In this week’s issue… Toronto loses legendary morning man – What we learned at the NAB Show – Call change heralds Rochester NPR move – Towers coming down in PA – Remembering New England’s Bill Macek
By SCOTT FYBUSH
*Make a list of the most beloved radio voices in CANADA‘s largest market and one name that should be almost universal is “Don Daynard.”
The native of Owen Sound started his career up there at CFOS (560) way back in 1953, then worked in Peterborough, Kitchener and Smiths Falls before taking a brief swing at a Hollywood career. While his passion for the movies lasted his whole life, Daynard’s time in LA lasted only a few years – by the mid-1960s, he was back in greater Toronto at CFGM in Richmond Hill before joining CKFH, CFRB and then sister station CKFM.
It was at CKFM that “Double D” became a Toronto radio star, hosting mornings for 12 years and launching his long-running Saturday night oldies show.
In 1987, Daynard crossed the street to competitor CHFI (98.1), taking the sleepy beautiful music station to the top of the ratings and pairing with another morning star, Erin Davis. Daynard left the morning show in 1999 but kept on with his Saturday night show until fully retiring in 2004.
Along the way, he also hosted a show on TVOntario, made some movie appearances (including having his voice as a radio newscaster in “Porky’s”), and lived a radio dream that literally included riding off from his retirement party on a white horse to “Happy Trails.”
Daynard died on Thursday (April 21) after a long illness. He was 88.
The 2026 Tower Site Calendar was the final edition, and there will no longer be a Fybush Media Store.
We still have some old calendars and some books, so if you’ve been planning to buy some but just haven’t gotten around to it — this week is your last chance.
Go to our store now and get your favorite tower pin-ups!
Not sure what pictures are in which calendars? Ask Lisa — she’ll tell you.
Looking to get into station ownership? Our StationSale division has some great new listings for you, including a very successful multimedia combo including radio/digital/print in one of the finest small markets in the region, a major market FM translator opportunity, a profitable Midwest FM, an inexpensive entry into a fast-growing Western market, and a turnkey profitable FM/AM/translator small-market combo that’s ready for a new owner. Drop me a line at scott@fybush.com and I’ll set you up with an NDA and all the details…
And if your noncommercial FM station is ready to think about translators, there’s a filing window coming this fall from the FCC and it’s the perfect time to start making plans.
In this week’s issue… iHeart cuts leave some small markets vacant - Townsquare makes more NJ moves - Format shuffles in the Connecticut River Valley - Veteran meteorologists retire - Toronto AM seeks FM voice
In this week’s issue… FCC, licensees prepare for translator window - Ithaca exec moves on - Border gets the Lake back - Malloy returns to NJ 101.5 - AMs sell in MA, CT - Windsor vet retires
In this week’s issue… NYC veteran leaves desk - Bulldozers take down some Boston history - Public radio sale in PA - Family adds FM - CKNX celebrates centennial
In this week’s issue… NJ PBS enters new era - Adam 12's new Boston gig - Audacy relocates studios - NYC morning host plans retirement - CHUM, Flow retool in Toronto - Remembering Rocky Allen, Pittsburgh's Negri
