RadioActive wrote:

So how did he get where he is now?

Nepotism & an inheritance from his wealthy family! 

RadioActive wrote:

Not sure that's fair. If you listen to the entire podcast, you'll hear how he made it on his own like most do, starting at very small stations and working his way up. His family's experience certainly helped because he'd been exposed to the medium from his early childhood. But I'm not sure you can claim nepotism got him where he is. From what I can tell, I earned his position and learned the biz the way most do - climbing the ladder from market to market. 

How do you think he got the money to buy stations? "A small loan of $1 million" perhaps? The guy is the heir to some family company, I forgot which but I think it's candy or something similar 

RadioActive wrote:

Perhaps. But that doesn't guarantee he'd succeed in his expensive endeavour. There's no arguing he's been wildly successful in his career and his family money - whatever it was - didn't account for that. He knows what he's doing and it shows.

Sure but that's contradictory to "he made it on his own" - there was a time not too far in the past that having a radio station was a license to print money, didn't require a lot of smarts. 

Good for you Jon.  Congratulations on where you are now and success moving forward.  So many on here bitch and complain about the giant corporations ruining radio in markets across Canada, but you are doing it right.  Local and Live as much as possible.  Thank you for being different.   
 

Just a Radio Fan wrote:

Good for you Jon.  Congratulations on where you are now and success moving forward.  So many on here bitch and complain about the giant corporations ruining radio in markets across Canada, but you are doing it right.  Local and Live as much as possible.  Thank you for being different.   
 

Corrections:
Live & local = not true.
Doing it well = doing it basic. 
Being different = paying staff half of what they make at the "big corporations" you complain about. 

As Aaron noted, I applaud him for the local journalism aspect, but let's not pretend this is some revolutionary approach. The guy has an ego that is well stroked by this board

torontostan wrote:

Just a Radio Fan wrote:

Good for you Jon.  Congratulations on where you are now and success moving forward.  So many on here bitch and complain about the giant corporations ruining radio in markets across Canada, but you are doing it right.  Local and Live as much as possible.  Thank you for being different.   
 

Corrections:
Live & local = not true.
Doing it well = doing it basic. 
Being different = paying staff half of what they make at the "big corporations" you complain about. 

As Aaron noted, I applaud him for the local journalism aspect, but let's not pretend this is some revolutionary approach. The guy has an ego that is well stroked by this board

Yes. The people who praise JON POLE here are the same who complain about homogenized branding and playlists, voice-tracking and syndication - tools he uses *extensively*.

Again, not a criticism; it's the only way to make radio work in most of their markets. It's the Cognitive dissonance that bothers me. 
 

On the contrary, I like the fact that Mr. Pole is willing to answer questions and address issues about radio from an owner's perspective. I dare say no one else can do that here. It's very generous considering the time it must take to keep all those stations running. That's not ass kissing, it's just a fact. 

Toronto Stan - I appreciate that Radio Active knows how to properly address a wealthy candy heir like myself.  Now... I'm off to helicopter to my yacht... but you already knew that.

I do know him... from prior to his radio station ownership. He was with a company designed to increase local revenue for radio & TV stations. He was extremely focused on getting the results we wanted and we did. 

I'm quite impressed with the portfolio of stations he has opened and/ or acquired. Continued good luck JON.

If you listen to the podcast, you'll hear him say he thinks the Tillsonburg station may be one of the most important in the My Broadcasting chain. 

RadioActive wrote:

I'm really not sure why you object to his postings or apparently the man himself. I don't know him from Adam, but I appreciate his unique insights because of what he's accomplished in the business. Just like I do for Chris Mayberry or David Marsden, because I know their work. Not sure why that's a problem for you, but you can, of course, choose not to read a thread about him if you choose.

The problem is you make a lot of assumptions about the work being any good, yet it's a private company in mostly unrated markets..... so we have no quantifiable reason to think there's accomplishments worth celebrating. The programming isn't any better than any other station, the pay is lower for the staff, the brands are smaller, so there's not much to learn other than that local news in an audio format works even if you have to do it from a different city. Not sure what insights you're picking up exactly, or what he gets out of being public on this forum.... anyways I just get annoyed on this board when people are out of touch with reality

Seems like a few of the know it all "professionals" that post on SOWNY are jealous of Jon and his company for some reason. Or at least it is coming across this way.  Both tend to criticize or belittle independent or smaller broadcasters.  Maybe because the smaller guys are in many ways more successful than the corporate suits and the conglomerates?

So far we haven't seen smaller companies like Whiteoaks Communications, Blackburn Media, Bayshore Broadcasting, My Broadcasting, Byrne Media, CINA Radio, VISTA, Pattison Media, Zoomer and others panic and try to unload a crop of stations, get out of the business altogether, or make thoughtless disparaging remarks about the business of radio. 

These smaller/independent companies largely are profitable, and in most cases EXPANDING and not making 50 year old excuses why they "can't compete.."  VISTA has gone from being one of the smaller independents to the largest radio owner in Canada.  That's remarkable.   

So, all the best Jon, continued success and growth of My Broadcasting...

You know torontostan, your arrogance and personal comments are getting predictable.  When people lose a debate, which you regularly do, they usually turn to childish personal comments like your posts above.  If your mindset is professional, why not act like it then.

The smaller companies by the way seem to have more of a business plan than the conglomerates that have only been cutting services, selling stations at bargain prices or closing down outlets.  Nice business plan.  Anybody can do that.



 

Last edited by paterson1 (July 21, 2025 11:06 pm)

Im so pleased you posted this feature.

My daddy was heavy into music and was a serious radio listener.

I loved radio since I was gifted a portable AM receiver (around 5/6 years old)

By 10, I had a few records and a portable  AM/FM receiver


By 12, I became a volunteer of community radio (via CHRY FM)


Never stopped rocking along the dial since 1990


I could never imagine not sharing music.

Thanks RadioActive! Salute 👉

RadioActive wrote:

Jon Pole from My Broadcasting is the guest on Broadcast Dialogue's podcast this week, explaining his radio philosophy and how he comes by it honestly - his father owned a radio station, inspiring his interest in the medium and often enlisting his young son to help him. (For the record, it was CKOB in Renfrew, Ontario back in the early 80s.) 

It might surprise you to know he hated every minute of it!  So how did he get where he is now? The answer is worth a listen if you have 52 minutes.

Jon Pole Podcast