The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) says comments made by radio personality André Arthur during the program 100% Normandeau on BLVD 102.1 (CFEL-FM) Quebec City on Mar. 27, 2017 breached the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ (CAB) Code of Ethics. Appearing as a commentator on the show, Arthur suggested that cyclists who ride in winter should be hit. The CBSC received 1,112 complaints about the broadcast, alleging Arthur had incited listeners to commit violent acts against cyclists. Arthur apologized for his remarks the next day. The CBSC’s French-Language Panel acknowledged Arthur’s “provocative style,” but noted there was no immediate counterpoint to his remarks.
The 12th annual Corus Caring Hearts Radiothon raised $105,554 on Apr. 5 for the Cornwall Community Hospital. Broadcast for 13 hours on boom 101.9 (CJSS-FM) and 104.5 Fresh Radio (CFLG-FM), money raised this year will go toward a waterproof fetal monitoring system and bedside cardiac monitors for patients in the critical care unit. This year’s theme was “Hearts, Young and Old”.
McCully, co-host of The Beach Breakfast with McCully & Mariane at 97.7 The Beach (CHGB-FM) Wasaga Beach, has wrapped up #MarchMadness4SO (March Madness 4 Special Olympics) in which he pledged to exercise every day and eat clean all 31 days of March. Listeners made pledges in support of Special Olympians in South Georgian Bay, and got to choose McCully’s workouts with no idea considered too crazy. McCully exercised in gyms, trained with the Wasaga Beach Fire Department, jumped in the frigid waters of Georgian Bay and even raced completely naked down Highway 26. In all, $1,500 was raised, one $25 donation at a time.
Bob Ridley recently celebrated his 50th year with the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group in Medicine Hat. A Western Hockey League (WHL) play-by-play legend, Ridley has called over 3,800 games for the Medicine Hat Tigers over 48 seasons, missing only one game. He started with CHAT Radio on Apr. 3, 1968. Over his career, Bob has been honoured with awards from the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, WHL, and the RTDNA, among others.
Wondery, an industry leader in podcast content focused on mobile users, has officially signed deals to monetize content throughout the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. In Canada, Wondery is teaming with TPX (The Podcast Exchange), saying the partnership with the podcast-native ad sales rep will allow it to benefit from TPX’s advanced metrics and geo-targeting to maximize a new Canadian audience.
SiriusXM Canada has announced the return of its SiriusXM Top Comic competition in search of Canada’s best in comedy. New this year, the grand prize winner will receive international exposure with a guaranteed spot to perform at JFL Sydney in Australia, in addition to JFL42 (Toronto), JFL NorthWest (Vancouver), Just For Laughs Montreal and inclusion in a JFL TV taping airing on a Bell property network. The Grand Prize winner will also receive $25,000 from SiriusXM; and for the first time in the competition, the two runners-up will also receive cash prizes of $2,500 each. Canadian comics can register at www.siriusxm.ca/topcomic, until Apr. 27, where they will be able to submit a video of their best material.
