The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Ben Mulroney Plays Radio Roulette

**Posted by RadioActive** April 15, 2025 9:11 am

A fun moment at the start of Ben Mulroney's show Tuesday for radio geeks - although not for him. He began by welcoming listeners on CFPL London, then referred to the station he was on as "680."

When his producer rather quickly corrected him, he pretended there wasn't a 680 in Toronto, but observed instead there was a 680 in Ottawa called CFRA. Except CFRA is at 580.

Before this whole thing ended, he said "680" again, and then apologized to "the people who sign my paycheques."

Not a great beginning for a three hour show! Whatever frequency it's on.

**Posted by mace** April 15, 2025 9:45 am

Perhaps Ben was never a DXer. Any DXer I know is familiar with what station is on each frequency. When something unusual is heard on a frequency, the excitement begins.

**Posted by Binson Echorec** April 15, 2025 9:56 am

mace wrote:
Perhaps Ben was never a DXer.

Hilarious! Yes, the first thing I surmise about people is "they must (not) be a DXer".

Thanks for the chuckle, mace.

Last edited by Binson Echorec (April 15, 2025 1:54 pm)

**Posted by RadioAaron** April 15, 2025 10:05 am

More than that, I don't know how someone manages to grow up in Ottawa in the 80s without "580 CFRA" engrained in his brain.

**Posted by paterson1** April 15, 2025 12:46 pm

Maybe Ben listened to CFGO in his top 40 era, and then CHEZ? CFGO was a somewhat underrated station in Ottawa that I don't think ever beat CFRA when it was a music station. His buddy Justin has talked various times about listening to CHOM when the family moved to Montreal after dad retired.

**Posted by RadioAaron** April 15, 2025 12:48 pm

For his age, for sure more likely a CFGO listener. But even if it wasn't your first choice, everybody knew CFRA. You couldn't escape it.

**Posted by Capricasix** April 15, 2025 12:53 pm

RadioAaron wrote:
More than that, I don't know how someone manages to grow up in Ottawa in the 80s without "580 CFRA" engrained in his brain.

I only lived in Ottawa for six years during the 1990s, and I still remember W1310 and 54 Rock.

My inlaws lived in Ottawa for decades, and always referred to Lowell Green as Lorne Greene 😄

**Posted by paterson1** April 15, 2025 12:54 pm

How does Bill Carrol do in the mornings on CFRA? He has been there quite a while now. I am sure CBC Radio must be top of the ratings in the morning or close to it.

**Posted by RadioAaron** April 15, 2025 12:56 pm

Capricasix wrote:
RadioAaron wrote:
More than that, I don't know how someone manages to grow up in Ottawa in the 80s without "580 CFRA" engrained in his brain.
I only lived in Ottawa for six years during the 1990s, and I still remember W1310 and 54 Rock.

My inlaws lived in Ottawa for decades, and always referred to Lowell Green as Lorne Greene 😄

As did half the city! Ha!

54 Rock was special. When they were applying to move to FM they ran IDs that said "We want a new spot on the dial....the station beside us is getting on our nerves!" That station, of course, was CFRA.

**Posted by RadioActive** April 15, 2025 1:00 pm

I picked this up a very long time ago during a school trip to Ottawa. Honestly, I don't remember anything about that journey, except this chart, which I came back with and still have. How I got this when the school never went near a mall is beyond me, but here's the evidence - even if the thing does make it look like they should be listing the top 580 best sellers.

**Posted by paterson1** April 15, 2025 1:14 pm

**Posted by BowmanvilleBob** April 15, 2025 1:54 pm

I doubt he would be listening to CFRA in the mornings as a kid in Ottawa, unless he had a thing for wheezy old gas bags like Ken (the General) Grant, Lowell Green, Steve Madeley or Hal Anthony. My guess is he'd either be listening to The Bear or CHEZ 106.1.

**Posted by RadioAaron** April 15, 2025 2:00 pm

CHEZ's was the dads' station. In my yearbook polls (that was a thing) the only stations to make the cut were Energy 1200 and 54 Rock.

Ben Mulroney Plays Radio Roulette - And Loses

mace wrote:

RadioAaron wrote:

Capricasix wrote:

RadioAaron wrote: