A breath of fresh air went off the air today: Talk 1410 has been turned into a sports talk radio station. (Just what we don’t need!)
Here’s the statement issued by owners CHUM Radio … ….
“CHUM Radio Vancouver is the company that owns and operates 103.5 QM/FM, The Beat 94.5, TEAM 1040 and this station, CFUN-AM, better known until now as TALK 1410. CHUM Radio is a very proud and successful company in the radio business. CFUN-AM is the very first radio station that CHUM owned in Vancouver, and this station has enjoyed many glorious years of broadcasting heritage in the Lower Mainland – and we fully intend to keep it that way.
In 1996 CFUN’s very successful run as a music station came to an end and it began its life in the talk radio world. Since that time we as a company have continually and aggressively endeavoured over the years to grow the size of listening audience, and even though the effort has certainly been there, the results have shown us that our business model for CFUN must change – and the time for that change to happen is now.
To those who have listened to TALK 1410 through the many ups and downs of the talk format and changes in styles and personalities…we sincerely thank you and we also sincerely thank the advertisers who have supported the radio station as well over the past years. I truly hope you will give our new station a try, but I also will understand if you decide that it is not for you.
We will be the new home for world class sports personalities including Jim Rome, Dan Patrick, Bob McCown and the best of the best ESPN sports insiders. We will broadcast every BC Lions game, from pre-season to playoffs, and hopefully, all the way to the Grey Cup. Along with that, you’ll be able to listen and join in the conversation with extensive pre and post game shows for all of the Lions games. 1410 is now the new and permanent full time home for BC lions football in Vancouver, and that starts tomorrow night with the crucial, must win game against the Eskimo’s at BC Place. If you’re going to the game, take your radio and you can follow all the action as only Rick Ball & Giulio Caravatta can describe it, right here on TEAM 1410.
If you missed the Canucks game on TEAM 1040…you can now catch game replays on 1410. And when it comes to big games and live sporting events that you want to hear, but just can’t seem to find; 1410 is the place. More NFL football…more English premier league and UEFA champions league soccer…more major league baseball…more NBA, more NCAA college football and the bowl championship series, NCAA march madness basketball and the Final 4. We’ll even take you to huge sports events such as the Masters, the British Open and the Daytona 500, that up until now couldn’t regularly be found or enjoyed on local Vancouver radio.
Very soon, each weekday will start with a complete half hour highlight show that you can hear between 6am and 9am. Get your scores and highlights on TEAM 1410 and then join B Mac and Scotty Rintoul on TEAM 1040 to talk about it.
The new 1410 is now on the air. This is the company that brought full time sports to Vancouver with TEAM 1040. And because we can’t cover it all with just one station…we now proudly bring you, the TEAM 1410.
For more information on TEAM 1410 and TEAM 1040, visit www.teamradio.ca. For more information on 103.5 QM/FM, visit www.qmfm.com. And for more information on The Beat 94.5, visit www.thebeat.com.
Sincerely,
James Stuart
Vice President & General Manager
CHUM Radio Vancouver
57 responses so far ↓
1 Norman Farrell // Nov 5, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Doing news talk well is expensive if alternatively, you can deliver foreign content and Canadian sourced reruns and duplicate coverage at little cost. What happened to the old rules that required licensees to live up to commitments made to secure monopoly broadcast rights?
Most professionals (doctors, lawyer, engineers, accountants, etc.) earn initial qualifications and then complete continuing professional development programs that prove they always meet licensing standards. Broadcasters get licensed by making various commitments then throw those in the garbage and do whatever they choose without threat to permits.
Every license to use public airways should be for a specific term awarded after an open bidding competition. It’s obvious here that CHUM places little value on the AM1410 frequency. If someone else guarantees greater public benefit, they should have opportunity to use this channel.
CHUM is following the lead in Seattle where KIRO710 became ESPN Seattle. Canned sports programs are available at little cost and attract a small audience but one that is young, male and not too bright – an audience of brain dead guys that need a 400 HP, 4-door, one ton 4×4 to drive to the neighbor beer store.
I know 24 hr traffic reporting is already taken, but why not a 24 hr. weather station? Where is radio’s creativity?
2 Laila // Nov 5, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Gee, exactly what we need- another all sports station- NOT!!
My regards to Simi, and what a loss for local talk radio. When Simi took to the air, it was the first time in ( I don’t honestly know how long) that I started hearing something honest and thought provoking about important issues that somehow never make it to CKNW.
And of course, it was a treat hearing you as well, Harv.
I wish like heck that someone would make an investment in local talk radio, with hosts and topics that could make a difference.
3 Mike C // Nov 5, 2009 at 10:10 pm
After spending multiple millions of dollars building a new transmitter site for both 1040 and 1410, I can’t imagine how they feel adding a second sports station in the market will help them recoup the costs.
The last time there were two sports radio stations in Vancouver, one became an all traffic station.
I say again, if you can’t pull a 4 share in the Vancouver market, you might as well turn out the lights.
4 Kam L // Nov 5, 2009 at 11:02 pm
What a disappointment. Finally a talk station with a bite, a small bite. I have programmed my radio away from 1410, too bad.
5 DMJ // Nov 6, 2009 at 12:44 am
I GUESS ANOTHER VANCOUVER RADIO STATION I WILL NOT LISTEN TO.
The sinister part of my brain says that Talk 1040 was getting to close to the truth about Brand-X and the corporate players could not let that happen.
What let H.O. on the airwaves dissing Bill Boring and OMG, they even let that nauseous light rail guy on too!
The public just wants to hear more of Gordo and the bland blah, blah, of Vancouver’s elites promoting 2010. The great unwashed are enemy’s of the state and should be eliminated!
6 crh // Nov 6, 2009 at 1:28 am
Sports? Boring…
I liked CFUN and will miss it.
7 Peter Clemente // Nov 6, 2009 at 1:59 am
Another stunningly brilliant programming decision for Vancouver Radio made in Toronto. After all THOSE people know what Vancouver needs in the way of Radio. Next thing they will be lobbying the government for a special tax to keep their audience starved stations on the air.
8 blaffergassted // Nov 6, 2009 at 2:29 am
Not enough bandwith – concurrent programming – with only one station?
It’s an interesting problem, but I’m sure the Americans will solve it.
9 jitters // Nov 6, 2009 at 5:34 am
Drove to work as normal listening to “talk 1410″ this morning and then *POOF* on the drive home its “team 1410″….brilliant way to get loyal listeners leaving in droves. Too bad.
10 Anne // Nov 6, 2009 at 7:57 am
I guess without Dr. Laura and George Noory I will go back to being a narrowminded man hater but on the brightside maybe I will start to love hockey.
I will gladly use my streamlink account to get Coast to Coast to my iPod and I will watch Dr–la-ura on youtube.
I will donate my radios to charity and listen to music in the car.
Goodbye CFUN old friend I will miss being nagged by the doctor and going to bed with the Nighthawk.
11 doris // Nov 6, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I’m floored! I’ve become addicted to talk radio – Simi-Joe-Dr. Joy-wining , dining and financial and health discussions and info….what will we do now?? Will these shows be on any other stations at any time ???
12 sunshine coast girl // Nov 6, 2009 at 3:59 pm
We’re surrounded by garbage – in print, on the radio, tv…..thank god for the internet!
13 Genuine // Nov 6, 2009 at 4:04 pm
the flame of democracy shoots sparks everywhere,and must be stomped,wherever they land!Raif and Harvey are a few examples of the sparks that might relight the flame and it was ordered to be stomped,thus a new sport talk station,funny how we need talk shows for a hockey team that will amount to nothing,the only reason the cunucks don’t stink is because they’re on ice!!!!!
14 Lynn // Nov 6, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Looks like Jimmy Stuart might be going back to acting.
15 Pat // Nov 7, 2009 at 3:09 am
I sure am disappointed with the change in Talk 1410, guess I will be listening to a music show while I work. Any way to find out where all the staff ends up? Sometimes I wonder who makes decisions like this. We certainly don’t need another sports station.
(Response: CHUM already has a sports station here 1040. They must think there’s more $$$ in having two ..although with 1410 now sports too …wouldnt that cut the audience at 1040? Or are they just getting a lot feed crud from Toronto? h.o.)
16 Cat // Nov 7, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Although my husband is a sports fanatic he will not be tuning into Team 1410 and has never listened to 1040. He is extremely angry that Coast to Coast will not be heard anymore (as am I). 1410 is now going to lose it’s preset in my car and on my radio at home.
What IDIOT in charge decided this was a good idea?
(Response: Apparently they are planning to concentrate on Canucks games etc on one station and BC Lions on the other. h.o.)
17 SharingIsGood // Nov 7, 2009 at 11:20 pm
It’s just one more public forum for open discussion eliminated before the Olympics.
18 newsjunkie11 // Nov 9, 2009 at 12:14 am
The clamour and fall out of CHUM’s Talk 1410′s flipping formats to Sports reminds me of Roger’s 66 CFR, an oldies station in Calgary flipping to all news radio a few years back – a move that Rogers was severely criticized for by its few remaining listeners loyal to CFR.
The complaints on all of the blogs about 1410 talk leaving… are much the same as what 66 CFR listeners said, i.e. threats of moving to another station, management were “stupid,” “who needs news”, etc, etc.
The fact remains that both 66 CFR and CFUN Talk Radio each had a small but loyal group of listeners, but when all was said and done, only 20 or so people expressed concern on the blogs about CFR leaving….much like what I see on Harvey’s site and, on the Vancouver sun site about CFUN ?
Sorry folks, but the CHUM Radio group, like Rogers, can’t run a profitable radio station with just 20 effing listeners…Maybe if several hundred of you complained, somebody would take notice, but just 20 complainants, here, and likely the same 20 who posted on the Vancouver Sun, site, as well..
In Kelowna, Pattison also got rid of its long-time news-talk format that featured many of the syndicated shows also heard on CFUN (CKOV was also a long-time, multi-million dollar money “loser”) and they turned it into a country station. And yes, a small group of about 20 people bitched about that, too !
However, two years later, B103 is still a bottom feeder and has the worst ratings in a nine station market…
Meanwhile, Astral’s AM1150 picked up the talk format from ‘OV and its kind of in the middle of the pack, ratings wise…
But AM1150 also gets a lot of complaints that it’s a station that’s primarly dull.. and for old geezers (much like talk-show host Phil Johnston? LOL) and those who are retired and have f-all to do all day, except whine and complain on Phil Johnston’s radio show ! LOL
CFUN’s talk ratings weren’t that good, either,( it was always, always, for years, under a 4.0 market share ), and coverage of breaking news and sports was acceptable, but NOT above average by any means…and certainly not like back in the 1980′s when JJ Richards ran a vary respected newsroom …
Perhaps another news/talk format will resurface somewhere else in Vancouver down the road…But, with both Rogers and Corus Vancouver slashing its newsrooms and on-air to the bone, this past year and Global Vancouver teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, I doubt whether we’ve seen the last of the format flips…or even cuts in staff…anytime soon (although it can’t get any worse than a sports station laden with network shows and U.S. sports programming that nobody wants to hear).
(Response: How totally bleak! But likely very accurate. As I mentioned in a response to previous comment, clearly CHUM believes there’s a greater audience and more $$ in sports than in talk. The only caveat I have is that Talk 1410 wasn’t given a fair chance..only a few months ..and I understanding its audience was growing. CKNW has shown there is a very profitable market for talk radio ..I believe Talk 1410 could have succeeded if given some time and promotion. h.o.)
19 newsjunkie11 // Nov 9, 2009 at 12:35 am
Yes, Harvey, a bleak picture, indeed !
Well, there IS a legitimate concern about Talk 1410′s closing that I happen to agree with.
The concern (not limited to CHUM Vancouver, but also, affecting Rogers Vanncouver, Corus Vancouver and even Global Vancouver) is that most corporate decisions about Western Canadian radio and televion stations are made by “easterners” or those living EAST of British Columbia…
That is the saddest reality, even though like yourself, I am born in Montreal and proud to be a Montrealer…in fact…
(Response: Oui…on est fiere de Montreal! BUT unfortunately you are right about people back East making decisions that have drained/slashed and exploited Western media resources. I rue the day Canwest Global (from Winnipeg origianlly but I believe largely run from Toronto now) took over BCTV ..and in my view, have since destroyed it and almost everything it stood for in terms of leading edge news journalism ..and the anchor to a highly profitable and successful WIC network of t.v. stations across the country . h.o.)
20 the dude // Nov 9, 2009 at 4:31 am
Well… Welcome to vancouver… BC that is. home of gambling, online, in casinos and bars amd 7-11′s. lets face it and lets tune our TV to the 2 sports stations on the televisions. They both have for abot 10% of their airing: Full time gambling from some casinos.
Most bars in the lower mainland (profit ungry) have either 4 or 8 big screen TV’s. All around. 1/2 of them have (when the canucks are not playing) violent sports and the other 1/2 are lotery screens. People sit like sombis. the same at your /11 or Macs, people are like zombies looking at the lotery screens…
So only to recap what Norman Farrell said:
“Canned sports programs are available at little cost and attract a small audience but one that is young, male and not too bright – an audience of brain dead guys that need a 400 HP, 4-door, one ton 4×4 to drive to the neighbor beer store”
by the way all your neighbouhood beer stores now a day have lotery screens too….
21 the dude // Nov 9, 2009 at 4:38 am
to Norman Farrell:
“Liberalism is the transformation of mankind into cattle.” – F. Nietzsche
22 Jean // Nov 9, 2009 at 5:46 am
IMHO it smells like another Vanoc/Corporate-Campbell gag order. No news, bankruptcy, and poof they’re gone, kinda. O the evils psyco dictators can do. Why complain to deaf ears, the deal is cut. Their ‘news’ and ‘talk shows’ were hardly any better than TV fluff. I will miss the Doctor talk shows tho! DICTATORSHIPS=MEDIA CONTROL/CENCORSHIP I say again….
very, very, very scary.
23 Alex Tsakumis // Nov 9, 2009 at 4:06 pm
I know I’m late into this discussion but I ruminated whether or not to engage for the reasons that may appear obvious below… Real talk radio in this city died after Rafe got off the air. It wasn’t what Rafe was doing so much as how he was doing it: He had gotten arrogant and comfy. All the fire he created had dimmed. When Bill Good came on, riding the fence became the norm, there was relatively no competition and no one thought that radio, than NW, would work. Truth be told, 1410 deserves their burial. I did two back to back shows for them, that were considered some of the best (guest host) programs they done in years. I was flooded with emails from new readers who now wanted to hear me every week. But one particular producer, who I know is the architect of 1410s demise, said to me “You know, you sound so NW, you remind me of Rafe quite a bit”. After the second show “I don’t you should be doing editorials and you shouldn’t be bashing the Premier either…” So I quit. They were not a serious line up. Simi Sara was TERRIFIC, I thought. She was a real breath of fresh air. But Joe Leary was pathetic: Tired, cranky and ill-informed. I couldn’t have been less impressed. Or with the gal and her lovely British lilt, who was either hard of hearing or had the mike turned way down low, as the shriekfest every time she was on air was unbearable. As for NW, they have no competition from anyone. BUT… If anyone was interested in having two even fairly well-known, interesting and INFORMED hosts on directly against both Bill and Christy, you’d see Good “retired” in no time flat, with Christy polishing her running shoes (although she is better now than when she started). 1410 was so down in the ratings that their last market share was 1.8. A pathetic showing. But that same King-fool producer, wouldn’t look at other people I know who would certainly have caused NW some sleepless nights, because he wanted “what people are talking about at Starbucks”. Right, the botoxed Shaughnessy divorcee, whose sole accomplishment in life is to have gotten up in the morning…what does she know about the current affairs? She thinks the Middle East is a place in Vancouver with good Italian food and the HST is something the doctor can give her a shot for, because warts on that part of the body could interfere with her social calendar… The listeners are out there, and NW market share is falling. In the key demographic of 24-55, they have lost listeners for the last seven periods in a row. They dropped to seventh in that key demographic with NO bench strength except Michael Smyth. It will be interesting to see if any of 1410 listeners help NW in the next series of ratings. They are not invincible. Stay tuned…
24 parzone // Nov 9, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Hi Harvey,
Sharingisgood makes a good point.
I feel there is ongoing effort to silence all criticism of the Gordon Campbell government.
We’ve all recognised that for a long time the press/media has been bias, to the point that they come across as a clone of Gordon Campbell himself.
There is absolutely no conscience, absolute arrogance and to hell with what the public think or want/need, we at the top will decide.
Global Sunday morning news had a short segment that discussed the political news of the week (from the legislature) but I haven’t seen it for maybe a year.
Shaw also had a similar short segment on their channel that discussed the politics of the week but has vanished for the last few months.
Now, you would think that we have lost something valuable in the removal of this political commentary on these two channels, but no, both were almost over the top with bias.
My question is……..
Can the people that work for the press/media also take compensation from the public affairs bureau in way of a (secret) contract or otherwise?
If you work for the any of the press/media in B.C., down to the lady answering the phone, YOU are part of the problem and YOU are hurting B.C.
Take some responsibility and speak out against manipulation and suppression of the REAL news.
(Response: I doubt very much ANYONE employed in the media these days would be so dumb or corrupt to take money from the PAB. As for a media bias in support of the Liberals… I agree that is the case today and have written about this … BUT what really motivates radio/t.v. station owners is $$$ ..and if there was more money/ratings in talk than sports, they would not have changed just to be nice to the Premier etc. My real concoern is that they did not give the new TALK 1410 a long enough time to build audience ratings and ad revenues. h..o)
25 Talkradio Fan // Nov 10, 2009 at 12:28 am
Re: newsjunkie11
People who compare apples to oranges are usually bananas. Your assessment of the “20 or so” disappointed CFUN listeners is way off. Take a look here and count again:
http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/soundoff/archive/2009/11/06/554950.aspx
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=154726022394
http://www.kelowna.com/forums/topic/vancouvers-cfun-talk-radio-changes-format-to-all-sports
Thanks Harvey for all of your insights and for hosting this forum.
TRF
26 A. G. Tsakumis // Nov 10, 2009 at 5:33 am
Okay, talkradio fan…
Perhaps there were more than the 20…but honestly:
1) No star talent. Except for Simi, locally, no one, not one that resonated with the public.
2) Constant meddling by the one guy responsible for 1410′s fall. No interesting editorials, no features, no special guests.
3) Same mindless producer: “Just give me a few minutes about what the weekend was like, for example, and then open up the lines. The man was INSANE. That format worked for Fred Latremouille and Cathy Baldazzi, but Jesus Murphy, that was first thing fluff ball stuff.
1410 need more than just spark. They needed a consistent line up of informed, challenging hosts, who would run circles around NW, with ease.
Know why McComb and Leslie are superb over at NW? Because they do exactly what I’m describing. Otherwise, Bill Good is lucky he followed Rafe. He’s still living off the legacy of that timeslot. Christy is better, but in the middle of a constitutional crisis, a show about tipping waiters and in the midst of the provincial govts incredibly hurtful agenda, a sex therapist to tell us what dark chocolate does to a woman’s libido.
Give me a godamned break. People want to have their minds stimulated. Most of them stopped eating Pablum when they were still in short pants!
Real radio will come, because all it will take is someone either up against Bill or Christy, and watch what happens. Particularly against Bill Good, his ratings would die within a year–guaranteed. Besides, he’s always three binders a show away from another snorefest. Oh, but it’s run soooo well. Two twenty-something reporters reading Chatelaine and People magazines, respectively.
C’mon somebody, let’s give the people what they want!
27 Talkradio Fan // Nov 10, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Hi Alex
The one point which you make (repeatedly) and that I also believe is valid is that a key management person at CFUN was a sandbag at best. (For some reason you are brave enough to criticize Leary by name, but not this manager.) It would have been his/their responsibility to create a macro formula that would guide the lineup in broad strokes, still allowing for creativity and innovation from the producers and the talent.
I basically disagree with much of what you say beyond that. The frequently created poignant, relevant content and they had leveragable, brandable talent that was just waiting to be cultivated/supported and promoted effectively.
Maliha was a blend of Howard Stern, Don Imus and Tom Leykis; 3 American radio institutions that have dominated their respective markets for the 30 or so years that I have been a radio fan. (I am from the States.) He was green, but he had the raw materials to hold an audience. He covered everything from politics and finance to local controversies, a broad spectrum. He did a great job.
I agree with you about Leary, but if he were managed better he could have been CFUN’s mini version of Casey Kasem or even Red Robinson. He has a vast knowledge of pop music history and at times was an effective interviewer. He needed better direction and proper support. How long could he have been expected to keep his enthusiasm while his employers ham-fistedly damaged the station?
Renshaw has gone from shrill amateur to charming, quirky and occasionally deft in just a couple of years. Listeners were enthralled with her enthusiasm and her sincerity. She handled the Dziekanski matter, the Olympics, various local political matters, Basi Virk, the successful Cambie Line lawsuit by the proprietor of Hazel & Co., ad infinitum with a compelling approach. She carved out a hard-to-find niche that no one believed existed and held them.
I think Sara had potential, was intelligent and had a strong personality that came through clearly, but that show needed tweaking. She could frequently come accross as shrill, obstinate, ill-informed, jumpy and harsh. It needed work or another format. Jenn Thompson was more suited, in my opinion.
Dave Brindle was born to do the nightshift. His flare for the dramatic and his activist sensibilities were conveyed brilliantly by his thespian skillset. He was just not used well. I think 3 hours might have been a bit much, too. 2 hours was perfect.
TDM’s role needed to be completely reconsidered. He is great in many ways, but it was not working for CFUN the way it could have.
Val Cole was a consummate pro who worked really well with both Renshaw and Maliha. Can you imagine how challenging that must have been? But it worked, and still could.
I didn’t think Mark Driesschen fit well at all even though he came accross as a great guy.
The producers were a mixed bag from seasoned veteran (Herman) to barely competant and erratic (Mrdeza). Factora was smart, solid, dependable, and demonstrating growth and potential. CFUN could have supported him more and reaped rewards from that for years. Houydayer was very green, but showed tremendous promise. That’s the kind of rookie every team dreams of. 5 years from now he might be brilliant. With Herman’s experience and skill, coupled with Factora’s and Houdayer’s attributes – listeners between 25 and 65 could have been effectively captured.
I could go on, Alex, but I won’t, except to say that your derision of the content as “pablum” tells me that either you didn’t tune in very much (and therefore you don’t know whereof you speak), or that you just don’t get it.
In the States every major city has multiple successful talk radio stations because the format works on every level. It has grown into an irrevocable institution that is now integrated materially with politics and daily life. The community dynamics in Vancouver are not much different than Seattle, San Francisco, Berkeley, Los Angeles, New York or Chicago (all places where I have lived and listened).
It’s *you* who needs to give *us* a god damned break.
TRF
p.s. Thanks again, Harvey, for hosting this forum. Bringing you onto her show was Simi’s smartes move. You should have your own show! (Hint: podcast).
(Response… I’m retired! Really.
h.o.
28 Mars // Nov 10, 2009 at 7:33 pm
I am so angry– coast to coast gone– should at least be kept as talk show– a lot of the coast to coast AM shows I didn’t listen to– like the way out ones– vampires- ghosts etc.– but c’mom- put in a good talk show like Bill Good has– & you’ll win over friends. I tune in now– I get static– is terrible– other stations interferring– tell me– what brought this on?? there is enough sports on –as is– nothing on 4 late night listeners–don’t need music –sports or advice peoples on at night– stop & think what U are doing– leaving us all in the lurch!!!
29 A. G. Tsakumis // Nov 10, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Talk radio fan:
Bravery has nothing to do with it, but I don’t think Stu Ferguson deserves the attention. He royally screwed up (in this writer’s point of view..h.o.)
As for your rendition of events and hosts…my theory bares out and perhaps you missed it.
A 1.8 rating with four of us, experienced and waiting and he told each of us we belonged on NW.
That means whatever he was thinking (And you are lauding) didn’t work.
I thought Renshaw was insufferable: Shrill and uninformed, while Patrick was good but would have been great on his own– but he got the boot too! Val Cole was out of her depth and Leary clearly was more interested in the beer after the show.
They had no bench strength. Simi was terrific. Very comfortable and perfect time slot.
They’re done. Just desserts. They can thank Stu baby.
30 Art F // Nov 10, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Wow, it really sucks that it takes the death of a radio station to get some passionate discussion about it. As I’m reading the dribble that Alex was spewing from his misinformed rant I started to write a retort email in my head but then after reading TalkRadioRan email I don’t think I really need to say anything.
Alex you have no idea what we had working against us. Even though everyone said he could, Fred Latremouille couldn’t save 104.9. What makes you think you could’ve save 1410. You worked 2 weekend shifts. We saved those shifts for paid shows that sold arthritis cream and fancy toilets. 1410 was never going to take over CKNW. Just like Xfm couldn’t take over CFOX and 104.9 couldn’t take down QFM, MOJO sports radio take out the Team. I could go on. We were a boutique radio format that sold results. There were a number of clients who said immediate success after advertising on our station. It’s a business after all. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to keep us going. I’m not saying that station was a perfect model by any means. I’m just saying weren’t a ponytail away from being a powerhouse station.
Thanks again to TRF – you summed it up nicely. Art
31 Al // Nov 11, 2009 at 6:34 am
Seems to me Gordy-goons called the V-Pinhead of talk 1410 and ordered to change the radio over the night from smart talk show to any dumb show format. Talk 11410 was too sharp for soft ass of today’s politician and too intelligent for this government’s small brains.
(Response: Again, I don’t believe the Premier was involved at all. It’s just a matter of $$$. h.o.)
32 Stella // Nov 11, 2009 at 8:49 am
Nice knowing you, 1410! I am stunned that such a radical format change has been imposed upon long-time, loyal listeners. What moronic, short-sighted, narrow-minded manager made this incredibly stupid decision? Let’s be realistic: How many people want to listen to sports-talk 24-7? Even arm-chair athletes crave some variety, don’t they? Incessant sports-related banter isn’t entertainment, it’s punishment.
I used to listen to 1410 several times throughout the day, but, tuning-in to this rubbish is a real turn-off. So, I’m tuning-out and switching teams … 980 is looking good. I’ll be sure to switch the numbers on my jersey to reflect just that.
33 sbonner // Nov 11, 2009 at 12:47 pm
This is just another case of Gordon campbell and his business cronied thinking they “own Vancouver and BC”-no one listens to the consumer or the market-plain stupidity!! No vancouverite needs another SPORTS NEWS venue!!
Coast to coast am is a unique program and I have listened NIGHTLY for 12 years-I also enjoyed the early morning programming with simi sara and saturday programming,,,Its a terrible pity that much of Vancouver can’t get entertainment out of the highschool gym locker.
(Response: Don’t think you can blame Campbell for this one! CHUM Radio wants to make money…and it’s clear they think sports will do it for them faster …plain and simple. h.o.)
34 Doug // Nov 11, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Interesting that just at the time that the people are finally getting to understand what Gordon Campbell is about and the pressure is mounting on his smoke and mirrors government that a talk show station that was having an effect and giving a voice to the dissatisfaction that was building suddenly goes to a canned all sports venue. They want to be the voice of the Lions (just when the Lions are at the end of their season) and the voice of the Canucks (when they tinkering on the brink of irrelevancy). I suspect that political pressure is at work here. Get ready for de Fuhr Campbell.
35 Talkradio Fan // Nov 11, 2009 at 6:47 pm
With all due respect, I don’t buy the “it’s just about making a profit” thesis. Here’s some of why:
1. Team 1040′s rating were awful (because the station was awful in most respects), and now they have to basically split that tiny, narrow, barely clung-to audience with Team 1410.
2. I have sold advertising in the media sector and I have built companies around products that I thought were marketable. As someone with this background I understand how difficult is is going to be for Team 1410′s sales team to sell this new vehicle. It’s a dubious product (more sports, American sports talk) produced by a dubious manufacturer (CHUM) in a saturated environment going up against superior competition on every level. There’s two basic approaches to sell, though – “show me the numbers” or “convince me that there will likely be valuable results”. Niether one of those approaches is going to be very convincing to potential clients in this scenario because of 1040′s historically horrible numbers and the sheer implausability that the people behind that failure will be successfull with 1410.
No sane entrepeneur could be convinced in this situation that he could sell more of the “Team 1040″ content than he could sell of “CFUN Talk”. I know that CFUN’s numbers were chronically dismal, but it is my opinion that the bulk of that is attributable to incompetant management, zero leadership, laughable marketing/promotion, insufficient format design modification – - – and then all of the serious deficiencies that organically follow from such a toxic cocktail.
Business hates a vacuum (unless it’s a vacuum business, hehehe…). Some bright entrepeneur or group is going to come into this market and decimate the competition with the right blend of content that will focus on news, talk and a smattering of sports delivered by engaging personalities. It will resemble a hybrid of CFUN and NW. Mark my words…
If this were schoolyard ball I’d say “gimme Herman, Factora, Houdayer, Maliha, Renshaw, Brindle, Cole, Leary, Oberfeld, Mulgrew and Sara; and we’ll take on all comers. I could sell that all day every day…
TRF
p.s. I included you in that lineup the way I keep chipotle powder in my spice array. A little goes a long way, but when applied correctly – it makes all the difference. Hehehe…
(Response: Glad to be on your list..at least this one.
As you know CHUM Vancouver is probably really run from Toronto. Do you really think ANY politician, especially a provincial one, is strong enough to call a station and have them not just get rid of one “problem” commentator but change their station’s whole format??? I don’t. h.o.)
36 Talkradio Fan // Nov 12, 2009 at 3:43 am
Hi Harv,
I worked on a presidential campaign in 2000 (not Bush’s) and in the process got to know a lot about the type of people who surround politicians. I learned a lot more in that short time about “the system” than I learned getting a degree in political science from the University of California.
I agree that a pol can’t usually just make a call and get something like this “done”. But sometimes an unexpected confluence of circumstances exacerbate a pol’s influence and his reach. His ability to metastacize is accelerated dramatically. I think that might have been a factor here.
Consider: a) CFUN was weak, chronically weak and near the edge of the media abyss anyway; b) CFUN has been a pretty consistent conduit for activist oriented subject matter and controversial content recently. They were starting to get really good at blowing that horn. They were booking provocative guests and in some cases even providing podcasts for the content afterward. You could easily glean their relative traction with this approach in the way that their listeners excitedly called in. c) CFUN’s hosts were virtually and vocally unanimous in their positions against the Olympics; against Campbell; against VPD/community relations for various reasons relating to what was widely considered institutional incompetence, insensitivity, and conflicts of interest; against the Canada Line business upheavals; against RCMP self-policing laid bare by the Dziekanski scandal; against VANOC itself, and against shutting down the safe injection site in Van East. And I could go on…
The confluence of circumstances was a weak, failing media outlet that caused a lot of trouble for a lot of decision makers and institutions during a time when those same decision makers and institutions have a vested and an avowed interest in whitewashing Vancouver as part of the preparation for the Olympics, all the while facilitating maximum profitability for their legion of business associates.
That’s a lot of kindling that might plausably be sparked by soft Olympic money being deployed to soften the blow that (hypothetically) a company like CHUM might be willing to take for the team. Soft money is a highly effective catalyst.
All of my arguably cynical and conspiritorial conjecture aside though, Harvey – I guess my point is just that I can see where CFUN being shuttered coincidentally makes a lot of “important” people and institutions happy at just the right time. Since I’m not much a believer in coincidences of this stripe, yes – I think it’s possible that it was intentional in that an opportunity presented itself and it was seized like a monkey on a banana.
(Response: Really interesting analysis! Of course, it’s highly subjective when you say just about every host on the station was “anti” Olympics, Campbell, VPD etc. Frankly didn’t listen to it enough to judge. I could see your scenario about soft money from a major advertising source working in many U.S. markets or even Toronto. But with NW’s dominance here on the Wet Coast, I just don’t think Talk 1410 was anywhere near influential enough to make much of an impact..yet….at least not enough to take the risk of exposure by actively interfering to effect an entire programming shift. Unless of course, they were thinking three years ahead to what it could become by the next election. Hmm!
h.o.
37 Genuine // Nov 12, 2009 at 3:59 am
I do they lost a railway Harv.
38 A. G. Tsakumis // Nov 12, 2009 at 10:51 am
Art only demonstrates why 1410 was doomed.
“We were never going to takeover NW”…
Reading the detailed ratings and taking some risks would have had NW running for cover. It would have required some investment, yes, but not a great deal.
But, as Art clearly shows, it was the attitude, the wrong one, that sank them.
It’s tough to turn things around when you don’t: Recognize potential and pick the wrong method of inching up on the competition.
Sorry Art. The silly drivel coming from so many hosts was painful, and, often times, inaccurate. It didn’t matter if it was American elections or murder-suicides, sometimes it was like listening to a bunch of college hyperbole on an early Sunday morning. Ridiculous.
Meanwhile, the higher ups slept right through the alarm.
The truth hurts.
39 Talkradio Fan // Nov 12, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Joe Leary update. I am *not* surprised…
http://www.tvweekonline.ca/joe_biz_blog/update_joe_leary_thank_you_your_support
40 Art F // Nov 12, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Well Alex – My attitude was wrong? Tell me again how we were supposed to take over NW and make them go run and hide? Just throw money at the problem and hire you and Rafe Mair? Are you kidding me?
Look at the radio market. When was the last time one of the radio companies in town put any serious money into relaunching one of the AM stations? Of course the truth hurts. Don’t you think we all wished CTV would put some money into 1410? A bus stop shelter, a billboard, a newspaper ad or anything. We had to try and build a radio station through word of mouth. Is that realistic? No, but that was the truth.
You keep talking about the ratings. Before the Team secured the rights to the Canuck broadcasts 1410 and 1040 were about neck and neck with our numbers. Yes CKNW is at the top of the heap when it comes to ratings. The biggest reason their numbers are so high is because they own the 65+ male market. Yes that is the market who is interested in politics and fish farming. But who really wants to build an audience around this market?
I can’t speak for the hosts or shows I didn’t produce but I can say for the afternoon shows I’ve produced over the past 4 years the priority was to entertain and maybe give our listeners a laugh or two. Did we achieve that? I believe we did. Did we bore the hell out of them with politics, death and destruction? Never.
(Response: They certainly didn’t seem to do much advertising or promotion of their talk format or different shows/hosts. As for those over 65 listeners .. I’m not there yet, but I think advertisers are missing out: seems to me many of the over 65 have more disposable dough (homes paid off, higher wages if working or lots of savings if retired) than the younger crowd advertisers aim for …depending on what’s being sold, of course. h.o.)
41 CFUN Mourner // Nov 13, 2009 at 12:33 am
I was one of those listeners who ‘got’ CFUN and stuck with it all the way from the start in ’96 when Pia Shandel started her show (with Nikki Renshaw as her producer!). The launch in 1996 was the first and last time CFUN had any sort of branding and promotion. Since the launch it went through more changes than a drag queen in Las Vegas.
CFUN never managed to create an identity for itself and that’s strictly the fault of the management. I wonder if Ferguson got the axe? One can only hope. Out of everyone there he deserves it the most!
Shane Foxman, Jennifer Thompson, Joe Leary and Simi Sara all did an admirable job in the morning. They were all so different and as such the audience basically went through 3 different morning shows in the space of 3 years. Nobody had the time to really generate momentum but I found each host engaging and so invested in their respective shows.
Pia Shandel had a much more consistent tenure in the midday. Love her or hate her, Pia is a personality and a unique voice. Pia lasted a decade at CFUN and that didn’t happen by accident. She had a loyal following. Had she received adequate promotion she very well could have become to Vancouver what Joan Hamburg is to New York.
Nikki Renshaw was charming and very breezy. She grew substantially as an on air talent over the years. Her “shrillness” is what makes her work! Nikki, like Pia, is a personality and that’s her calling card. It was always very clear to me that Nikki really gave a damn about the work she did.
Val Cole was very engaging. As a listener I felt very connected to her. I understood what she said, how she said it and most importantly why she said what she said. Val is the warmest host I’ve ever come across.
Patrick, well what can I say about Mr Maliha other than that he is terrific. Always affable, always ‘on’. Just one of the best. Like a cleaner Howard Stern (though I suspect that’s simply because of the CRTC!)
Dave Brindle was an interesting choice. I was not a fan of his show, but I thought he was interesting.
The syndicated shows, Dr Laura, Coast to Coast and Dr Joy Brown were very solid. Not usually my cup of tea, but they had their fans. And the fill-in hosts, namely Samantha Ferris, were a very diverse and interesting group.
And that’s the point. CFUN had interesting hosts that were the anti of CKNW. These were hosts that had a sense of humor about themselves! That’s not what killed CFUN. The fact is that Vancouver is a small market and that there’s only so much room in the city for stations of all formats. CFUN’s model was that of a niche station that sold that niche to advertisers and it often succeeded. But it wasn’t enough, simple as that. Blaming the Premier really is overkill, he’s got bigger fish to fry. It was clearly a CHUM/CTVGlobemedia decision from Toronto. They’re the same people who are dragging their heels on giving Marilyn Dennis the talk show she deserves after loyally leaving CityLine to stay at CHUM FM.
I do hope Nikki Renshaw lands on her feet in the broadcasting game if that is her want. Aside from Pia Shandel she was there the longest so I have a greater connection to her than the others who I also wish nothing but the best.
CFUN, for all the 13 years it was a talk station, always seemed like a grand experiment by CHUM to see just how niche market radio could work. It failed and that’s how business works.
As a fan, I want to thank the producers and hosts for giving me 13 entertaining years. It was an often bumpy ride, but it was often a lot of fun!
(Response: With loyal listeners like you …they must have had something to build on. Too bad they didn’t know how or didn’t want to spend the dough to do that. h.o.)
42 Talkradio Fan // Nov 13, 2009 at 6:58 pm
“Even a broken clock is correct twice a day”…
And it’s in that spirit that MontePaulsen expresses a few valid points about CFUN’s rendition to radio GITMO in this piece http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Media/2009/11/11/Talk1410Gone/
Yup, Monte makes some good points about CFUN (and some specious ones about CKNW), but the problem is the myriad issues that he gets wrong, misses the point of or just completely fails to see. To me, he epitomizes all that is wrong with The Tyee (blech!) and a lot of other supposedly alternative media entities. Just awful.
On a positive note; at least he isn’t Rod Mickleburgh.
Happy Friday the 13th! – - – TRF
43 Seeyalater // Nov 13, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Sorry, but I (and many others) stopped listening to 1410 last summer when they dumped the only decent hosts… and Simi a breath of fresh air? What?? She is so boring! Brindle? Certainly not boring but thought he was Gods gift to the world and I could only take mere minutes of listening to his sniveling… Renshaw and Leary just couldn’t pull it off w/o a cohost and WHY WHY WHY would they let go of the best of the best??? Too bad you got the boot to soon Maliha, you were my fave!
Sorry 1410- maybe you’ll figure it out when your new TEAM concept goes down the toilet.
also…. if I wanted news all the time I’d listen to 1130…. Some people enjoy light banter, but I guess that’s not allowed.
44 Gail B // Nov 14, 2009 at 3:18 am
(CFUN) sucks!!!Who wants to listen to sports at 10:00 at night!!!!You are the biggest disapointment ever!!Coast to Coast is a fabulous show.Hope you go broke!! You deserve it!!
45 Steve // Nov 15, 2009 at 1:00 am
Who wants to listen to about overpaid players is beyond me, especially all day. The Buzz was the pulse of the city, with Coast to coast gone who is going to tell the way it is, who will have the guts ? I will never turn on to this station again, hope you go under and may be bring back the kind of show what people want.
46 Kevin // Nov 15, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Who the heck at the CRTC gave them the ok to broadcast this crap . All I here is American college football . Bring back talk radio and Coast to Coast AM .
(Response: Maybe all those who are unhappy should write to the CRTC? Address: Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunuications Commission, Ottawa K1A ON2)
47 Talkradio Fan // Nov 16, 2009 at 3:24 am
I think you guys have hit on what might be a truly potent first step; approach the matter as a CRTC issue. After all – they are the regulatory hurdle that CHUM had to get through to do their deal. We have zero lecerage with CHUM anyway, and who wants them running our station after what they did? They’ll only do it again or any other selfish thing they can get away with…
We need a mass communication campaign that addresses the CRTC and any other entity that enables them to make decisions like this. The airwaves are a public trust.
(Response: Interesting question whether the CRTC gave CHUM a carte blanche to put anything on the radio they want (more sports) or Talk radio. I’ve given the address to the CRTC in previous comment: hopefully people will follow up and write, complain and question. Did they REALLY give Talk Radio a fair chance or any real promotion or advertising? h.o)
48 Talkradio Fan // Nov 16, 2009 at 7:46 pm
“(Response: Interesting question whether the CRTC gave CHUM a carte blanche to put anything on the radio they want (more sports) or Talk radio. I’ve given the address to the CRTC in previous comment: hopefully people will follow up and write, complain and question. Did they REALLY give Talk Radio a fair chance or any real promotion or advertising? h.o)”
Harv,
As an entrepeneur sensing a business opportunity here, I have begun a little due dilligence and have actually communicated at length with an insider involved in the format shift. It was my impression that the CRTC *never* gives carte blanche regarding content issues. They had to approve this content change before giving the explicit permission to make the switch.
Having the license to operate on the airwaves is not the same as, say, leasing a building where if you decide that selling pancakes is a mistake and therefore you are going to change to selling fish ‘n chips. The CRTC had to be involved and they had to approve extensive justification by CHUM for the change.
(Response: That brings me back to my original assumption ..the numbers and revenues must have been very poor. BUT I’m still of the belief they didn’t put enough into promotion and advertising. h.o)
49 Talkradio Fan // Nov 17, 2009 at 12:12 am
Right. Awful numbers (begotten of abject mismanagement) paved the way for CHUM to easily seize a s0-called opportunity (if you are buckling under the weight of 5 bags of potatoes, and someone offers you 5 more for free, is that really an “opportunity”?). The CRTC let them do it even though it makes very little business sense, and virtually no sense at all if what is in the community’s best interest (“public trust”) is the standard. Now; why would the CRTC drop the ball like that? Whose interests does it serve (besides CHUM’s)? Who oversees the CRTC? Do you see where I am going with this?
At first glance, it seems like a justifiable business move – and that’s what makes speciousness so powerful. But upon further consideration it appears quite curious, and even flouts the CRTC’s mandate; to provide what’s in the public’s best interest (inherant subjectivity notwithstanding).
I think this issue will have legs. It’s still early yet, but the shock induced paralysis is wearing off now. That which was floored is going to get up off the canvas and punch back.
History shows us that seemingly insignificant issues can prove to be most devastating. You and I watched Watergate unfold in real-time, from confusing nuisance to career killing juggernaut. My gut tells me that “CFUN-gate” is just revving up…
TRF
p.s. Deep Throat, er, “Deep Mic” – - – this is your queue.
50 sbonner // Nov 17, 2009 at 6:15 pm
I am not so sure the numbers were bad especially in the late evenings. The outpouring on line on various websites show almost 1000 comments-even noted on the Canucks website…Where’s my Coast to Coast? and hard core sportsters sheepishly admitting they liked Dr. Laura and listen to Simmi Sarah and Niki…
What about those BBM’s (hmmm??)-I have often wondered how useful or accurate they are and how really indiscript they are. There is no discussion or measurement of the “quality” of the listening audience-the dependability. And of course if political winds dictate-they can be manipulated.
In any event this CFUN change will backfire.
There were too many dedicated listeners who are not dedicated to sports-at all. There is a saturation of sports broadcasting out there all ready-and when grey cup is over…then what?
Sporters have satelite and dish. Enough said
Its a bad move and the CRTC should be ashamed for being complicit.
51 sbonner // Nov 17, 2009 at 6:34 pm
To Newsjunkie-YOU are wrong my friend!!!
I have tracked well over 1000 comments posted on about 6 websites-here are two links to consider:
There was no forum to voice a complaint-except to write to Team 1410 and I am sure their mail boxes are over flowing-1000′s of people listened to CFUN during the day faithfully and 10′s of 1000′s listen religiously in the evening.
not a mere “20″..
you can always screw with the numbers but the people are really there.
http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/soundoff/archive/2009/11/06/554950.aspx
http://www.kelowna.com/forums/topic/vancouvers-cfun-talk-radio-changes-format-to-all-sports/page/10
52 Talkradio Fan // Nov 18, 2009 at 7:28 am
Update:
CKNW has just secured a deal with Coast to Coast. Start date is TBD.
(Response: If that’s true, a lot of regular listeners will be happy. But of course we still have lost a potentially very important daytime talk forum to porivde some competition and an alternative to NW. h.o)
53 Talkradio Fan // Nov 18, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Harv,
It’s true. http://www.coasttocoastam.com/article/back-soon-in-vancouver
C2C took up 8 hours of CFUN airtime during the weekdays and more on the weekends. That’s over 33% of all of their programming locked in by a successful broadcast that dominated its timeslots. That’s a pretty big subsidy to lean on regarding the rest of CFUN’s schedule. Additionally, Dr. Laura and Dr. Brown constituted another (approximately) 20% of CFUN’s airtime being locked in. Even more subsidy.
So really, CHUM is trying to get us to believe that they could not successfully handle programming about 40% of its CFUN space with content that pertained to local issues at a time when there is an unprecedented amount of outsider interest in Vancouver (Olympics), and a tremendous amount of interest from locals for myriad reasons? They want us to believe that the niche that CFUN served could not be profitably (especially when it covered ground that no one else would touch in a way that no one else would try)?
No way. CKNW grabbed C2C in a snap because it’s easy money, taking one leg out of CHUM’s claims of “it’s only business”. My guess is that in the coming weeks/months even more will transpire to expose their speciousness.
TRF
54 merrylynn // Nov 27, 2009 at 12:02 am
I was out of town when the switch-over happened and couldn’t believe what I was hearing when I dialed 1410 on my return.
It’s all US sports! Who needs THAT?
What happened to talk? What happened to local opinion? What happened to news? To bright and engaging conversations?
The new programming is the pits.
Scratch me from the listener base.
(Response: Clearly the “minds” at CHUM didn’t realize the potential audience and revenues from talk radio with some proper hosts, breat promotion and a little patience to grow the audience. NW has been Number One for DECADES with talk radio … but the CHUM chumps opted for a much position in the ratings. Dumb move. h.o)
55 Very Disappointed!!!! // Nov 30, 2009 at 4:43 pm
HATE!!!, what you’ve done to 1410. It WAS great, now it’s BORING! Loved to turn on the radio and laugh with N&V, J&J, Simi etc. What a loss you’ve created by turning this station into a sport station. I really enjoy the Canucks and Lions but WILL NOT listen to this station anymore. Sorry, but I’m very disappointed and unhappy with this move.
56 CML // Dec 4, 2009 at 5:56 am
Another VERY disappointed fan…I rarely listened to anything but talk 1410 on the radio for the last decade or so (how long was it? I can’t even remember). The worst possible thing that could have happened is another sports station. What a terrible loss for so many of us loyal listeners. Is anyone listening to the public’s response to this?
57 Dee // Jun 21, 2010 at 8:26 pm
I miss your talk radio programs. I am completely disappointed 1410 has been converted to an all sports format. No disrespect to sports, but I hate to see the talk radio format lose ground. I agree with most of the commenters . . . another all sports radio is not necessary. Please reconsider!
(Response: I miss Talk 1410 too. Was always happy to be a guest..and never charged them a penny. Maybe one day it will return. Can’t imagine their current sports programming is a big draw. h.o)
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