News

Ten federal agencies last year paid a national broker almost $577,000 to distribute newspaper stories ghostwritten by government employees. The payments came as Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly lamented “fake news” in Canada. Joly’s office yesterday did not comment

“Thank you, I’m in a puddle of tears and taking my time reading every single message. I’m overwhelmed by your kindness." .. in the wake of their firing by CTV.

IT WAS APRIL 13th .. when the weekly radio crime drama ‘Bulldog Drummond’ began its 8-year run on the Mutual Broadcast System… When the CRTC’s first public hearings on Cable Television were held… When “The Grand Ole Opry,” a Saturday night radio staple from Nashville that holds the longevity record for any live broadcast, came to cable TV (Nashville Network) … and when the cast of “The Andy Griffith Show” reunited for the NBC-TV film “Return To Mayberry.” It attracted the largest audience of any TV-movie that year. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

A Maritimes-based group has a May 31 hearing with the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission on its application for a licence to open a Christian radio station in Kelowna, with a rebroadcasting transmitter in Kamloops

IT WAS APRIL 12th when Canadian broadcaster J. Frank Willis began his legendary 69 hour marathon coverage from a mine surface in Nova Scotia (pictured), after an explosion trapped three miners down below … When ‘The Life of Riley’ family comedy was heard for the first time on the CBS radio network, as a Saturday morning half-hour… When CBS-TV’s Ed Sullivan Show featured Brook Benton singing his first hit, “It’s Just A Matter Of Time”… and when the first episode of “21 Jump Street” starring a young Johnny Depp, aired on the Fox Network. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS APRIL 11th .. when the first live sports event on radio, a boxing match, was heard blow-by-blow over Pittsburgh’s pioneer station KDKA… When hockey play-by-play legend Danny Gallivan (pictured) was born in Montreal… When Lesley Gore and Paul Anka headlined the final broadcast of NBC-TV’s pop music showcase, ‘Hullabaloo!’… and when the Tommy Hunter Show, after a nearly 27 year run, was seen for the last time on CBC TV. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS APRIL 10th .. when Art Baker hosted ‘People Are Funny’ in its debut on NBC radio … When 16-year-old Ricky Nelson sang for the first time on his family’s radio show ‘The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet’ .. When legendary Toronto newsman Dick Smythe ended an 18-year run at CHUM-FM and walked across the street to CFTR-FM… and when Charles Kuralt (pictured) hosted his last broadcast of CBS-TV’s ‘Sunday Morning.’ ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

CTV has fired anchors Tamara Taggart and Mike Killeen as part of a shakeup in the Vancouver newsroom. The duo had served as the station's lead anchors since 2011.

Buckingham has been a key member of Fleetwood Mac, playing with the band from from 1975 to 1987, then, after a decade-long break, returning to the fold in 1997.

IT WAS APRIL 9th … when Bob Hope made his network TV debut, hosting the 90-minute “Star-Spangled Review” on NBC… When the Ed Sullivan Show’s eclectic playbill on CBS-TV included Zippy the Chimp rollerskating and riding a bike, a comedy routine by vaudeville veterans Smith & Dale, ventriloquist Ricky Layne & Velvel, singers Julie Wilson, Oscar Brown Jr. and Jan Peerce… When The Rolling Stones made their first live TV appearance on ITV’s Friday night music showcase “Ready Steady Go!”… and when CBS radio & MSNBC shock jock Don Imus was suspended (and later fired) after he jokingly referred to members of the Rutgers University women’s basketball team as “nappy-headed hos”. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.