Nay-sayers and outsiders have been sounding the death knell on radio for decades. I remember in the 80’s people were saying it would be dead by the turn of the century. I have one response: Ha!
This week Environment Canada, the government’s weather office, released the results of its study that showed most people still get their weather from radio. Television is second followed by online and then apps, which are growing in popularity. But radio is still on top.
Revenues are up, and from the outside looking in, the industry is thriving. From the inside looking out, all facets of media are hurting because of some greedy corporations that are slaves to their shareholders and think nothing of tossing out a dozen longtime employees to make those people happy. But I digress.
Fresh off the “weather from radio” poll came this update from Wellington County OPP. It’s serious, of course, but one can’t help but smile a bit at how silly it is. And it was a welcome change from the flood of releases we get from police about drunk drivers and break-ins. Real names have been removed.
On Wednesday November 14, 2012 at approximately 5:21pm County of Wellington OPP officers received report of an assault that occurred in a vehicle on the Main Street of Mount Forest in the Township of Wellington North. Investigation revealed that the male victim was operating a motor vehicle accompanied by the suspect and 2 other people when a dispute broke out over the radio station. The suspect punched the victim in the head and shoulder area numerous times as he was driving. The victim managed to pull the vehicle over and stop. The suspect ran away and was apprehended by police a short time later. Once back at the OPP detachment the suspect saw the victim and yelled profanities at him and threatened his life.
A 25-year old man from Harristion has been charged with Assault and Uttering Death Threats contrary to the Criminal Code. He scheduled to appear in Guelph Bail Court on November 15, 2012 to answer to the charges.
For well over 2 decades now< I've been reliant on a small radio station here in Toronto for my weather and transit reports as I consider my travel plans and what I should wear. The transit reports have saved my butt on several occasions allowing me to alter my route and save significant amounts of time getting to where I wish to go. I also always manage to seem appropriately attired given the projected weather forecast. However not all is good in radio land. As briefly discussed on this Blog, a casualty to the ever changing methods for obtaining information has been the death of the live overnight radio show. While in college and university the overnight shows kept me going on those all to frequent overnighters. Long live Radio!