During his show on Monday, VOCM “Open Line” host Paddy Daly spoke about the news circulating on social media, of the cancellation of another of the VOCM call-in radio shows, “Nightline.”
“Many of you have heard by now that ‘Nightline’ has gone away. It was on a summer break, but now I guess the decision has been made that it won’t be returning in the fall,” Daly said, calling the end of that show “unfortunate,” noting his own time in the chair hosting the program.
“I just want to say congratulations, thank you, to Jonathan (Richler) for the fine work he did on that program. I think it was a real benefit to the community. A lot of good discussions took place on that show,” he said.
Daly said he didn’t know the reason for the decision. He declined any further comment when contacted by The Telegram.
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Richler similarly declined comment, saying he is satisfied with his comment in a social media post last week, on July 20.
“This week I heard VOCM ‘Nightline’ has been cancelled,” he wrote in a Twitter post from his personal account (@jonathanrichler). “A giant thank you to all of our listeners over the years. I’m grateful for the opportunity and tremendous fun provided to me from the stellar family at 590 VOCM. Lila tov. -J”
VOCM is part of the collection of Newcap Radio assets included in the sale announced in May, being sold to Stingray Digital Media Group. The deal fuelled speculation of the latest programming change being forced from above.
But in an email to The Telegram, VOCM manager Mike Murphy said the cancellation of “Nightline” was not something handed down.
“This decision was 100 per cent a local decision as we tweak programming in advance of the fall radio period. We are also working on adding new features,” Murphy stated, while not revealing anything further at this point on what might be ahead for local listeners.
Pete Soucy was the last host of VOCM’s “Backtalk,” another of the big three radio talk shows, cancelled in 2017. He was asked what he made of the latest call-in cut.
“I'd just say that it's always sad, and somewhat concerning, when such a long-enjoyed, and supported, program like ‘Nightline’ comes to an end,” Soucy wrote. “The call-in shows are still important windows for public discourse on all issues, and their value is confirmed by their continued popularity.”
