The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Why Did CFRB Turn To New York Radio For Comments On Ozzy Osbourne?

**Posted by RadioActive** July 23, 2025 9:06 am

I have a sneaking suspicion Joe Cristiano, John Moore's producer had a lot to do with an interview on NT1010 Wednesday morning. He used to work in New York City radio before coming here. Which may explain why they had a DJ from New York City's classic rock station Q104.3 (WAXQ) talking about the death of Ozzy Osbourne.

The question I immediately had when I heard this is: isn't there any station in the increasingly shrinking Bell Media chain they could have turned to instead? I was surprised they went to someone out of the country for comments on the rocker's death.

Granted, the jock was interesting, but surely there was someone on this side of the border that might have been just as good, especially given the tensions between the two countries. That said, it was fun to hear a voice from a different station in the world's top market. Cristiano worked at Q104.3 for 14 years, from 2003-2018.

**Posted by Binson Echorec** July 23, 2025 9:14 am

Perhaps Eric Alper and Alan Cross both said no. Kudos to the producer for leveraging his own network to bring something unique.

**Posted by RadioActive** July 23, 2025 9:46 am

I heard Alan Cross on AM640 talking about this story. I'm not sure if he'd agree to appear on a station owned by someone that's not Corus, although I believe he could if he chose to. But why would someone at Bell Media call on a guest whose voice is so well known on a competing station?

**Posted by paterson1** July 23, 2025 11:08 am

Can't remember if it was CBC News Network or CTV News Channel, but one of them had George Stroumboulopoulos talking about Ozzy yesterday. George was good, lots of tid bits about Osbourne's visits to Much Music.

**Posted by ThatEricAlper** July 23, 2025 4:06 pm

Binson Echorec wrote:
Perhaps Eric Alper and Alan Cross both said no. Kudos to the producer for leveraging his own network to bring something unique.

Hi Bison!I can’t speak for the producers, but here’s what likely happened: I did an interview on Newstalk when the story first broke around 2 p.m., and talk radio shows generally prefer not to repeat the same guest across multiple programs. So John opting for a different voice is totally understandable.I think I did around 40 interviews over the past two days, which I’m always honoured to do. I wouldn’t read too much into any one show’s guest lineup—often it’s just a matter of who spoke where on the station and when about the same topic.Best,
Eric

Last edited by ThatEricAlper (July 23, 2025 4:54 pm)

**Posted by Shorty Wave** July 24, 2025 8:25 am

paterson1 wrote:
Can't remember if it was CBC News Network or CTV News Channel, but one of them had George Stroumboulopoulos talking about Ozzy yesterday. George was good, lots of tid bits about Osbourne's visits to Much Music.

It was CBC.

**Posted by kevjo** July 24, 2025 8:44 pm

ThatEricAlper wrote:
Binson Echorec wrote:
Perhaps Eric Alper and Alan Cross both said no. Kudos to the producer for leveraging his own network to bring something unique.
Hi Bison!I can’t speak for the producers, but here’s what likely happened: I did an interview on Newstalk when the story first broke around 2 p.m., and talk radio shows generally prefer not to repeat the same guest across multiple programs. So John opting for a different voice is totally understandable.I think I did around 40 interviews over the past two days, which I’m always honoured to do. I wouldn’t read too much into any one show’s guest lineup—often it’s just a matter of who spoke where on the station and when about the same topic.Best,
Eric

The fact remains they could easily have stayed within the Bell family. While they don't have much of a rock footprint in Ontario, they could have turned to CHOM in Montreal and in particular Randy Renaud. The man is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to rock.

**Posted by RadioAaron** July 24, 2025 8:49 pm

I don't care where the interviewee is as long as they're good.

Q104.3 is huge. This was obviously Joe's call, and the right one.

**Posted by Evuguy** July 24, 2025 10:08 pm

Thinking back on your grandma's CFRB; I would have liked to have heard how Jack Dennett would have covered such a story if Ozzy's death had happened back in 1975. Oh, right, they wouldn't of covered it.. Really shows how times have changed.

**Posted by kevjo** July 26, 2025 10:44 am

Evuguy wrote:
Thinking back on your grandma's CFRB; I would have liked to have heard how Jack Dennett would have covered such a story if Ozzy's death had happened back in 1975. Oh, right, they wouldn't of covered it.. Really shows how times have changed.

Of course it does. most 1010 listeners at that time wouldn't know or care about hard rockers so the story would have no relevance to them. Naturally now, the large portion of listeners to 1010 grew up with the likes of Ozzy so it's right for them to cover it.