In 2015, with music available on computers and phones, and
news just a mouse-click away, many dismiss radio as irrelevant.
Chinnery recognizes that radio has had to struggle to maintain
its foothold in the ever-changing technological age. AM 800 has
developed their programming to stay connected to its listeners
in a variety of ways.
“Our main product is, and always will be, what we broadcast
on the radio,” cautions Chinnery. “But we’re also now providing
content on our web site, on Facebook and Twitter.”
Going beyond social media, AM 800 also uses text alerts and
television to stay with their listeners.
“Our subscribers to our Breaking News Alert program grow
steadily every month,” said Chinnery. “Our audio and news
headlines are on TVCogeco which for some listeners is the only music radio popularity was at a peak and was in high demand.
‘radio’ they have in their house.” Just like my house, which I’ve To attract listeners, CKLW kept their news coverage to brief 5 or
6 minute periods aired at twenty minutes before and twenty
just realized is surprisingly lacking a standard radio device.
minutes after the hour - when other
stations were airing their news.
This newscast was kept brief, with
rapid-fire delivery of the headlines: just
enough to keep you engaged in the
workplace lunchroom conversation.
In the early 1930s and 40s, CKLW broke into what is still a CKLW made the news entertaining, with graphic details of crime
popular radio show-style today: the early-morning comedy and background audio of classic teletype machines, which
news duo. Gentile and Binge started it all, but Mike & Lisa in the listeners could imagine churning out headlines and the weather.
Chinnery has been working in radio for more than 30 years.
Morning have continued the tradition.
“It’s gone from manually cutting reel-to-reel tape to digital
“Every radio station greets its morning listeners in a special
way,” said Lisa Williams. “The morning show is the most editing. We used to have Courier trucks outside the station
important show of the day, and is often the most listened-to time several times a day delivering national commercials on reels and
dropping off the latest album from the record company. Now, all
of the day.”
Williams started her radio career at just age 18, and has of that is delivered not only digitally, but also instantly,” and
spent more than 25 years on morning radio in Windsor-Essex. AM800 has kept up with the changing technological times with
She believes there’s a special element to the morning show idea. ease.
Canadian content regulations were the beginning of the end,
She also believes the morning show sets the tone for the day
as well as the expanding popularity of FM radio. Although a
ahead.
“That's where the station's strongest talent is placed,” she revival of the old format was attempted in the 1990s, music
said. “That's where the largest ratings for the station should be.” shifted to, and stayed on, CKLW’s sister FM channel, which now
operates as a country music station.
The Big 8’s big names of the early days - Rosalie Trombley,
It’s twenty minutes before the hour in Windsor and Detroit …
While you’re driving to
work, do you hit your
pre-programmed
radio
buttons searching for a
familiar song? In the 1960s,
26 The HUB -June 2015