AM 600 Radio station announces big news: Aaron Rand and Andrew Carter move over

From today's print edition of The Suburban.

AM600, Montreal’s new English language radio station owned by industry veteran Paul Tietolman, will announce later today that both Andrew Carter and Aaron Rand have left CJAD and will headline a star studded lineup of notable personalities.

Aaron Rand

Tietolman  has hired radio veteran Steve Kowch as general manager and program director and Wayne Bews, late of 925 The Beat FM,  as sales manager. The interesting twist here is that Rand will host the morning show while Carter will do the drive home.

“I really missed mornings,” said Rand, who will bring back Paul “Tasso Patsikakis” Zakaib as his on air sidekick while Suzanne Desautels will also depart CJAD and handle weather and traffic. 

“These last few years doing afternoons at CJAD have been just great. I have not caught up with my sleep and I am ready to rise again at 3:30 a.m. weekdays to go to work.

Carter, meanwhile, said that it was his idea to switch shifts. “I have been doing mornings for more than a decade and it really takes it toll on you,” he admitted. “I am looking forward to sleeping in and staying up late again.”

Tietolman confided to us that his mid-morning show will feature a tête-à-tête between former politicians Gilles Duceppe and Yolande James. “A separatist and a federalist debating the issues each day will be ‘must listen to’ radio,” Tietolman said.

Paul Tietolman

Early afternoons will be anchored by Dan Laxer, who lost his full-time gig at CJAD a few years ago. Following Carter, Suburban editor Beryl Wajsman’s Last Angry Man returns to Montreal radio from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.  Talks are reportedly underway between Tietolman’s team and TSN 690’s Conor McKenna to bring a provocative late night sports talk show back to the local radio scene. “Montrealers crave for the days of Ted Tevan,” Tietolman said of the late shock jock sports rap host. “We just know there is an audience for that.”

Overnights will belong to Peter Anthony Holder and Sol Boxenbaum, once fixtures on CJAD. Claude Beaulieu and Murray Sherriffs will head the news team.

Over at CJAD, it appears that Barry Morgan is in for a promotion to replace Carter in the mornings. Dave Kaufman will fill Morgan`s Noon to 3 p.m. shift while Dan Delmar will take over the drive home show. Jay Farrar will step in for McKenna if he moves to AM600.

Tietolman plans to launch AM 600 in June, along with  French language talk and sports stations. 

What is my reaction to all of this? Well folks, today is  April 1. It has been a few years since The Suburban was published on this date, providing me with the perfect opportunity to say “April Fool’s” to all of my readers. Sorry, but I just could not resist.

THE REAL STORY: Tietolman does indeed plan to open three radio stations. He has Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approval to go on the air with an English language talk station at the AM 600 dial and two French language stations, one for talk and another for sports. When I reached him he preferred not to get into too many details. But he wants to make it clear that this radio trio will become a reality. When it does, perhaps some of my April Fool’s musings will actually occur.  What do you think? 

GLOBAL TV AND THE BEAT: Last fall I invited  Jessica Laventure, Camille Ross and Richard Dagenais from The Global Morning News and Cat Spencer, Sarah Bartok and Natasha Hall The Beat 92.5 FM to the English Montreal School Board Career Fair. After doing an interview with them for The Suburban video section, I suggested that on April 1 they change places for the ultimate April Fool's joke. Well, today they do so in style and Camille even gave me some recognition on the air.

Here is the photo I took of Jessica,  Richard, Camille, Cat and Sarah which inspired the April Fool's joke.

Here are Cat and Sarah on Global.

And Richard,  Camille and Jessica on The Beat

Below are comments from the main players.

It's nice to see pros at work and that's exactly what the team at The Beat 92.5 are all about; seeing them at work, you realize Cat, Sarah, Natasha, Sammy and Paul are - Montreal's perfect mix!"

Richard Dagenais

"Any opportunity to spend time with the Team over at the beat is something to look forward to. They are a group of incredibly hilarious, charismatic and talented people."

Camille Ross

"It's easy to see why the Beat Breakfast with Cat and Sarah is Montreal's number one Morning radio show. I felt immediately comfortable with Cat, Sarah and Natasha. Nothing creepy, I just... smelled their hair and followed them home. You know, normal closeness."

Jessica Laventure

Thanks to the Global Morning News team for making us look good! Don't tell my boss but those 10 minutes on morning television made me realize how easy we have it in radio. No lights, no camera...(but plenty of action)!

Cat Spencer

Sometimes, things happen that make you scratch your head & wonder what just happened! That's exactly what we hoped to acheive with our little switch-a-roo. Thanks to the entire Global team for making this April Fools prank come to life...and for making me appreciate even more so how a full face of makeup is not required for morning radio. ;-)

Sarah Bartok

We tag teamed with Camille and Richard from Global to play a little April Fools joke on all our listeners..Cat and Sarah took over TV while Camille and Richard took over the radio:

New Montreal radio stations delayed until next fall

The Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has given TTP Media authorization to delay the launch of their 940 AM French talk radio station until September 2014, thereby signalling that the planned AM600 English talk radio station and the 85O AM all-sports outlet will also go on the  air by that time as well.

TTP Media is headed by radio industry veteran Paul Tietolman, former Montreal city councillor Nicolas Tétrault  and  former FIDO boss Rajiv Pancholy.

I reached Tietolman who told me that there a few reasons for the delay. First and foremost there are some technical difficulties regarding the transmitter site. He also points to the delays that occurred in getting CRTC approval for the AM 600 frequency and the 50,000 watt frequency at 850 AM for French sports talk.

Tétrault and Tietolman.

Furthermore, Tietolman said he was on hold to see whether the CRTC was going to approve Bell Media's purchase of Astral properties, which included CJAD, Virgin Radio and CHOM.  Bell Media did get the thumbs up at the end of June, which TTP Media had to take into account for its own strategy.

"Our project and strategy was based on launching all three stations in the same location with many services being shared," Tietolman maintains.

So, for radio observers and  the abundance of on air talent anxious to get back to work -especially where AM 600 is concerned - patience will be required.  Radio vet Steve Kowch is still in the mix as the likely general manager of the three stations

It is not unrealistic to predict that the outfit could begin hiring some people in the spring. If Kowch wants to challenge his old station, CJAD, he will need plenty of time to vet potential candidates. How about Ted Bird on the morning show? 

Star media blogger Fagstein did this excellent backgrounder  on TTP Media last month.

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Two hundred potential candidates in line for New AM 600 Radio Station

TTP Media may not have finalized plans for a launch date yet of its English news talk radio station at 600 on the AM dial, but that hasn’t stopped the man pegged by Paul Tietolman to run the show from getting ready.

 

Paul Tietolman

“Since January I have been using social media to let Montrealers know there will be a new choice to get their news and to talk about issues of the day on the radio,” says Steve Kowch from his home in Mississauga where he too is waiting for a launch date.

“Two months ago, I reached out on LinkedIn to connect with people in the Montreal area. The results have been overwhelming. More than 1,200 people in Montreal’s English and cultural communities have connected with me on LinkedIn since May.

"My new connections on LinkedIn include young entrepreneurs, college and university grads, actors, entertainers, artists, sales people, office workers, CEOs and moms and dads who are all integrated in Quebec society and are proud to call the Greater Montreal area home.”

 

Steve Kowch

Steve says some are potential contributors to the radio station because of their commitment to Montreal’s English community through their involvement in charities, social services, business or the arts and entertainment scene.

In January, Steve used social media to reach out to people whose dream is to be on the radio to send their resume to steve@kowchmedia.com and tell him what they can bring to the new radio station. So far his inbox has more than 200 potential candidates, including some well known broadcasters who want to work at the new radio station.

“It is amazing the talent out there for not only talk show hosts, but reporters, anchors, producers, sales staff, production and operators,” says Kowch. “It is a gold mine of emerging talent. We will not have a problem of living up to our promises at the CRTC to introduce new and diverse voices on the radio station”

Steve’s latest On The Kowch blog at http://kowchmedia.com/blogs/on-the-kowch provides more information on what the New AM600 – his working title for the new radio station – is going to be all about.

“Choice … this is what it’s all about,” he says. “With the CRTC decision allowing Bell Media to own four of the five English radio stations in Montreal – including the city’s only newstalk station -  the time is right for another English radio station in Montreal with new compelling, opinionated talk show hosts and live local newscasts 24/7.”

To find out what Montrealers want to hear and what they think is missing on Montreal radio, Kowch has launched the montrealneedsam600@gmail.com email address.

“I have a track record in Montreal and Toronto of bringing stations closer to the community by making myself available to listeners to hear what they like and don’t like,"  Kowch says.  "I just want to get the jump on what Montrealers want to hear by providing them a forum to express their opinions before we launch.

“We’re building this station from the ground up. So it is important we get this right before we throw the switch to go on air. What better way to do this, than to ask Montrealers for their input by sending an email with their ideas to montrealneedsam600@gmail.com .”

Which personalities will sign on with new AM 600 English radio?

Well, the last few weeks have been filled with great news regarding English radio in Montreal. First, the CRTC rejected Bell Media's purchase of Astral Radio. That meant TSN Radio 690 stays alive, instead of being transformed into  RDS Radio.

Now the CRTC has made another decision which benefits us, granting a license to Paul Tietolman and his TTP Media team to launch a new English station on the AM 600 dial. That means my good friend Steve Kowch is on his way back here to oversee the exciting hiring process, with an on air launch set for next spring.

Steve Kowch

I have know Paul Tietolman most of my life and I am happy that an introduction I made between him and Kowch helped push this project forward.

You can see Steve's blog on the news here.

"In the past six months I have received about 50 really good applications from men and women who are broadcast university grads, out of work broadcasters, producers, operators, reporters and from the competition who want to work at the new English radio station," Kowch shared with me from his current home in Toronto. "Many are from Montreal's diverse cultural communities. 

"There is also a lot of talent available in Montreal's diverse cultural communities who want to work in radio. TTP Media told the CRTC hearings it believes in diversity. Our on air sound will reflect that promise. I already have some excellent candidates."

Kowch says he will spend a lot of time in the next few months talking to Montrealers to not only find out what they want to hear on the radio, but to also reach out to Montreal's many English institutions, including school boards, merchants, businesses, advertisers, social services, volunteer groups and area politicians "to see how we can help them get closer to the community they serve. This is not about running PSA's. This is about covering their activities and sharing their stories in our newscasts."

Montrealers, Kowch says,  can start the process by sending me an email at steve@kowchmedia.com with ideas of what they want to hear on their new AM 600 radio station. "Running a radio station is more than just sitting in the corner office," he says. "It's getting out there meeting and speaking to listeners. I will be available to do just that in the New Year."

Kowch says that the  latest corruption inquiry is proof that Montreal needs more investigative reporting "and we will hire journalists who have a track record doing just that. Montreal is Canada's second largest city and it deserves live local news coverage 24/7. It is something we promised the CRTC and we will deliver local top of hour newscasts 24/7. Breaking news is just as important on weekends and overnight as it is 9-5 Monday to Friday. I look forward to the challenge and returning home to do the job."

Peter Anthony Holder

So, thinking out loud  I would love to see Peter Anthony Holder and Sol Boxenbaum back on the late night shifts. Would Aaron Rand be tempted by an offer to become the new station's morning man, bringing CJAD colleague Chantal Desjardins along? What about former CJAD personality Kevin Holden. Is he ready for a comeback? In terms of sports, Jess Rusnak from TSN Radio is a star in the making - schooled under the watchful eye of Mitch Melnick.  Suburban editor Beryl Wajsman  would be a logical choice to host his own hotline show, directly from The Suburban newsroom and young Dan Delmar would be a good choice as well. Unquestionably we will see seasoned veteran Jim Connell involved. I miss hearing his golden pipes on the air. Patrick Charles is a free agent, having left Mike FM. The  man once known as "Sir Patrick" was oustanding on the old Q92 and with Virgin Radio. Funny and talented, I am sure Kowch can find a role for him

It will be fun to watch all of the speculation.

Will CRTC approve English talk radio application for Montreal?

The Canadian Radio-telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is expected to rule on a number of applications for two vacant dials on the Montreal AM band, 690 and 940, by the beginning of December. There were plenty of interveners at the hearings held recently. Industry insiders believe that TSN 990 will move to 690 and benefit from a stronger signal; Cogeco Media’s proposed all-traffic station will get 940 and  Radio Fierté, a French-language music and talk station targeted towards Montreal's gay community  will land on 990.

That being said, those who attended the CRTC hearings do believe that a talk radio proposal being steered by Paul Tietolman, Rajiv Pancholy, Nicolas Tetrault, Steve Kowch and Jim Connell could end up being  a surprise choice over all-traffic. Tietolman et al want a companion French talk station and word has it the CRTC might even be willing to open up a new dial that was not even in the mix to begin with.

Eighty per cent of anglophones and allophones surveyed by Leger Marketing say they want a second  English language news and talk  radio station to listen to on the AM dial,  the  Tietolman group maintains. “Montreal  English language radio listeners have been suffering from the lack of choice and diversity in  English news/talk radio for two and a half years,” he said. Currently, there is only one station providing news/talk programming. There is actually more choice in markets smaller than Montreal's English language market.”

Nicolas Tetrault and Paul Tietolman

Added Pancholy, another managing partner: “A new English news/talk voice will create employment opportunities for many established, creative broadcast talent as well as "new emerging talent" who currently have been deprived of working on radio because of a lack of opportunity.  By approving our request to launch both 690 AM and 940 AM, Montreal will have more choice, new employment opportunities will be created, and Montreal will finally have an  English radio station that will broadcast news and talk programming live 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year.

The Tietolman group had assistance in its presentation from Leger Marketing,  one of the most reputable market research companies in North America.  According to Christian Bourque,

• 80 per cent of Montreal anglophones are interested and even very interested in the type of talk radio project Tietolman et al are  proposing.
•    65 per cent are very interested to listen to a new radio station that would present on air head to head debates with strong public personalities from politics to economics and important issues of the day.
•  60 per cent of anglophones in Montreal expressed a clear interest and intention to listen to Talk 940 for controversial and provocative debates on air.
•   62 per cent of anglophones clearly state that they would listen outspoken personalities with strong honest opinions.
• 81 per cent of anglophone and allophone Montrealers have clearly stated their intentions to listen to a new talk information radio station on 940AM.

There is no question that the presence of Kowch and Connell on their team adds credibility. Kowch ran two of the largest news talk radio stations in the country for 14 years CFRB in Toronto and CJAD in Montreal. 

“The  English community needs more than just one voice on the AM dial to inform and stimulate opinions about the issues of the day,” Kowch says. “It isn’t that the other station isn’t doing a good job, no one is questioning their integrity and reputation. But the lack of competition breeds complacency .  English talk radio in Montreal, well, it is what it is; and there is no reason to change or to be better when you’re the only game in town. What they do or say on air goes unchallenged.  Of course,  there is the CBC;  but their local Montreal based programming is limited to morning and afternoon drive. We don’t believe the status quo is good for Montreal’s  English community. We believe the addition of 940talk will win back listeners to AM radio.”

To be successful, the 940 Talk format would  create stimulating fresh programming, hosted by new emerging talent to bring back the audience and attract new listeners to the AM band.

Steve Kowch

“We will be fearless in our approach to covering the news; providing investigative reports to shine the light on corruption and scandals to protect the rights of all Montrealers no matter their age, cultural heritage, language,  religion, sexual orientation or politics,” promises Kowch. “Our talk shows will provide a platform to debate and express opinions on all the major issues of the day. And we will be there for our listeners live, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help them during major emergency situations like civic unrest, serious traffic situations and severe weather. We will cover these events in real time. Providing people with the information they need to stay out of harm's way.”

Connell refers back to 1998, when the ice storm paralyzed parts of Quebec for days and even weeks, toppling CJAD’s transmitter towers. “The  English community had a safety net,” he says.  “At the time there was a second  English news talk radio voice, the former CFCF renamed CIQC. But this summer, when the tail end of  Hurricane Irene passed through the Montreal area one weekend there was no safety net. Currently there is a serious problem in Montreal! Nobody in the local population was served adequately by radio during Hurricane Irene. Let us never forget  Hurricane  Irene wasn't a surprise visit. Environment Canada issued warnings she was heading to Montreal. Both the English and French stations had plenty of time for contingency plans to replace the music and taped shows with live storm coverage.  The lack of competition, the lack of choice and the lack of diversity of radio voices resulted in a very stressful and nervous time for hundreds of thousands of Montrealers.”

Tietolman believes  that stations in both official languages, communicating with each other, will allow, for example, the French language news and talk station to provide the French point of view to anglo and allophone listeners, and vice versa. “Anglophones, allophones and francophones in Montreal don’t live in a vacuum,” Kowch says.  “They are neighbours and as such care about what goes on in each other’s communities. We will help them share their thoughts with one another. 940talk will dig beneath the headlines. Shine a light on corruption, wrong doing and scandals through regular special investigative reports and programs.

Connell says the station  will also support and develop the future generation of broadcasters and broadcast journalists. They pledged to allocate a program block once a week with content managed and produced and delivered on air by radio and broadcast journalism students from Montreal area CEGEPS,  colleges and universities. “Talk 940 believes future stars of talk radio will also be found on the internet;  bloggers with huge followings and people hosting podcasts,” Kowch said. “We just need to search them out and put them on the radio.   

To attract younger and new listeners, Talk 940  would have a prominent  presence on  the platforms where these younger demos get their information  and share it with followers on social media. “We believe that to develop new listeners and encourage them to listen to AM radio, Talk 940 must give on air exposure to the on line bloggers, podcasters and print journalists who don’t  currently have access to the Montreal airwaves,” Kowch says.