Renato Zane takes over as the new boss at City Montreal

There is a new sheriff in town at City Montreal. More than a year after Bob Babinski left the TV station as head honcho of on air activities, his place has finally been filled by industry veteran Renato Zane.

I sat down with Zane at City’s McGill College Avenue’s headquarters. He is by means no newcomer to Rogers Media, having worked for the company for an impressive 32 years out of Toronto and Vancouver. For he and his wife Patricia, Montreal turned out to be a nice opportunity as their daughter Lisa studied at McGill and settled down here. They also have a son, Davide, who resides in Toronto.

Renato Zane with Catherine Verdon Diamond,

Babinski was the true poppa of City Montreal, personally selecting all of the staff who would lead Breakfast Television and Sportsnet Central. Talent-wise, he did a formidable job as Alexandre Despatie made a seamless transition from Olympic athlete to morning show co-host along with Joanne Vrakas. Wilder Weir is a true “star” as live eye reporter and host of Sportsnet Central while Catherine Verdon Diamond delivers traffic and weather with flair. News reporter Laura Casella is solid. Currently on maternity leave, her replacement Aalia Adam has shown great initiative with her special series on Montreal’s municipalities and boroughs. Let’s not forget Elias Makos, who offers up insight into social media no other media outlet in the city can hold a candle to. Behind the scenes, producers like Melanie Porco and Kelly Albert are top notch. Check out Aalia's fan page at https://m.facebook.com/Aaliaaadam.

“We really want to connect with our communities,” Zane said. “Our Live Eye really gets out there. Wilder was recently at a swimming club and I was pleasantly surprised to see how many families came out at 6 a.m. to be part of a live broadcast. That is how we must continue to build a following. I hope that as a whole we at City can continue to improve our content so we can be truly reflective of what Montrealers expect from a morning show.”

Sportsnet Central Montreal, which airs Thursday evenings at 6:30, remains a work in progress. Babinski originally hired TV vet George Athans as the producer. But last spring Athans and reporters Sean Coleman and Kelly Greig were let go. The latter two bounced back nicely; Coleman with CTV Sports on weekends and Greig as the new morning reporter at rival Global News. Athans already had a successful business of his own.

“For now we do not have the resources to do in-depth documentary style reports as before,” Zane says. “It is more of a talk format with panelists discussing the topics of the day. It is still very much a show that is evolving. By the end of September we will have a better idea of where we ae going. We’d  like to involve more points of view, perhaps from minor sports organizations.”

I suggested  to Zane that Sportsnet  NHL play by play caller John Bartlett and studio host Chantal Desjardins be integrated into the program as they are right in the thick of things.

Because I have a television in the kitchen, I among those people who thrives on watching morning TV while I eat my breakfast. In the case of City, you can actually live stream Breakfast Television from any device. I watch both BT and The Global Morning News, switching back and forth and catching up on clips later from their website. We are so lucky as Montrealers to have quality shows like this that make an effort to connect with the community, yet the  ratings are very weak.

Initiatives like the  one Adam took to do her series  on municipalities and boroughs can only help bring in new viewers. “That series was completely Aalia’s idea and I completely support it,” said Zane. “We’d really like  to do more of those type of things. There is a bit of fatigue among viewers regarding negative broadcasting.”

As for Zane himself, he spent the previous three years as the director of news and public affairs for  Omni TV in Toronto. Prior to that he had another three year run as general manager of City and Omni TV in Vancouver. For the first 25 years of his association with Rogers he was a jack of all trades, serving as a reporter, anchor, producer and news director.

The days are long in this new job of his. He gets up in enough to time to start watching BT Montreal at 6 a.m. and makes his way from his downtown apartment to the studio by 8 a.m. so he can observe the final hour of the program in the trenches. There is a daily meeting to review the day’s show and plan the next one, individual face to face meetings with members of his staff of about 20 and a lot of back and forth with head office. He usually heads home  by 6 p.m.

“I am excited to be here,” Zane says. “When my boss Jordan Schwartz asked me to come to Montreal last fall to meet the team I felt right away that there was an exciting dynamic. I actually started this job here in late spring, going back and forth, and we settled here in July.”

Bob Babinski resurfaces as part of City/Sportsnet NHL coverage

One of the really nice guys in the sports television business has resurfaced in a new/old role as Rogers gets set to launch it $5.2 million, 12 year deal of covering the National Hockey League. We are talking about Bob Babinski, who left his post last summer as executive producer for City TV's year old Montreal station. He has signed on as a content producer with Rogers and will be heavily involved with the much anticipated Hometown Hockey Community Celebration with Ron MacLean each Sunday night on City as well as the traditional Hockey Day  in Canada in  February.

Babinski was recruited for this role last summer, but chose now to go public with it. His sudden departure from City Montreal and Breakfast Television stunned his adoring staff, but he believes it was the right decision. "I am very proud of what I accomplished there," Babinski says. "My main job was completed and that was the selection of a staff and getting things going."

Babinski did indeed choose well. The fact the same on air staff remains intact is positive to begin with. Alex Despatie, Joanne Vrakas, Catherine Verdon Diamond, Laura Casella, Wilder Weir and Elias Makos are supported by an outstanding team behind the camera. Ratings for local morning TV have never been strong here. But with NHL games now about to air on City that should allow for more Breakfast TV commercials to be showcased. Ditto for the weekly sports magazine show, hosted by Weir. Chantal Desjardins has joined Sportsnet as a local correspondent while John Bartlett will handle play by play for Rogers regional broadcasts of the Canadiens - two more high profile individuals City could benefit from.

Babinski, Chantal Desjardins and PJ Stock

"I still watch Breakfast TV," says Babinski. "I am really proud of the team I assembled. They are all developing very well."

Back to his new job, Babinski says he is returning to his first love. Following a number of years as a sportscaster for CBC Montreal, from 1994 to 2000, he enjoyed great success as a freelance producer for many special events such as the Vancouver Olympics, the FIFA World Cup and Hockey Day in Canada.

"I already know Ron MacLean from  my previous experience with Hockey Day in Canada, so that makes the move easier," Babinski says. "Right now I am really busy travelling back and forth to Toronto and working on the content we will use for Hometown Hockey where we will visit a different community in Canada every Sunday. We'll be on at 6:30 p.m. leading up to the Sunday game of the week and then have additional hits during the intermission. Ron is totally engaged with this format."

Babinski was recently in Toronto, hopping a plane with colleagues Desjardins and PJ Stock, for the Rogers NHL Summit. "This was a series of meetings to introduce ourselves and get set for the rest of the season," he says.

Stock, the former NHL tough guy, was outstanding on Hockey Night in Canada and I am happy to see him part of the Rogers team.

Hockey Day in Canada will be broadcast live from Halifax on February 14 and Babinski says work is well underway for the 13 hour program.

Away from the rink, Babinski has also launched a business whereby he serves as a performance trainer for clients who want to express themselves more effectively - either in front of a camera, at a conference, or in a boardroom. "My training program is called 'Babinski's reflex,'" he says.

City`s Breakfast Television makes impressive debut

City Montreal's Breakfast Television made its much anticipated debut on Monday,  August 26 and I must say it was very impressive.  Co-hosts Alexandre Despatie and Joanne Vrakas looked as if they had been on the air together forever; Laura Casella was on the  scene of a fire and reporting like a grizzled veteran; Catherine Verdon-Diamond showed all of her charisma and beauty, delivering solid weather and traffic updates; the handsome Wilder Weir was on the street, handing out gifts to viewers and interviewing the likes of Alouettes defensive star  Kyries Hebert and Patrice Bernier and Jeb Brovsky of the Montreal Impact; and Elias Makos did a series of sportscasts with Despatie and kept on top of the social media scene.  The team concluded the broadcast by accepting a large cake from the Sheraton Montreal on Boulevard René-Levesque.

Despatie and Vrakas

I must say I was surprised how much at ease Despatie was in this his first show. Yes, he has a lot of on air experience from doing interviews, serving as an analyst and acting roles, but this is different. He and Vrakas bounced off each other with ease. I particularly liked to see Vrakas  reading tweets from her Ipad and there appeared to be lots of traffic.

 

"I am delighted  by how quickly and cleanly the team came out of the gate," said  executive producer Bob Babinski. "The chemistry that was so evident in rehearsals immediately resurfaced when the clock struck 6. Alex is confident and charming. Joanne's range is ridiculous, and she's funnier than I thought. And a shout out to Catherine, who handled our one technical mistake with aplomb- underscoring how comfortable she is in this new environment."

Over at the Global  Morning News, there was a significant new development. Co-anchor Richard Dagenais wore a tie for I believe the first time since the show went on the air last January. He was rejoined at the desk by Camille Ross, who looked smashing and rested  in a red dress following a brief holiday. Noticeably absent is  weather specialist and correspondent Jessica Laventure, who returns from holiday September 3.

 

Ross, Dagenais and Laventure

My recommendation to the anglophone television viewing community is to watch both shows like I do. Give them your support. At a time when the minority Parti-Québecois government is preaching intolerance and threatening the rights of the anglophone community, we should consider ourselves lucky that not one but two national networks have decided to grace us with local morning shows. Turn the TV on at breakfast. In the case of City, you can even watch BT streamed live on your computer. Global Montreal posts highlights of its show online.

If the Global Morning News team wants to do something cool, bring Montreal favorite Leslie Roberts back to broadcast his new 30 minute (9 a.m.) morning show from his old stomping grounds. And of course, have him join Richard, Camille and Jessica for a few hours.

Everyone in the media will tell you that competition is good. That is why it will be fun to watch these two shows square off against each other.

 

Laura Casella leaving CJAD for City Montreal Breakfast TV

Laura Casella

City Montreal has rounded out its on air team for the new Breakfast Television Show, which will debut here towards the end of August. Laura Casella is leaving her post as morning reporter on CJAD to assume similar duties with City.  Alexandre Despatie and Joanne Vrakas are the co-hosts of the new shoe while  Wilder Weir has already been announced as the live eye reporter, meaning that he will be on location speaking with Montrealers from the city’s diverse communities. Casella will be on site for the day's top news story, just as she is with CJAD each morning.

Casella has been with CJAD for six years, starting off as an overnight newscaster, then producing the Tommy Schnurmacher Show.  For the last two and a half years she has been the morning reporter. She does have TV experience though, having worked part-time for CTV Montreal.

I have been touting Casella as a logical choice for full-time TV duty for some time now. She is attractive, poised and an individual with good people skills. A graduate of Dante Elementary School and Laurier Macdonald High School in St. Léonard, I will make a pitch to have Laura broadcast live from one or both of those spots some time in the future.

City Montreal executive producer Bob Babinski has built a strong team, both in front of and behind the  camera, as he prepares to face off against the Global TV Morning News.

“Breakfast Television will combine local news, weather and traffic with the biggest celebrity interviews, community happenings and lots of big ticket giveaways,” promises Babinski.

CJAD news and program chief Chris Bury now must find a replacement for Casella. How about bringing Dan Laxer back for that role? He has been a good soldier since being let go when Aaron Rand was hired. Laxer still co-hosts the Trivia Show and fills in on  other shifts. This could also serve as an opportunity to take advantage of the de facto merger with TSN 690. Robin Flynn has actually been working for both CJAD and TSN 690 for the better part of  a year, producing, doing sportscasts and traffic. She is a real talent and might be a good fit, although her first love is really sports.

Dan Laxer

 

City Montreal makes key behind the scenes hire in Feldman

When City Montreal's new Breakfast Television program debuts at the end of August,  head man Bob Babinski promises a show with lots of fun. Well, he has just made one heck of a hire in Jeffrey Feldman as a supervising producer.

Jeffrey Feldman

Feldman has spent the past nine years as a  producer for CTV's eTalk, using his endless array of contacts to bring the show everything and anything occurring in Montreal.    "During my time on the show, I have had the great fortune of working with outstanding people both at CTV Montreal and, of course, the dynamic team behind Canada's number one entertainment show," he said in an email to friends and family. " Not a single day passed when I didn’t consider myself tremendously fortunate to be in a position to meet such interesting people from all walks of life and all over the planet.  I still can’t believe I was able to work with, and get to know, members from two former Canadian Prime Ministers’ families."

Of course Feldman is talking about eTalk co-host Ben Mulroney and former Quebec correspondent Sophie Gregoire, the wife of Justin Trudeau.

Feldman says he met just about every A-lister, living legend,  actor , Olympian, singer, comedian, super model  - even royal family members.   " I have infinite appreciation for the publicists, agents, directors of marketing,  assistants,  interns plus the other unsung heroes who surround all these personalities and big ticket events on a daily basis to make things actually happen.  I will be forever enriched and humbled having experienced these moments." 

Feldman is actually a Torontonian who came here as a publicist, moved back to his hometown,  and then returned in September 2006 to take the eTalk gig.

Babinski has signed a star. 

We can now report that Olympic diving champion Alexandre Despatie and CBC's Joanne Vrakas will co-host the show, with  Beaconsfield's Wilder Weir serving as the roving reporter, He also a co-host of the Montreal Connected sports program. Here are all of the details courtesy of the magnificent Fagstein blog.

New City Montreal TV sports show announces local hosts Lozoff and Weir

Weir and Lozoff

The first significant announcement from City Montreal has been made. When the new 30-minute weekly sports magazine show Montreal Connected  premieres on Thursday, May 30 at 7 p.m.  Sportsnet reporter Alyson Lozoff of NDG and television personality Wilder Weir from Beaconsfield will serve as co-hosts. A press release says that the English-language program will take audiences beyond the game highlights for an in-depth look at the city’s professional and amateur teams, along with athlete profiles and feature stories on local, national, and international sports.   

Following the May 30 premiere, Montreal Connected will air Thursdays at 7 p.m.  with encores on Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. on City Montreal. Beginning June 1, Sportsnet East will air Montreal Connected on Saturdays at noon ET.

"Montreal is a great sports city, and Montrealers support not only their pro teams but embrace amateur and collegiate sports as well,” said Scott Moore, President, Broadcast, Rogers Media. “With in-depth coverage and exclusive access to the city’s illustrious sports scene, Montreal Connected offers audiences a unique perspective on professional and amateur sports with a Montreal-centric view, plus a look at stories of interest at the national and international levels.”

 "It's a dream come true!" Lozoff told me. "Montreal Connected will offer Montrealers a unique view of its sports teams, athletes and events among other experiences and I am thrilled to be there every step of the way leading them on the adventure!"

Lozoff was born and raised in NDG. She first discovered her passion for sports broadcasting when she worked as an in-game host during Montreal Canadiens games. Officially hooked on the gig after reporting live from the Red Bull Crashed Ice finish line, Lozoff joined Sportsnet in 2012, regularly covering the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Alouettes, and Montreal Impact. A lawyer in Ontario and Quebec, Lozoff received a Civil Law Degree, a Common Law Degree, and a Masters Degree in Law at l’Université de Montréal. She also studied at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing, where she obtained a Chinese Law Study Certificate.  She was also a Miss Teen Canada and visited many schools on the island to speak out against bullying.

Weir, raised in Beaconsfield, is the son of retired professional hockey player, Wally Weir. The puck was passed to Weir who continued his father’s legacy playing senior hockey for Lower Canada College and making the varsity team at Queen’s University. He also attended St. George's School of Montreal at the elementary level. 

A budding hockey star, in 2005 Weir made his television debut as a hockey player in the Canadian reality series Making the Cut: Last Man Standing, a program that pitted Canada’s top 60 amateur hockey players against each other. His transition to an on-air television personality occurred in 2008 as host of national television series Oh So Cosmo, where Weir then worked on-air for six consecutive seasons. He returns home to Montreal with countless celebrity interviews, live event hosting, and on-air experience under his belt. 

"I always had my eye on coming back here," Weir told me. "When I need Making the Cut in 2005 I met Scott Moore. He ended up helping me get by job at TSN. We lost touch, but three or four months ago I ran into him and told him that my contract hosting Oh So Cosmo was up. We got to talking; I had some screen tests and I got this job. It is really exciting."

Wally Weir now works for the Port of Montreal and loves to golf. Wilder has temporarily moved back to Beaconsfield and taken up residence in his old room, making Wally and mom Wendy pretty happy. Younger brother Wyatt lives downtown and just graduated from Concordia's John Molson School of Business.

How did he get the name Wilder? "My mom and dad were high school sweethearts," he explains. "Many years ago my mom was in the hospital with a weird strain of pneumonia. So my dad was wandering the halls and he saw this plaque for Dr. Wilder Penfield.  He thought to himself that when Wendy gets better, if I marry her and if we have a boy, we will name him Wilder because he liked how it sounded. Apparently my mom said 'no way,' but it happened."

In addition to Lozoff and Weir, the roster of talent joining Montreal Connected also includes Sportsnet’s award-winning Stephen Brunt, considered one of Canada’s top sports journalists; Sean Gordon, Globe and Mail sports reporter; Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette sportswriter; and Arpon Basu, managing editor at NHL.com.

Montreal Connected will be produced by three-time world water ski champion and member of the Order of Canada and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, George Athans, alongside Kelly Greig, a former producer in Montreal. Bob Babinski is Executive Producer and Local Content Manager, City Montreal, Jordan Schwartz is Vice-President, In-House Production, Rogers Media, Scott Woodgate is Vice-President, News & Information, Sportsnet, and Scott Moore is President of Broadcast, Rogers Media.

Here is a clip of Wally Weir fighting Chris Nilan.