Cape Talk 567: Bring back Mike Wills

Since I posted my news piece about Mike Wills leaving Cape Talk 567 I have received numerous comments and messages agreeing that he should not have been fired, asked-to-leave, or whatever term you may want to apply to the situation which saw Mike’s contract not being renewed for another year.

I believed him to be the finest host that Cape Talk had to offer and know that Cape Talk has definitely lost a lot of listeners because of their decision. I have not yet found out what Mike is up to these days, I really hope he’s doing well… I do know that my mornings are somewhat incomplete.

Comments on this blog have included:

I agree - my mornings just haven�t been the same since Mike left. And as much as I�ve been trying to give Aiden Thomas the benefit of the doubt, I just don�t enjoy the morning show as much as I used to. I wish Cape Talk had been a bit more open about their reasons for not renewing Mike�s contract. I guess the only logical explanation is that the decision was BEE based. Whatever. At the end of the day, Cape Talk has definitely let one of the better guys go��

Mike Wills was the main reason I lisened to Cape Talk. I now listen mainly to SAFM, but still switch stations looking for someone like Mike.

Really sad to see Mike gone. It was great to wake up to someone who sounds like just a regular guy, but is really passionate about what he does and what he believes in. Agree, could only have been a BEE decision. The poor fellow they have in his place now brings up frightening memories of Frasier Crane�s colleague Gil, the way he unmelodiously sings his message across. Primedia, do what you have to do, but the day John Maytham leaves you�ll lose a sizable portion of your �thinking� audience.�

Really miss Mike in the mornings. I have also stopped listening to Cape Talk in the mornings now that mike is gone. Do still listen to John in the evenings though.�

These comments are all from people I dont know and that have somehow found my blog while Googling or the similar. If these people can find me there must be hundreds of others also missing Mike. The question is, what can we do about it?

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You’re currently reading “Cape Talk 567: Bring back Mike Wills,” an entry on Tim Keller

Published:: 07.30.06 / 6pm

Category:: Rant

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Tim is the CEO of OneWebStudios, a small Web Application development house which is actively working on the ChirpSchool suite of school-management applications as well as holding the position of Business and Development Engineer at Umoya Networks. He also speaks to school staff and students alike on a range of IT topics including Java, PHP, MySQL, GoogleEarth as a teaching tool, Python, Ajax and Computer Theory. Most importantly he has a beautiful girlfriend named Amy who he is completely in love with.

Michelle 10.06.06 / 11am

I am so disappointed that Mike Wills has been replaced in what appears to be a decision motivated by BEE policies.

Aden has very little general knowledge and doesn’t seem to be able to host interesting programmes either. He keeps on repeating his name or the station name and the time of day (completely mundane details) either because he does not have anything interesting to say, or else because he is waiting in vane for callers who have long since gone in search of an alternative radio station/presenter.

Initially I started trying to just tune in to the news, but the thought of perhaps tuning in too early and having to listen to Aden’s annoying voice completely puts me off. So I have now completely stopped listening to Cape Talk in the mornings. I still really enjoy listening to John Maytham and Bruce Whitfield/Chris Gibbons, but I definitely think that Cape Talk has lost a really good element of current affair debate.

I know that I am not alone in completely cutting Cape Talk out of my morning routine. So, all I am hoping for is that the decrease in their advertising revenue as advertisers start realising that they are losing listenership at a rapid rate will soon dictate that Aden Thomas must be replaced by someone with more knowledge and ability to debate.

timkeller 10.06.06 / 6pm

Totally agree with you Michelle. The thing is, as Mike once said in an interview (I can’t seem to find it now), that the morning show is what hooks listeners into the rest of the day. Its an intensely personal time… waking up, eating breakfast and driving to work. I know I’m not particularly interested in talking to anyone until my coffee starts kicking in The only person you actually will share that time with is the morning presenter you listen to.

For a lot of Cape Town… Mike Wills was that person. And not only that, after his 9am sign-off, a lot of his listeners stayed on for the 9-12 slot… I know that his removal resulted me me hardly ever turning on 567.

Honestly, if it wasn’t for the remaining handful of quality presenters, Cape Talk would be without listeners. Its sad, but considering Cape Talk’s history… they seem to have real trouble holding on to good presenters. Its sad that, in this case, Mike had no intension to leave.

What do we as responsible listeners do? I sure would like Mike to pop in his head. I wonder if he ever google’s himself…

Tania 03.13.07 / 3pm

I have seen several places on the Internet which indicate that Cape Talk lost listeners over this decision. If indeed (as rumour has it) Primedia were trying to capture more of the Coloured market, I think it would have been more respectful for them to have said that this was what motivated their decision.

PS: The hyperlink which I provided was contracted by your blog’s scripts, and as a result it won’t work properly. FWIW, there are two entries in my blog referencing Mike Wills, and they can be found by searching for his name, with the appropriate space between the name and surname.

timkeller 03.18.07 / 10am

Thanks for the comments Tania - Cape Talk certainly did make a mistake when ditching Mike Wills… I know for a fact I haven’t listened to the station once this year (2007). Primedia clearly don’t know how to look at their ratings and see which of their presenters are good and which are not.

I wonder what Mike is doing these days?

Estelle Murray 05.11.07 / 9am

I think Aiden Thomas is GREAT!! Go Aiden!

timkeller 05.11.07 / 10pm

Ok then, I wouldn’t really know since I gave up a long time ago…

Deryck Kellerman 05.13.07 / 9pm

I too am sad at the loss of a great and interesting presenter. He made all his programmes totaly alive, and made me feel he is talking to only me.There is nothing wrong with aden, but i think mike should be paet of cape talk. He is the one i listen to among the others.John M, Chris G, Kate T.
I am also not happy with the Sat & Sun music we can rather have reruns of the weeks programmes.

Regards
Deryck

Kevin 05.21.07 / 12pm

I am sure that those who started this blog will noe agree that Aden is one of the best things that happened to Cape Talk and Cape Town, since even before he joined Primedia.

Of course Mike is a fantastic presenter, but times required change, and change is difficult to deal with. Primedia has been vindicated of their decision to employ Aden, but also to put him n breakfast!

I am sure that those who started this blog, and whom I am sure never really stopped listening to Cape Talk will agree with me.

So…. STOP THE WHINGEING!…lol

Kevin

Jack 06.15.07 / 1pm

What can we do to get Mike back? I have also stopped listening to CT in the mornings - I just couldn’t take it anymore! I tried…

Henri 07.13.07 / 4pm

Mike’s nasal delivery irritates me, and he’s so opinionated that he dominates any interaction with callers or those being interviewed. I’m not interested in his views, I want to hear the views of other listeners or those being interviewed.

Cape Talk, like many other radio stations, improved their listener numbers over the period that Aden took over, and the demographic profile has widened. There are people now calling in who would not have called in were Mike still hosting the morning show.

Disppointingly for all the “when we”s on this blog, the sky did not fall in after Mike was fired. And Cape Talk is losing its neanderthal, reactionary, neocon, “Southern Suburbs Consensus” view of public issues because people like me are now listening to the morning show.

Deon 07.26.07 / 8am

I enjoyed Mike Wills show, but I think Aden adds another dimension to the morning show. Aden is a bit more dynamic and brings loads of expierence with him. Maybe a little younger than Mike Wills but definitely not less professional.Aden is the reason I don’t channel hope any longer during my hour drive to work in the mornings. I don’t think he was appointed because he’s so-called coloured, but because of MERIT.
Thanks

Bridgid 08.10.07 / 3pm

It is always great when Mike Wills “pops in” for the odd guest appearance. My morning drive into town would be greatly enhanced if Mike was morning talk show host again. I feel now that Cape Talk has become too parochial. I know it is supposed to be about Cape Town, but not only about this little village, surely? We like more comment and exposure to the rest of the world too. Mike struck a great balance. He didn’t permit the entire show to be dominated by one local news story all morning.

Kenneth 09.16.07 / 6pm

No problem with Aden. I think he brings his own character to the morning show. I am coloured.

However, firing Mike was not good judgement. He definately gave his show its own character. He should be re-instated and do the afternoon show. Replace opiniated John M. I’m sure the 3 to 6 slot will become more popular.

Failing this, reshufel the times to create a space for M Wills.

I hope these comments are passed on to Cape Talk / Prime Media, otherwise this becomes just another whinging blog. Do something positive with these responses and demand on behalf of all of us, his return.

Kennyp

Tim Keller

Cape Talk 567: Bring back Mike Wills

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