It ended between Jeff Fillian and CHOI FM

Shockwave, celebrity and controversial host Jeff Fillian on the radio world in Quebec will soon leave station CHOI FM

Also read: “Radio Epicenter”: Columnist Claude Villeneuve responds to Jeff Phillian’s invitation

The host turned down a renewal offer proposed by CHOI Radio X, which was confirmed Thursday afternoon by RNC Media Vice President Philippe Lefbre, who owns the station.

In Radio Pirate’s airwaves, he confirmed that his internet radio, which he hosts in parallel to his duties as a host at CHOI, Philippines, did not offer him.

“Over the past few months, I have informed the RNC about my plans for the future and the RNC has not complied with my requests and my terms and has chosen not to offer me a new contract,” said Director Animator.

“I was involved in the production of Radio X. It’s not as bad as my baby. In the broadcast, on the Internet [mon équipe et moi] We are number 1. Every week we break our records Streaming. Reaching the top ToughIt was hard to be there and we did the same […] I feel I have the right to know what I value at this stage in my career and I have the right to choose the circumstances that suit me, “said the 54-year-old, who did not wish to comment. Log.

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Disassembled

After announcing that his affiliation with CHOI would end in August, he said, “I am 100% excited to focus on my daily presentation. radiopirate.com. “

He joined CHOI in 1996 and played a key role in the station’s reconstruction in 1998, after which he received radio X recognition. He left, including Sophie Chiason, who went to court fighting legal action, and several complaints to the CRTC. Station in 2005. He returned to CHOI in 2016 after two years working at NRJ 98.9, which ended in controversy.

The end of an era

Will Jeff Phillian’s departure from Radio X mark the end of an era in Quebec radio that is often described as trash radio?

“Popularist radio making continues to gain popularity, but now the style is more restrained. Aaron Spelling, a TV producer in the United States, says Claude Thiebodu, a former station manager and now analyst, believes that “overestimating the bad taste of the people does not make a person lose money”.

Alain Dufresne, a key figure in the world of Quebec radio and now head of the College of Quebec Radio and Television, stressed that this was a change of platform, not the end of the polarized host.

“It’s the same thing he’s doing in Radio Pirate, ” Alain Dufresne believes. Chicken. Who will go last. This is not the ending story, it is the new chapter.

Is coming

Claude Thebodo believes Phillian will find another microphone.

“I do not think this is the end of his career in radio. What he created is a feature that dries up overnight. If it is his wish he will come back elsewhere, but he may not have the benefit of so much bargaining. And an employer interested in his services would do well to keep a whole range of terms from him that would require more intellectual rigor.

Alain Dufresne did not share this view.

“I wonder if what Radio X financially does not mean to another station. Jeff nestled too. It has its advantages and disadvantages. Most people have been following this for a long time, but it is not very exportable.

“It’s a change of platform, but it’s not the end of Jeff. Announcing in advance is a wise thing to do. This allows his listeners who are not yet on Radio Pirate to follow him. He takes the opportunity to make it work.

Causes

Claude Thebodo describes divorce as a mixture of three elements; Corporate, legal and financial.

“The station wants to do something like that, but the star doesn’t. RNC has many other interests in radio and television. Then, dissidents lead to criticism, lawsuits and expulsion movements. If Radio X is alone in the world, that is not a problem. But when you belong to a large group, people who want to put pressure on you have many entry points to do damage to, ”he said.

“Radio products are facing a growth curve that will lead to an improvement in (economic) conditions during this period. The time will come when you will reach your maturity level and it will cost more than what you can bring. We can no longer make more money through advertising, ”Mr. Thebodo adds, adding that he experienced the same thing when he went to the popular morning show on Zoo, FM 93, a contestant CHIK-FM, which he directed.

Alain Dufresne chose the financial question.

“It’s sure to be on stagnant money, he thinks. It’s not profitable because NBC withdrew the NFL deal. Radio X, which collects about 25% of Radio’s advertising budget in Quebec, can afford it. Are they going to lose money? This is a business decision. Jeff Broadcasts from Florida Radio X is a Patchwork Independent founders.

“For Radio X, it’s the loss of a popular host,” he continues. But at Jeff’s first start, they found that the antenna was too loud. The station slowed down a bit. This is a phenomenon. Have big names left [comme Denis Gravel] And the antenna continued. This is a context that needs to be studied. ”

Is it for sale?

Mr. According to Dufresne, the CHOI is still up for sale. “If I were in conspiracy mode, I would wonder if it would be easy to sell the station with or without Jeff.”

Not even renewing the contract is not contrary to the sale, Mr. Thebodo retorted.

“When a company sells a station that has stars, it does not take the initiative to dispose of it without first consulting the buyer. If so, it is clear that the buyer has an opinion on the value of Mr. Fillion in relation to the station development plans.