Meech Kean passed away at the age of 27, Randy Simms retired from the open line program, and Adrian Graham died at age 66. In addition, there are several interesting facts about VOCM. Keep reading to find out more. Also, be sure to check out the full archives for a more detailed look at the organization. VOCM is owned by Steele Communications, Stingray, and WNCN.
Meech Kean died at age 27
Meech Kean was a reporter and producer at VOCM-A/ST. JOHN’S, NL, for three years. He served as legislative reporter and morning show producer. According to the CBC, Meech took his own life on Tuesday. Although the cause of death is unknown, many are expressing their sorrow. There are many tributes to Meech from colleagues and politicians.
The VOCM newsroom was left without a host in Kean’s place. The station had been without a news director since the start of the year, but Kean’s death is an incredible loss. The news director Fred Hutton is now stepping in to fill the vacant spot. Hutton had worked for CJON-TV since 1990, and was previously a general assignment reporter, assistant ND, and anchor.
Meech Kean had been a popular news personality in her native community of Yellowknife for more than three decades. After suffering from dementia, Meech had been living in Yellowknife. Upon his death, she was a beloved member of her community. He worked tirelessly and devoted a great deal of his time to a variety of projects. In his spare time, he also wrote, produced, and hosted the show ‘The News of the World’.
In 1956, VOCM had new studios and took over the top floor of the Pope Building on Water Street. It had found that a 1,000-watt non-directional transmitter would be a better choice than a 500-watt directional transmitter. The CBC Board of Directors denied VOCM’s application for the larger transmitter. In addition, the station also replaced J.R. Smallwood on the show, and the station also carried a number of Newfoundland baseball games.
Randy Simms retired from the open line program
Earlier this month, former VOCM talk show host Randy Simms resigned from the show after controversy erupted over his discussion with the Innu chief. Simms has apologized for his “stupid” outburst, which was delivered in the heat of the moment. He called Simms’ comment “unprofessional” and “offensive”. He is no longer on the air.
The open line program, which airs on VOCM radio, has been without a host for five years. The program’s host, Mount Pearl Mayor Randy Simms, was a long-time fixture on the broadcaster’s airwaves. Before joining VOCM, Simms was a talk show host on the station and a former mayor of Mount Pearl. Simms, who has been in the industry since the late 1990s, climbed the ranks at VOCM from general assignment reporting to assistant ND, anchoring and news director. He was replaced by Fred Hutton, formerly news director at VOCM. VOCM also lost VOCM’s sports broadcaster, Rodney French.
Simms’ career began after he was selected in the first round of the NFL draft. The Giants selected him over more talented quarterbacks, including Mark McGuire and John Elway. Simms started in every game of the 1981 season and ended up with a six-five record. He threw for 1,743 yards and 13 touchdowns in twelve games, earning him the All-Rookie Team honor.
VOCM changed its format to CJYQ
VOCM switched its format to CJYQ on April 14, 2015. The radio station returned to its original soft-AC and classic hit format, which was popular with listeners in the early to mid-2000s. The change reflects a greater focus on classic hits, but the network is still very popular for its current country music format. The former format of VOCM featured songs by Billy Joel, Glass Tiger, and Human League. The rebranding of the station to CJYQ has also helped the station’s ratings in the province.
VOCM was first known as Classic Hits Q93 under Newcap. The station remained a viable radio station until it began transitioning to full-time automation in the late 1990s. After a decade of rebranding and re-engineering, the station aired music by a variety of artists, and even added a country format. The station’s announcers shared a studio with CKIX and VOCM.
Until then, VOCM was competing against CJYQ in many markets. The two stations were sold to the same company, Newcap. Newcap purchased the two stations and changed them to compete with each other. Newcap also committed to contributing $1,116,500 to Canadian talent development. It said that the Newfoundland-based content of CJYQ led to the creation of numerous original programs.
The licensees of VOCM and CKIX-FM St. John’s had expressed concern over the proposed merger between the two stations. Both companies were unsure of the economic outlook for the area. However, the licensees of both stations maintained that VOCM’s intended audience was not sufficiently served by the proposed merger. Moreover, the company owned another AM radio station in the St. John’s market.
Adrian Graham died at age 66
Former St. John’s radio announcer Adrian Graham died on January 1 at the age of 66. The broadcaster began his career in Marystown, Newfoundland, at the radio station CHCM in the early 1970s. He hosted the CHCM Morning Show for many years, and later moved to St. John’s to work for VOCM. He later retired after a 30-year career. In a statement, the VOCM station paid tribute to Graham’s life and career.
Joe Butler sold VOCM network to Harry Steele
Newcap Broadcasting has purchased the VOCM radio stations in Newfoundland and Labrador. The acquisition of VOCM’s network of St. John’s stations means that the network is now operated by Steele Communications, a family-owned company that also owns VOCM-FM. It is the newest face of private radio in the province, and its history is a fascinating one.
In 1956, the station was acquired by a British company called Colonial Broadcasting System Limited. The company was headed by Walter B. Williams, the president of Colonial Broadcasting System Limited. VOCM employees included Harold N. Butler and Joseph V. Butler. They owned the station as a partnership, and were later sold to Harry Steele and the BBC. VOCM sold to Harry Steele in 1958.
The VOCM network was formed in 1931 by Joseph V. Butler, who grew up in St. JohnaEUR(tm)s, Newfoundland. He began working at the radio station as an operator at the age of 21. He also worked for Marconi Communications in Sable Island and Makovik, Labrador, before becoming an instructor at RCA in Boston. In 1932, he built a transmitter for VONF and later sold a controlling interest in the network to Harry Steele. In 1936, VOCM transformed from a ham license to a commercial operation with a 100-watt transmitter.
VOCM network also incorporated syndicated talk programs into its schedule. The Dr. Laura Schlessinger show, which aired on tape delay in the early evening, was later canceled. The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council cited Dr. Schlessinger for racist comments. Although the network continues to air syndicated feature shows and occasionally brokered programming, it does not regularly air extended talk programs.
