The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / CTV Had Best Election Coverage, CBC Not So Much

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** February 28, 2025 8:26 am

It's very subjective but I have to say tuning around Thursday night, I looked at almost everyone, but finally settled on CTV's election coverage. The graphics were easy to read, continually updated, the set wasn't cluttered and it was fun to see radio's Bill Carroll and John Moore on the analysis panel, And of course, there was Vassy Kapelos, which is always an advantage.

I had no idea analyst Scott Reid was so tall - you rarely see him standing up. But he towered over Siobhan Morris at PC HQ on the show.

Global was second in my estimation, with an on screen layout that didn't hurt the eye.

My biggest surprise was the CBC, which I thought was the least watchable of the big three. (City TV stayed with regular programming and I couldn't be bothered with its 24/7 online channel.) The on-screen layout I found hard on the eyes, they seemed behind on the results vs. the others and their panel was restrained and - sorry CBC - at times, boring.

The other stations beat them handily. Again, just my impression. Yours may vary.

Didn't really get to the radio, but since CFRB was simulcasting CTV's coverage, they would have been my choice. I was surprised that 640 stayed with Ben O'Hara-Byrne's show even after the polls closed and only picked up Global's programming later into the night.

The radio stuff was really unfortunate. With both of the talkers relying solely on TV audio, we got a ton of "As you can see,.." and "look over here and you'll notice..." No matter how many times they try this, it doesn't and never will work on an audio-only medium. But I guess it saved them money and overtime, so there's that.

**Posted by mace** February 28, 2025 8:57 am

I too spent most of the evening watching CTV coverage. However, I thought Steve Paiken did an excellent job hosting TVO's coverage. Their screen graphics were easy to read. However, Deb Hutton was the only name I recognized from their panel of experts. I only sampled CBC once and their screen layout did not look good. CHCH was fine but since I don't live in Hamilton, Halton or Niagara, the results there were of little interest to me.

**Posted by Shorty Wave** February 28, 2025 9:18 am

I agree that CTV’s coverage was the best of the lot, clean graphics, decent pundits, I enjoyed that John Moore, Bill Carroll and Sabrina Nanji were involved, rarely see them since they’re radio folks.

The one criticism I have is that when flipping around between channels, twice I watched interviews on CBC’s coverage where on the big screen in the background, CTV’s coverage was airing. The camera person should have repositioned so as to not have the competition’s broadcast in the BG. During my Citytv days, you would not have see that!

**Posted by paterson1** February 28, 2025 10:09 am

CTV had the best and easiest coverage to watch IMO. They also localized the results on their various stations which was a nice touch. CHCH in Hamilton also did a great job with excellent graphics and a surprising number of reporters reporting live. When I tuned in a few times the independent station was blowing through the results without a hitch and they had a knowledgable couch panel.

CBC's coverage was alright but not as engaging as CTV, CHCH or Global. I watched CBC the least. TVO also had decent coverage last night.

**Posted by Aytononline** February 28, 2025 3:03 pm

I'm not sure what CBC did, but CTV at least did try to have something from the different parts of there radio and TV stations. Toronto, Kitchener and Ottawa had there 6pm news anchor at a local riding from each station. They also had a reporters in Niagra Falls ( CKBT Radio but the reporter was from CP24), Windsor ( this would cover both talk radio and TV) and Parry Sound ( this might cover tv stations in Barrie and Sudbury)

The only improvement they could have made was to have someone from TBT in Thunder Bay

**Posted by haydenmatthews14** February 28, 2025 7:01 pm

I know CTV London and CTV Windsor did their local coverage. But from what I understand Stefanie Masotti did the Windsor news from London last night and at 11 they had both Carlyle and Stefanie at the anchor desk with the video board behind them in the middle. But other then that CTV London’s coverage was not bad ether.