Changes to CHFI and Kiss Toronto
Starting this week, Pina is the new midday show on Kiss 92.5, Greg Burns who previously hosted on Kiss 92.5 has slid up the dial to CHFI, taking over the 4-7 slot that used to be hosted by Rick Campanelli and Brooksy. Rick has now moved over to Breakfast Television as a contributor.
As a result of the changes the new on air lineup for Kiss is Roz and Mocha from 6-10 and then Pina is on air from 10-3, followed by Nikki 3-7 and from 7-10 KiSS at Night with Sam McDaid.
CHFI’s new lineup is The Pooja & Gurdeep Show from 5-9am followed by Michelle Butterly from 9-1 Brooksy from 1-4, Greg Burns from 4-7 and Pina from 7-9 and then the John Tesh radio show from 9-12. Another change is longtime host Darren Osborne has departed the lineup. No word if he is still with the company or he was let go.
Really disappointed that Darrin Osborne is no longer in the lineup. He has the perfect radio voice and and I listened to his broadcast every chance.I had. I’ll be watching to see where he ends up so I can listen again.
I totally agree with your comments! Darren was my anchor when driving through Toronto. What is management thinking?
Very disappointed to hear that Darren Osborne is no longer on the radio. He was a great person to listen to and was always very upbeat.
Loved his daily “Feel Good Stories”.
Love Darren Osborne, so alive, so inspiring, full of positive vibes, very friendly and accommodating very happy to listen to, It’s CHFI loss, he’s a good radio man.
VERY disappointed that Darren has left. He is so down to earth and friendly.
Where did Darrren Osborne go? The lack of stability among CHFI’s long term radio hosts is really a turn off. Apart from Michelle Butterly everyone that I’ve loved listening to for the past decade is MIA!👎🏼
With the exception of Darren B. Lamb a few years ago, who mysteriously quit or was fired, CHFI’s long-tme hosts are not MIA. They were “let go” or re-structured, as happens so frequently in this industry. When employees reach 20+ years, they are making six figure salaries and expensive benefits that new employees don’t get, so big media companies like Rogers and Bell Media are “cutting costs”.
CHFI 98.1 has changed dramatically the last 6-7 years. They fired….. golden handshake etc all of the ones that had been there for 15 years plus. Now it’s a revolving door. They now are getting stale and old. Gurdeep has been going on about California closets for about two years. Boy, he or the station must have received something nice🤔 both he and Pooja they are ok, but same old with them, they jabber on most mornings about nothing. I went to another station months ago. I listen every so often to hear if they are still repeating the same old….California closet, Don Valley North Toyota, the different version of winning money re: music. 98.1 needs a complete overhaul. I had listened to CHFI for many years as did my kids…..actually they grew up with the channel……all are now in their early twenties…….they have moved on for of reasons of course. Michelle, I hope you have something lined up, you’ll be next😞
I agree with you to a point. I woked in media for 30 years; once you are 50+, 30 years experience, $100k+ (Toronto morning personalities on top rated stations get paid several hundred thousand each), you become too costly and expendable. I’m surprised Michele is still there; she is the last. You do realize, or not, the California Closets, an advertiser, is paid advertising or infomercials. This predates P&G. Paid advertising pays our…there…salaries. But the music is awful. And now they think listeners on the weekends want EVEN MORE 80s & 90s. They recently hired a Senior Producer for the morning show, who btw worked there years ago. So far, I’m not hearing anything different. And P&G don’t even work Mondays all summer long! Long weekends every weekend; I’m not interested in hearing content I’ve already heard! It’s awful!
For stations to survive they need listeners. One way is contests. But oh boy, these last ones are tedious & so boring. Played 5x/day, and in between the hosts are talking about it. On & on, No break even on wkends & holidays. (My attitude is not due to not needing the cash, I am on a fixed income). There have always been contests throughout the years, but these latest ones are ad nauseam.
Fully agree. All the ones I lived to listen to are no longer with Chfi. What a shame!
I am very upset that that Darren Osborne is no longer on CHFI.
It is not the same without him.
Where did he go and why?
Really sad the Darren Osborne is no longer there for my ride home. I am not enjoying the new lineup at all. Will have to find a new radio station.
Next in line to go should be Pooja and Gurdeep. Talk about repetitive and boring. Both are pretty full of themselves. I keep listening and hoping they’ll rub off on me……but not happening. Time to find another station.
I really liked hearing the fell good story of the on my drive home. Darren was so relatable and personable. Going to miss him and will wait to see where he emerges
Feel good story
wasn’t listening to chfi much before this move, not a fan of the morning show or late evening. Michelle and Darren was only shows I enjoyed. Time to leave CHFI off the dial completely
Very happy to see Darren gone. Having to listen to that unbearable phoniness and feel good story…I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard the new host’s voice, I shouted aloud in joy. Thank you CHFI for the lineup change!
I am completely shocked and saddened that Darren Osborne is gone! I have been out of town and just about fell of my chair just now when I heard a different voice on my radio just now!!! I figured he must have been moved to a different time slot and am so upset to see him gone entirely from CHFI.
Sorry Nicole but you have to realize this is what happens in media (it happened to me too); when you’ve worked in the business for 25-30 years, six figure salary, large benefits, etc., Rogers (& others) are cutting costs. Traditional ad revenues have fallen for years. Rogers did this to many others including Maureen Holloway, Darryl Henry, and others before and after them. Not surprised at all. Michele Butterly will be next – she’s been there a long time and she is the last of the “old guard”.
I love listening to CHFI for years and was surprised on my way home to hear a different voice and style that just did not match with the type of songs played at this station. His style seems to match a rock music station. I will look for another station in the afternoon if this guy is the host.
I’m not happy with the changes – Greg Burns doesn’t fit the style that CHFI is known for. His voice and style are too harsh. And the weekend new voices don’t fit either. I understand that change is inevitable but these don’t work for me – after trying to get used to the new style, I’m going to have to change the dial.
I am extremely upset that Darren is no longer at chfi. He was so genuine and heart warming. His feel good stories brighten my day and make me happy there is still good in our very disturbing world these days. You have made a terrible mistake. I dont think I will be listening much any more.
Very upset Darren has gone.
Enjoyed listening to him in the afternoon. Not enjoying any other of your staff except Michell Butterly Is she the next to go. CHFI what are you doing. Greg Burns sends me creepy vibes. Your station is not enjoyable to listen to any more. I have moved on to an other station
Darren Osborne is a Legend. Hands down the best Radio personality. Hope he lands something much better.
I listened to CHFI when it was Don and Erin. After Erin was fired I never went back. The music was to bubble gum and wrte that Julie Adams should be fired
Erin retired she was not fired.
ERIN WAS fired. 2003. Retired in 2016.
she was fired in the early 2000 when Julie Adams came over from Kiss bring Mad Dog and Billie.
Darren Osborne was CHFI. A tremendous soothing radio voice during the afternoon drive.
So typical of Rogers to just dump people. Ya da ya da ya da save money, big salaries blah blah blah! Yes everyone is just a number. I know and it shows on CHFI!
Greg Burns was a blast on Kiss which I sometimes listened to while driving on weekends. Very upbeat, young and brash. So NOT CHFI!! What a mistake. Ugh! Sorry Greg, but you belong somewhere else.
Not CHFI.
I am so glad that we can comment on the new changes to CHFI. At first I figured that Darren Osborne was on vacation, but after time went by, I was REALLY sad to hear about Darren Osborne’s departure!! I absolutely loved him. He was so sweet and kind. I was just so shocked to hear he had gone. He was the perfect person on the radio. Loved his Feel Good stories and everything else he said and did. I feel very sad that I won’t be able to hear his wonderful voice again. Wishing Darren all the best. He will certainly be missed by all.
Sorry cannot stand Greg Burns. Terrible voice. Not a CHFI fit & I’ve been listening since BEFORE Don & Erin. Miss Darren Osbourne a lot. Shocked that he’s gone. So sad. I want to hear that voice again – a great ‘radio’ voice. Going to have to find a new station after all this time. Too bad CHFI as usual Roger’s messing everything up. I wish Darren all the best. Hope if another station picks him up that I find him.
What a shame that Darren Osborne is no longer on CHFI. I have been waiting for some time for him to come back on the air, thinking he was on holidays. What a shock when I learned he is no longer on CHFI. He definitely was the reason I made sure to have 98.1 on in the afternoon. He was professional, funny, kind with his feel good stories and encouraged his listeners to make a difference out there. I am very sad I will not be hearing him on your station and hope he left because of another job offer that appreciates his unique talents. It would be hard to accept that he was released of his duties at the station. Maybe CHFI can make a statement explaining Darren Osborne’s departure. Listeners deserve this respect.
I’m sad Darren no longer at CHFI, at first I thought he’s on vacation that’s why Brooksy is taking over, but weeks passed still no Darren and no one saying anything about him so I searched, so here I am, geez! That guy who has the accent? well, not a fan, I think he should be in a hard rock music station to match that accent, don’t shoot me, it’s my opinion, I’m a long time listener of CHFI but the constant changes of host, don’t like it. When Erin Davis was still in the morning show, I loved it but when TV personality took over bleh, I said why? I want them on TV not on the radio. So when Michelle leaves I’ll switch to CD’s.
I really miss Darren. I keep thinking he is on vacation. I will miss his cheerful voice and stories. It’s not the same without him. Best of luck and Blessings to you Darren and your family.
All the best to Darren Osbourne – I will miss your voice and your show and your genuine personality. You brought a lot to the station. Cheers.
I realize the practice is likely to draw listeners, but I am so ‘turned-off’ by the numerous contests. Just never ends…one barely finishes & another pops up. I listen to CHFI for the music & News contents. Each contest is played several times/day, even wkends, and when it’s not being played, the hosts are talking about it. Same ole, same ole🙁
Darren Osborne ‘s departure is a loss to Chfi. The station definitely isn’t what it used to be.
I miss Darren and not really a fan of the morning show anymore. I hate it when they both go on vacation and we are subjected to repeat material who wants to listen to that