The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Peter Mansbridge and shilling money from your mortgage

**Posted by Muffaraw Joe** February 14, 2025 8:57 pm

I have been noticing the Home Equity Bank ad, featuring Peter Mansbridge, and I can't recall too many newscasters, current or former doing commercials. To me it dilutes Peter's brand. He is one the more intelligent, humorous, likeable newscasters that Canada has had. Yet doing this ad has taken away the shine and has turned into a shill.

What's your take Big Yellow?

**Posted by Hansa** February 14, 2025 9:31 pm

Earl Cameron had a travel agency after he left the National and did ads.

**Posted by Walter** February 14, 2025 9:38 pm

What's next? Bill Carroll shilling? No, wait...

**Posted by Chrisphen** February 14, 2025 9:50 pm

In a country with a nominally functional health-care system this type of prostitution should not be imaginable. Then again, Wally Crouter's last contribution to radio was slinging shill for some insurance business.

**Posted by g121** February 14, 2025 10:16 pm

So folks here would turn down paid commercial work?

**Posted by TomTV** February 14, 2025 10:36 pm

There's a ROGERS commercial running right now featuring Keanu Reeves, and I feel the same way about how doing TV commercials (especially a ROGERS commercial) really is bad for Keanu's brand. The guy should be filthy rich enough not to need to resort to this kind of shilling. I don't even think he lives a particularly extravagant lifestyle that he would need extra cash.

**Posted by cash** February 14, 2025 10:43 pm

I assume the podcast is not making money unlike another podcaster we know who is making a fortune.

**Posted by paterson1** February 14, 2025 11:23 pm

I noticed that Peter was not part of CBC's federal election coverage last time. Lloyd was also not on CTV, and both had been "guests" previously.

He doesn't owe CBC anything, or the public for that matter. In retirement, he can be as busy as he wants. If he is approached to do commercials that's up to him. For me at least it doesn't change anything regarding his news career. Peter had a great broadcasting career, a respected newsperson and anchor. What he does in retirement is up to him.

Last edited by paterson1 (February 14, 2025 11:23 pm)

**Posted by betaylored** February 14, 2025 11:34 pm

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DB9oOYlPj1s/?igsh=MWtkenR3Ymh3dWtjZw==

Lisa LaFlamme for Estee Lauder. This positive aging campaign was all over social media about five months ago.

An ad keeps the public profile going as well as helping to pay the bills.

Just think of all the Toronto Maple Leafs who don't need the coin but appear in spots. Some are well done and some... aren't.

The beard on Peter is a look I guess, but he's still Peter Mansbridge and few broadcasters can match his accomplishments.

Last edited by betaylored (February 15, 2025 12:33 am)

**Posted by ED1** February 15, 2025 2:48 am

He no longer works for CBC News, right? And I don't believe he works as a journalist in any capacity anywhere else. His podcast duties is akin to any "talk show host" on 640 and 1010 who are sometimes paid to read sponsorship lines/commercial copy on their shows.

He's free to take on commercial work and shill for anyone as long as he's really out of the journalism business.

**Posted by splunge** February 15, 2025 3:43 am

as Geddy Lee once told the hosers, "Twenty bucks is twenty bucks, right?"

**Posted by mic'em** February 15, 2025 10:06 am

All criticism aside , the commercial is actually very well done with the multiple Peters. As I approach 70, I am planning to go with a reverse mortgage , so we can live a little less stress free each month . Our kids can fight it out eventually.

Last edited by mic'em (February 15, 2025 10:07 am)

**Posted by Chrisphen** February 15, 2025 3:31 pm

In hindsight, he probs has a few alimony bills to keep up on. Horny old man.

**Posted by mojo55** February 15, 2025 3:32 pm

Peter's podcast which also runs daily on Sirius XM is so much better than any talk show on 640 or 1010. Minimal or no interruptions for countless commercials, no traffic-weather reports and Peter spenda almost a full hour discussing
an issue in depth with knowledgeable guest experts. He has a very pleasant demeanour and never talks down to his audience unlike some talk show hosts in this city. I have made it appointment listening for me on a daily basis.

**Posted by newsguy1** February 15, 2025 4:06 pm

As Peter says in the ads, "retirement is what you make it."
So he's chosen to make money shilling for reverse mortgages.
Fine... but he should not do anything more as a journalist, unless he's interviewed to reminisce about his career, or make money off a book.
As long as we understand he's over his career as a journalist.
There are those like Walter Cronkite who never left journalism.
I heard a story once that after he "retired" he was approached by some big corps, including Exxon.
He turned them all down and continues making journalistic documentaries etc without compromising his integrity.
Peter has taken another path.
At least he's promoting reverse mortgages which in some cases can be a fine financial choice.
At least he's not shilling for Ivorrmectin as a cure for Covid, or some hair growth product, like Dr. Oz

**Posted by Doug Thompson** February 15, 2025 5:08 pm

According to a Canadaland article, Peter Mansbridge has a $500,000. a year pension, based on his contract which allocated much of his CBC salary to the pension plan.

https://www.canadaland.com/mansbridge-pay/