Toronto Media Landscape and Personalities

[lenaitch]

What's the reason for all this cost-cutting?

BCE are not hurting financially at all.

Some money is good - more money is better. Gotta keep shareholders happy.

Saw a possible theory online today that the plan is to kill off AM radio...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1359205664678174722

I'm not too sure how plausible that is. That part of the spectrum is highly susceptible to noise and other interference; notwithstanding it would require a regulatory change and international cooperation.

 

[SunriseChampion]

Some money is good - more money is better.

You sure? Bezos has all the money in the world and he can't even afford some friggin hair.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Saw a possible theory online today that the plan is to kill off AM radio...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1359205664678174722

Would not surprise me at all. Now that's a topic deserving of #BellLetsTalk

You sure? Bezos has all the money in the world and he can't even afford some friggin hair.

And he probably saved even more money by not having hair.

AoD

 

[Towered]

You sure? Bezos has all the money in the world and he can't even afford some friggin hair.

If I were as bald and rich as Jeff Bezos, I'd get a scalp transplant with someone like Ozzy Osbourne.

 

[AlbertC]

New Torstar ownership wants to move into online gambling

Torstar is set to launch an online casino betting brand this year in the regulated Ontario online gaming market

trnto.com

Torstar is set to launch an online casino betting brand this year in the regulated Ontario online gaming market.

“We are excited at the prospect of participating in a regulated online Ontario gaming market with a made-in-Ontario product,” said Corey Goodman, Chief Corporate Development Officer at Torstar, in a press release. “As an Ontario-based media business and trusted brand for more than 128 years, we believe Torstar will provide a unique and responsible gaming brand that creates new jobs, offers growth for the Ontario economy and generates new tax revenue to help support important programs in our province.”

Last August, Torstar was purchased by NordStar Capital LP, a private investment firm owned by Jordan Bitove and Paul Rivett. It officially acquired Torstar on August 5, 2020.

According to the press information, the new ownership group has assembled a crack team to head up its new “iGaming” division including Don Bourgeois, former General Counsel for the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

The Ontario government has pledged to introduce legislation that would license private operators in the province’s online gaming market. It would be overseen by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

“There are two reasons for our entry into this field,” said Paul Rivett, chair and co-owner of Torstar. “First, we want to ensure the new marketplace is well represented with a Canadian, Ontario-based gaming brand so that more of our players’ entertainment dollars stay in our province. Second, doing this as part of Torstar will help support the growth and expansion of quality, community-based journalism.”

According to the press release, the launch is pending approval from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and the setting of a launch date by the Ontario government.

 

[Jonny5]

New Torstar ownership wants to move into online gambling

Torstar is set to launch an online casino betting brand this year in the regulated Ontario online gaming market

trnto.com

Torstar is set to launch an online casino betting brand this year in the regulated Ontario online gaming market.

“We are excited at the prospect of participating in a regulated online Ontario gaming market with a made-in-Ontario product,” said Corey Goodman, Chief Corporate Development Officer at Torstar, in a press release. “As an Ontario-based media business and trusted brand for more than 128 years, we believe Torstar will provide a unique and responsible gaming brand that creates new jobs, offers growth for the Ontario economy and generates new tax revenue to help support important programs in our province.”

Last August, Torstar was purchased by NordStar Capital LP, a private investment firm owned by Jordan Bitove and Paul Rivett. It officially acquired Torstar on August 5, 2020.

According to the press information, the new ownership group has assembled a crack team to head up its new “iGaming” division including Don Bourgeois, former General Counsel for the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

The Ontario government has pledged to introduce legislation that would license private operators in the province’s online gaming market. It would be overseen by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

“There are two reasons for our entry into this field,” said Paul Rivett, chair and co-owner of Torstar. “First, we want to ensure the new marketplace is well represented with a Canadian, Ontario-based gaming brand so that more of our players’ entertainment dollars stay in our province. Second, doing this as part of Torstar will help support the growth and expansion of quality, community-based journalism.”

According to the press release, the launch is pending approval from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and the setting of a launch date by the Ontario government.

What's the over/under on the number of years before someone on the board asks "why is our gambling business being weighed down by this newspaper crap," and they sell it off and/or shut it down?

 

[Johnny Au]

Joseph Atkinson is rolling in his grave.

Nowhere in the Atkinson Principles states that the Toronto Star serves to trick the greedy into parting their wealth to the Toronto Star.

Also nowhere in said principles states that the Toronto Star website must keep playing the sound clip below ad infinitum:

 

[Jonny5]

Dick Smyth has died. Even having never really listened to radio much in my whole life (born in the 80's) or the TV news shows he was on, I know exactly who he is by his voice alone. Even by the standards of his time he was quite backwards though.

Dick Smyth, Canadian maestro of news radio commentary, dies at 86

Radio and television personality Dick Smyth, whose booming commentary filled Canadian airwaves for decades with hot takes on the day's topics, has died at 86.

www.cp24.com

 

[Towered]

Dick Smyth has died. Even having never really listened to radio much in my whole life (born in the 80's) or the TV news shows he was on, I know exactly who he is by his voice alone. Even by the standards of his time he was quite backwards though.

Dick Smyth, Canadian maestro of news radio commentary, dies at 86

Radio and television personality Dick Smyth, whose booming commentary filled Canadian airwaves for decades with hot takes on the day's topics, has died at 86.

www.cp24.com

Yup, another right wing windbag.

 

[Johnny Au]

Yup, another right wing windbag.

Dick Smyth is what his given name suggests.

 

[AlbertC]

Kim's Convenience announces that the 5th season currently airing will be its final:

CBC hit sitcom Kim's Convenience comes to an unexpected end - NOW Magazine

After CBC announced Kim's Convenience will end with season 5, co-star Simu Liu said on Twitter that the cast and fans "deserved better"

nowtoronto.com

 

[SubHuman]

Bob McCown will be back on radio -- though the station is one few know exists, "Sauga 960".

 

[JasonParis]

Ironically, Sauga is located in Toronto.

 

[SubHuman]

It seems to have become a landing place for Canadian on-air people from previous decades -- Bob McCown, Ed The Sock, Mike Richards, and some others.

 

[Jonny5]

Cam Wolley retired from CP24/CTV today.
There were many tributes to him on various shows, though no one mentioned the issues that resulted in him taking that job in the first place.