Todd Hancock
Todd
Hancock - BCIT Radio Broadcast Program graduate 1997 (appointed to Advisory
Board 2005); afternoons/Assistant Music Director CFBV Smithers
1997; evenings CIRX-FM Prince George 1997-99; fternoons/Assistant
PD CJCI Prince George 1997-2000; senior swing CFOX-FM Vancouver 2000-01;
mornings CFEX-FM Victoria 2001-02; evenings/Rock Report CFOX-FM Vancouver
2002-03; mornings CFOX-FM 2003; afternoons/Rock Report CFOX-FM 2003-current
(Copyright
The Province 2001)
Profile
of Todd Hancock
There is
many a circuitous route that one can take to embark on a broadcasting career.
But rarely, if ever, does a casual song request and ensuing conversation lead
to an immediate friendship and eventually open the doors to employment.
Such was
the case for Todd Hancock, the gifted and talented new morning host of
As the
story goes, Hancock was a BCIT broadcast student when he casually phoned the
CFOX request line one evening, looking to hear a particular Metallica
song.
"I
called Jeff O'Neil at The Fox to ask for the song and he told me they didn't
even play it." he said. "I started in on him
a bit about why they didn't and he eventually invited me down to the studio to
sit in and watch the show."
The two
became fast friends and since Hancock displayed such a natural affinity for the
broadcast business, others in the building soon took notice. Among them, CFOX
program director Bob Mills.
"Todd
first came to my attention about five years ago through Jeff," said Mills.
"And since he showed such a passion and a real love for radio, he learned
to absorb all he could from the talent around him like O'Neil, Larry and Willy,
Bill Courage and others."
Passion
aside, Mills passed on his wisdom to the eager student, including the simple
reality that most up-and-coming broadcasters soon learn: Start at the bottom.
"Despite
all he may learn here at The Fox, the chances of starting his on-air career in
a major market like
That
first job occurred four years ago in Smithers and
coincidentally came about on the last day of his broadcast course. The Smithers gig soon led to a much better position in Prince
George where Todd did double duty between the company's FM rock outlet The Max
and its country AM sibling, CJCI.
From
there, the rise was swift and though Todd's first days were a bit rough, he
ironed out the wrinkles quickly.
"I
was told in Smithers that I was a bit of a smart ass
and would be lucky to pass my three-month trial period." said Hancock.
"And I had a similar situation occur with one of my broadcast instructors
at BCIT so I started believing that maybe they were right."
Fortunately
for Hancock, they couldn't have been more wrong.
His time
behind the scenes at The Fox proved invaluable and since he had left such a
good impression on Mills, it was just a matter of time before those two would
reconnect.
Hancock
was among the new hirings when CFOX underwent a
format revamp in November and cleaned house. It showed Mills in short order
that his instincts on the lad were bang on.
"After
being on the air in a good medium market like
"Not
only has Todd been blessed with a lot of the tools of the trade naturally but
he's so passionate about radio, he maximizes what he was given and continually
strives to better it.
"This
kid has a very bright future."
And
though there's plenty more chapters to be written in the story, he's already
met both his short- and long-term broadcast goals in near record time.
Last
month, Todd took over the morning slot at Extreme 107.3 as part of the tandem
of Houle and Hancock, hosting alongside his former fiance and good friend Tiffany Houle.
Add to
that the peaceful environs of
"It's
great." he says. "I'm only 27 but already enjoying the retired
life."