The Moosa Slobodian Network

Good evening The Moosa Slobodian Network Friends,

Producer Paulie and I had an excellent time talking Blue Jays and 570 News. Have a listen using this link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/63vZdplvi41Hy3JXFyXB0i?si=bawISQ8nTqS8nxjxiIc1_Q

Show Notes

• Introduction and Use of Sound Effects: Aliasgar Moosa and Paul Herriot discuss the history of their broadcasting collaboration, specifically focusing on the use of sound effects as “pattern disruptors” during shows. Paul Herriot explains that these effects were intended to grab listener attention during radio broadcasts, but they emphasize that these were strategically reserved for lighter segments rather than serious interviews (00:00:12).
• History of 570 News Theme Songs: The conversation touches upon the history of 570 News and the decision by upper management to remove a permanent theme song, which had previously been “Working Man” by Rush. Paul Herriot expresses disappointment with this change, noting that consistent branding is essential for an established show’s identity (00:02:25).
• 570 News Branding Evolution: The participants discuss the 2021 branding shift to “City News 570” as part of a Rogers-wide initiative to unify their media entities, followed by a later pivot back to “570 News Radio.” Paul Herriot critiques the inconsistency of this branding strategy, noting that adding the word “Radio” to the name felt unnecessary and suggested a lack of confidence from management regarding the future of the radio platform (00:04:39).
• Closure of Radio Stations: Addressing the sudden shutdown of 570 News and five other stations, Paul Herriot describes the event as a sad and shocking development, though not entirely surprising given the station’s declining state and previous industry closures by Bell and Chorus. Paul Herriot expresses disbelief at the scale of the closure, noting that six stations were shut down simultaneously (00:09:13).
• Logistics of Station Shutdowns: Paul Herriot explains the regulatory difficulties associated with radio station closures, particularly noting that stations operating under talk format licenses on FM cannot simply switch to music programming to remain viable. This regulatory requirement made a format pivot impossible for certain affected stations (00:11:25).
• Historical Success Factors of 570 News: Providing a historical overview from 1997 to 2021, Paul Herriot highlights the station’s initial strength and successful turnaround under program directors such as Don Collins in 2004 and Pete Travers in 2010. They note that the station’s financial success was heavily bolstered by a strategy of carrying sports events on evenings and weekends, which allowed the station to sell advertising during times when rates would otherwise be significantly lower (00:12:21).

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• Deterioration of Product Quality: Paul Herriot argues that the broadcast quality of 570 News slipped in recent years, citing issues such as low-quality audio from Zoom interviews and the overuse of repetitive reruns instead of live programming during host vacations. They express that management failed to ensure the station maintained a high-quality, professional sound (00:17:30).
• Staff Buyouts and Precursors to Shutdown: Paul Herriot mentions that approximately three months prior to the final shutdown, Rogers offered buyout packages to 50% of their workforce across all departments. This aggressive cost-cutting measure led Paul Herriot to question the long-term viability of the station well before the final closure occurred (00:19:31).
• Syndication Challenges with Rob Snow: The participants discuss the impact of the Ottawa station closure and the subsequent decision to syndicate the Rob Snow show across multiple Rogers stations. Paul Herriot criticizes the commercial clock structure required for this syndication, noting that it disrupted the flow of the talk show by forcing commercial breaks at inconvenient times for local listeners (00:21:29).
• Scheduling and Pivot Adjustments: Discussion regarding the scheduling of syndicated content at 570 News reveals that the station frequently changed which hours of the Rob Snow show were aired. Paul Herriot notes that this inconsistency created confusion and resulted in listeners missing key segments like interviews, which were often excluded from the live broadcast (00:24:33).
• Retention of Digital Content Staff: Paul Herriot notes that despite the closure, certain staff members—including Christine Clark, Aaron Anderson, and Matt Hutcherson—were retained to continue producing written content for the 570 News website (00:28:31).
• Future of Blue Jays and Leafs Broadcasting: Discussing the future of Blue Jays and Leafs broadcasts in the region, Paul Herriot predicts that these games will not return to local radio in Kitchener, as the remaining stations are music-focused. They note that while listeners can access games via digital streams, the era of local radio carriage for these teams has likely ended (00:29:40).
• Use of Simple Radio App: Aliasgar Moosa and Paul Herriot share their preference for the “Simple Radio” app, citing its lack of clutter and ability to aggregate stations from various owners (Bell, Rogers, Chorus, and independent) as a major benefit over company-specific apps (00:30:31).
• Future of Kitchener Rangers Broadcasts: The participants speculate on the future of Kitchener Rangers hockey broadcasts. Paul Herriot suggests that because the previous contract with 570 News is void, the team is free to explore new options, such as digital-only broadcasts or partnering with a different station. They note that multiple local broadcasters have already expressed interest in carrying the games (00:33:04).
• Potential Radio Partners: Exploring options for where the Rangers might land, the participants discuss CKWR, Bounce, and Dave FM. Paul Herriot notes that while CKWR has a decent signal, volunteer-run programming might conflict with hockey broadcasts, whereas a station like Dave FM could align well with sports fans due to their rock music format (00:36:54).
• Potential Career Moves for Mike Farwell: Discussing the future of former host Mike Farwell, Paul Herriot suggests that Farwell could be a prime candidate for play-by-play duties if the Rangers decide to partner with a new station. They also suggest that Farwell could leverage their large social media following to launch an independent podcast, similar to the path taken by other broadcasters like Sid Seixeiro (00:39:58).
• Blue Jays Performance Analysis: The conversation shifts to the Blue Jays’ current season, with Paul Herriot and Aliasgar Moosa expressing disappointment in the team’s failure to meet expectations. Paul Herriot cites mediocre hitting and concerns about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s practice habits—specifically 300 practice swings before games—as potential factors for the team’s struggles (00:44:33).
• Roster Speculation and Trade Deadline: Discussing the current roster and the upcoming trade deadline, Paul Herriot predicts that the team will likely stay the course rather than becoming aggressive sellers, noting that they do not see the team dismantling the current core of players (00:47:33).
• All-Star Game and Home Run Derby: Paul Herriot praises the decision to return to the original Home Run Derby format this year, noting that removing the timer made the event more enjoyable to watch. They reflect positively on the player introductions and overall experience (00:49:30).
• Consistency in Play-by-Play Announcers: Paul Herriot expresses frustration with the lack of consistency in broadcasting personnel, specifically noting how often announcers like Ben Shulman are pulled away from team coverage for other assignments. They argue that listeners value the stability of a dedicated announcer for the duration of the season (00:52:13).