Around The Dial: Broadcast & Media News Today

Around The Dial: Broadcast & Media News Today

Oct 04, 2016 by David Farrell Comments

Howard Mandshein, ‘The Gordie Howe of Winnipeg Radio’

He’s Winnipeg’s own rock music guru, known to everyone simply as "H." Howard Mandshein has been a staple on local radio for four decades, his distinctive baritone voice intoning his unrivalled passion for the music he plays. If Mandshein likes a song, you know it, writes John Einarson in the Monday edition of the Free Press. Einarson continues: “He is an institution, a local legend of the airwaves and concert stages as master of ceremonies, as well as an ardent supporter of the local music scene.”

His secret for longevity in an unstable vocation? "I’m not ambitious," he says. "I don’t ask for much. I stay out of management’s way and out of office politics. That’s important. And I keep my mouth shut. For me, it’s all about the music. I’ve been fortunate that I never had to leave the city." – Continue here

Kevin Shea Hits A Slap Shot For the Leafs

Kevin with Hockey Hall of Famer Johnny Bower.

Music Industry veteran Kevin Shea - who spent his formative years as a radio host in CKWW Windsor, CFCH North Bay, CKLW Windsor, CKGM Montreal and CJSB Ottawa before transitioning to a promo rep at RCA/BMG, WEA, MCA/Universal and Attic Records (where his promotional duties also included publicity) - has become quite the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey authority.

A former editor of publications and features for the Hockey Hall of Fame, Shea has authored 14 shinny books - including Over the Boards: the Ron Ellis Story; Barilko - Without A Trace and Derek Sanderson - Crossing The Line, a book that was optioned by actor/director Ed Burns as a potential film. Shea is about to add #15 to the list, as The Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club: Official Centennial Publication, 1917-2017, hits shelves on Oct. 18.

Bites

-- Streaming is projected as the source of nearly all mobile music by 2022, according to new research from Strategy Analytics. The latest report projected streaming as 76% of the mobile music market in 2015, and estimated that the share would grow to 95% by 2022 – RAIN News

-- With its announcement of on-demand subscription services, iHeartMedia is stepping into a music-service pool swimming with sharks like Pandora, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, SoundCloud, and others, RAIN News editor exclaimed Brad Hill yesterday. “It is daunting competition, but none of those existing services has the gigantic promotional leverage of iHeart's radio network, which is already advertising the on-demand plans.” With over a quarter of a billion monthly listeners in the U.S. iHeartMedia has the largest reach of any radio and television outlet in the US. The Canadian edition of the iHeartRadio free audio streaming brand is being launched on Oct. 10 by Bell Media with more than 200 radio stations, including Virgin Radio, QM-FM, CJAY, and CHUM FM.

-- Bell Media has sent a cease and desist letter threatening legal action if VMedia, a small Canadian internet and IPTV provider, does not remove Bell's signals from a VMedia service that streams live TV over the internet. At issue is VMedia's new service which offers a so-called Skinny Basic cable package through a Roku app.

-- The CRTC has approved an application by Elliot Kerr to operate commercial news/talk AM radio station CKNT in Mississauga. The launch date is Nov. 30. CKNT is to broadcast 126 hours of spoken word each broadcast week, of which at least 101 hours will be local. The licence will offer a maximum of 25 hours of automated programming; and 28.5 hours of structured newscasts and news programs per broadcast week, 80% of which will focus on local Mississauga news stories. The applicant has also committed to devote, over and above the required basic annual contribution to CCD, a total of $94,775 over seven consecutive broadcast years, with $5,000 in year one.

-- -- The Commission has announced a notice of hearing on Dec. 7 at its Gatineau headquarters to consider eight licensee applications, including two national services; one in Newfoundland. the Yukon, and New Brunswickl and two in Alberta.

-- CBC is driving other Canadian media out of business — with their own tax dollars, The Rebel's Ezra Levant argues. According to him, today, more than 50& of working journalists in Canada work for the CBC and "their salaries are paid by your tax dollars."