulroney is chatting with Tony Chapman of the Chatter That Matters podcast. He also does a regular segment with John Moore on CFRB every single week. (I believe it's on Friday morning.) I wouldn't be so quick to have him on 640 when he's so closely associated with my competition. (Plus, he's not all that interesting a guest, but that's another issue.)
Tony Chapman stinks. While we're on the subject of stinking, am I the only one that hates that Ronald McDonald House commercial that runs about 5 times an hour every single day, with some guy growling like a werewolf while presumably critically ill children giggle?

It's a great cause, but that spot is enough to send me to the hospital!

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** March 10, 2025 7:20 pm

Just heard the first part of his podcast talking about joining the Corus network. And guess who was one of the guests - Dan Riskin, CTV's Science correspondent. Another instance of having a Bell person appear on what is now going to be a Corus show. I wonder if he'll be on again and what Bell would think of that.

**Posted by Evuguy** March 10, 2025 8:07 pm

Walter wrote:
RadioActive wrote:
paterson1 wrote:
Unless they are getting paid to be exclusive, or have a contract, the guest panelist should be free to do as they want.
You're absolutely right about that. To me, it's not the guest but the station that should consider whether they want someone who's been featured prominently on a close competitor.

As I type this, Ben Mulroney is chatting with Tony Chapman of the Chatter That Matters podcast. He also does a regular segment with John Moore on CFRB every single week. (I believe it's on Friday morning.) I wouldn't be so quick to have him on 640 when he's so closely associated with my competition. (Plus, he's not all that interesting a guest, but that's another issue.)
Tony Chapman stinks. While we're on the subject of stinking, am I the only one that hates that Ronald McDonald House commercial that runs about 5 times an hour every single day, with some guy growling like a werewolf while presumably critically ill children giggle?

Rar! Rar! Rar!

Drives me bonkers. You would think after all these years that McD would refresh that ad. And late night on 640 it is played at every ad break. A great formula to drive your listeners to change the station, IMHO.

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** March 10, 2025 8:20 pm

Evuguy wrote:
Rar! Rar! Rar!

Drives me bonkers. You would think after all these years that McD would refresh that ad. And late night on 640 it is played at every ad break. A great formula to drive your listeners to change the station, IMHO.

That's exactly what it does! I can be out walking the dog in the freezing cold and this spot - which as you correctly point out runs seemingly every ten seconds - makes me take off my gloves, reach into my pocket, and change the station so I don't have to hear it. Same with Tom's Place.

The ad is worse than the frigid air and exposing your fingers to frostbite.

There are just some commercials that drive away listeners. I appreciate they pay the freight, but what good is it if your listeners go elsewhere and never hear them or the other spots on the station?

**Posted by newsguy1** March 10, 2025 9:43 pm

The thing that annoys me about that ad is that the writers assume that is how a father plays with his sick child.
It perpetuates the stereotype that fathers only play with children when they imitate ferocious animals or monsters and they don't have much of an intellectual contribution to make.
quite frankly I also find it disturbing that a parent would put a sick child through an challenging play ordeal instead of a soothing and calm and loving interaction.
When your kid has cancer or some other serious illness the last thing you want to do is to overstimulate them.
What's next tickling your kid undergoing chemotherapy?

**Posted by betaylored** March 10, 2025 11:38 pm

Having the same experts/pundits on competing radio stations could also underscore a lack of gumption. Instead of sourcing fresh talent and giving listeners a different opinion and viewpoint, the radio stations have Mr. and Ms. Dependable do regular on-air appearances. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Tho I am absolutely a fan of Carmi and Dan and always enjoy whatever they end up talking about.

The experts who appear on sports radio are still loyal to a particular station and don't appear on the competition's shows at least as far as I know.

I'm not a fan of the Ronald McD spot either, and I'd be surprised if whoever wrote the copy is a parent. My latest ick ad is the "mega tank. mega tank! MEGA TANK!!!" one because lately it's getting a lot more airplay. It's a woman featured in the spot, talking to herself, with a second voice, her inner voice, trying to remind her about a particular printer so why is the second voice a booming, cranky male voice and an irritating one to boot!

Last edited by betaylored (March 10, 2025 11:50 pm)

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** March 11, 2025 12:04 am

And let's not forget the one about the homeless girl with the sign who raps on some guy's car window. Again, a noble cause. But the spot irritates me no end and it runs about 5,689 times an hour - or so it seems.

**Posted by RayDeeOh** March 11, 2025 8:44 pm

betaylored wrote:
I'm not a fan of the Ronald McD spot either, and I'd be surprised if whoever wrote the copy is a parent. My latest ick ad is the "mega tank. mega tank! MEGA TANK!!!" one because lately it's getting a lot more airplay. It's a woman featured in the spot, talking to herself, with a second voice, her inner voice, trying to remind her about a particular printer so why is the second voice a booming, cranky male voice and an irritating one to boot!

You beat me to the punch! I turn the radio off when I hear the Mega Tank commercial and sometimes I forget to turn it back on because I have moved on to some other activity. I think this is the third iteration of running this commercial. The first was a male and it was even worse, if that's possible.

**Posted by betaylored** March 11, 2025 10:02 pm

RayDeeOh wrote:
betaylored wrote:
I'm not a fan of the Ronald McD spot either, and I'd be surprised if whoever wrote the copy is a parent. My latest ick ad is the "mega tank. mega tank! MEGA TANK!!!" one because lately it's getting a lot more airplay. It's a woman featured in the spot, talking to herself, with a second voice, her inner voice, trying to remind her about a particular printer so why is the second voice a booming, cranky male voice and an irritating one to boot!
You beat me to the punch! I turn the radio off when I hear the Mega Tank commercial and sometimes I forget to turn it back on because I have moved on to some other activity. I think this is the third iteration of running this commercial. The first was a male and it was even worse, if that's possible.

guess we could say this spot Mega Tanks... 😁