The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / What A Day For Local Radio To Be Asleep At The Switch!

**Posted by RadioActive** October 14, 2024 1:04 pm

If ever there was a bad day for Toronto news/talk radio stations to be in rerun mode, it has to be Monday. Can't blame them of course - nothing much ever seems to happen on Thanksgiving Day.

Until it does.

The breaking story about six Indian diplomats being expelled by Canada (or recalled by India depending on which side you believe) for allegedly being involved in serious criminal activity - including possible homicides - tied to the Indian government practically screams for local coverage, given the size of the Indian and Sikh diaspora in this city.

Yet, with the exception of 680, they're all stuck in perennial rerolls until Tuesday. If ever there was a day you might have liked to hear analysis, special guests and call-ins, it's this one. Not even CBC Radio 1 is doing anything. Because it's on Thanksgiving, there's no one around to talk turkey.

And that's a shame. Because however this ends, it's a great story and it's far from over.

**Posted by RadioAaron** October 14, 2024 1:26 pm

What’s the urgency?

**Posted by Glen Warren** October 14, 2024 1:33 pm

CBC News Channel was gearing up to carry an address by the RCMP Commissioner on the matter earlier this morning... The address / presser was slated for 11:30 am.... I assume that they are pulling clips and SOTs from this press conference...

**Posted by RadioActive** October 14, 2024 1:39 pm

Glen Warren wrote:
CBC News Channel was gearing up to carry an address by the RCMP Commissioner on the matter earlier this morning... The address / presser was slated for 11:30 am.... I assume that they are pulling clips and SOTs from this press conference...

They aired it live and so did CTV News Channel, which to CFTO's credit, also took it live on a day when they normally would not be doing a live noon news show.

RadioAaron wrote:
What’s the urgency?

I guess you've never really worked in news. It's only a breaking story when it's brand new and thereafter most of it is follow-up.

A stunning accusation of murder, kidnapping, extortion etc. involving the government of another country and the fallout that follows is huge and yes, there will be plenty of time for new revelations.

But it's only new once and that's when you want to be seen jumping on it.

**Posted by RadioAaron** October 14, 2024 1:42 pm

The public doesn’t care who’s first. The public is mostly tuned out today.

Nobody cares about inside industry BS about who was first.

It’s an interesting story, but I’ll wait until
It can be properly dealt with.

**Posted by paterson1** October 14, 2024 1:46 pm

Too early for call-in's and special guests on radio for this. CBC Radio One would have had this on their newscasts as well as 680 news. Don't imagine hardly anyone is listening to 1010 or 640 on a holiday Monday, don't they have hourly news? The TV news networks have this covered. More details on CBC, Global and City news tonight at 6pm. I agree, why the urgency?

**Posted by RadioActive** October 14, 2024 1:51 pm

Guess it's the 25 years+ I've spent in news. The impetus is to jump on something like this because it's going to be of big consequence.

It's not urgency or getting it first per se, it's the fact it should be covered because it's important. Yes, it can wait until tomorrow, I suppose.

But it's not breaking news by then. And it portends some very dark times ahead between the two countries and that was aggravated by this accusation. I, for one, would like to hear more about it now - not 24 hours later. But perhaps I'm alone in this.

I admit it's not quite the same thing, but if the CN Tower suddenly fell over on Thanksgiving Monday, would you wait until Tuesday to cover it?

**Posted by turkeytop** October 14, 2024 2:04 pm

We might see it on CTV, London news, Wednesday night. They don't run news Saturday, Sunday or holidays. Tuesday night they'll be catching up on the stories from the past three days.

**Posted by paterson1** October 14, 2024 2:07 pm

That's right, the CN Tower falling over is not the same thing. Who is waiting 24 hours? Tune in the 6pm news tonight, or listen to 680's news. People are watching NHL hockey, dare I say CFL football, baseball playoffs or visiting family and friends right now, enjoying Thanksgiving and the holiday Monday.

**Posted by RadioActive** October 14, 2024 2:13 pm

The Prime Minister and several of his ministers are interrupting their holiday to hold a press conference about this on the long weekend. That just does not happen unless it's considered extremely urgent.