The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Pattison media, the company we should have in the rest of Canada

**Posted by Scarboroughbluffsradiof99** January 29, 2025 11:27 am

I was listening to Pattison media's stations and podcasts, and their well put together.
Lots of cancon on their stations, real life topics on their podcasts, not just gosip and celebs.
I wish they would by up stations here in the GTA.
I love their the lounge radio station.
They play a wide variety of mostly classic hits, soft ac and oldys.
What do you think of pattison media and their content?
And should they by stations in the GTA and the rest of Canada?

**Posted by paterson1** January 29, 2025 11:56 am

For being Canada's largest radio market, I have always thought Toronto to be not that exciting. Other large and medium sized markets often are better produced and sound more engaging. CBC and Global Calgary had better news packages than Toronto what I saw last summer, and their on air people more personality.

The Pattison stations I have heard sounded great as far as I was concerned. The music was a bit different, good production and on air personalities. A few Pattison stations in Southern Ontario would shake up the market and get the Q107's and Bounce stations off of their butts.

**Posted by RadioAaron** January 29, 2025 12:08 pm

Pattison thought they could duplicate the success of NOW in Edmonton in Vancouver and Winnipeg, and being wrong about that cost a fortune. They won't entering any new markets anytime soon.

**Posted by Scarboroughbluffsradiof99** January 29, 2025 4:13 pm

But, they should.
If bell thoght out their sails right, they would have sold CKLH and others to Pattison.
I'm hopefull that WhiteOaks does a good job running those stations.

**Posted by paterson1** January 29, 2025 7:25 pm

Jim Pattison, who is worth almost $9 billion US and an independent broadcaster, can do what he wants. He owns the company. No worry about shareholders, or the board of directors. Buying two, three or more radio stations in Southern Ontario or the GTA is pocket change

His company already does business in Ontario with the Ripley Aquarium downtown Toronto, Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls and well established with Pattison Outdoor Advertising all over the province.

**Posted by RadioAaron** January 29, 2025 7:47 pm

It absolutely DOES have a board of directors. And they're not going to allow a significant investment into a category with negative growth potential.

**Posted by paterson1** January 29, 2025 8:10 pm

Yes he has a board of directors and he is the chairman, owner and CEO. He has three children, are they involved in the company or on the board? Again stations in Southern Ontario, would be pocket change. Didn't the company just buy another station in BC last year? So they must still be interested in radio with around 50 stations.

There is no evidence that there is any move to expand into Ontario for radio. But circumstances and situations can change, so anything is possible. And if they did, it would be good for radio here. It would sharpen up a few stations or broadcast groups who have gotten lazy and boring.

**Posted by RadioAaron** January 29, 2025 8:15 pm

They bought the station in Kelowna because they had to. Had they not, Bell would have, and they would have then had to compete against that station.

They didn't get where they are making bad investments.

They've also done as much cutting as the other bigs. Formats share the same playlist and VT'd talent.

**Posted by paterson1** January 29, 2025 8:39 pm

I doubt Bell cared anything about Kelowna. And they were busy unloading 45 stations last year, many in Western Canada at low prices. I don't think Bell was in the market to buy any radio outlets. If anything they appear to be exiting.

**Posted by RadioAaron** January 29, 2025 8:56 pm

paterson1 wrote:
I doubt Bell cared anything about Kelowna. And they were busy unloading 45 stations last year, many in Western Canada at low prices. I don't think Bell was in the market to buy any radio outlets. If anything they appear to be exiting.

Pattison wasn't in buying mode either. It was just an obvious move for either company, and for Bell would have increased the value of the cluster once they inevitably sold it.

**Posted by Shorty Wave** January 30, 2025 9:01 am

paterson1 wrote:
For being Canada's largest radio market, I have always thought Toronto to be not that exciting.

I couldn’t agree with you more paterson1. When I first moved to Toronto I found that radio, for the most part, was pretty safe, much like the smaller centre I moved from, the exception being CFNY, which was fairly cool back then, mind you I was in my 20s…..!

**Posted by Bristol** January 30, 2025 10:29 am

Pattison has some very talented people running their stations but every once in a while they choke. PEAK-FM in Vancouver is good example. Moved to the hinterlands of HD for a poor clone of NOW Edmonton. Glad to see it is back on analog FM and making a solid return ( hopefully in both senses of the word).