Is radio taking precautions?

[DonMatsen]

With three hours notice, CBS NEWS RADIO left New York. TFN, they are now operating out of Washington DC.

 

[kenglish]

My concern is technical staff, especially engineers. Many stations have no engineer on staff, many have only one. Some engineers work on-call for numerous stations, under different owners.
What contingency plans have stations made, for when their engineer is sick and they go off the air?

 

[TheBigA]

What contingency plans have stations made, for when their engineer is sick and they go off the air?

Stations don't need an engineer on site to stay on the air. No FCC requirement for a 1st phone any more.

If staff is sick, the computer can run the station.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

The same contingency plans that the station would have if their contract engineer was, say, vacationing in Hawaii.

Either none, or they have a backup contact. I expect most stations have a backup contact.

 

[kenglish]

I was asking about contingency plans for engineering support. What happens when the transmitter dies and you need an engineer...that sort of thing?
If your engineer is out sick for weeks, who takes care of routine maintenance? If they are in the hospital, who signs off your logs as Chief Operator (you need to have a designated alternate on file, or change the name on the posted notice).
If your EAS gear goes out, do people at the station know what to do?
That sort of stuff.

 

[TheBigA]

If your EAS gear goes out, do people at the station know what to do?
That sort of stuff.

It's not a hobby. People know how to do their jobs. Every station or cluster has someone in charge, and its their job to have a plan.

 

[kenglish]

I've been in and around enough stations to know that isn't always the case. I've helped plenty of smaller operators get through crisis. I'm pointing out things that may have been missed.

 

[kenglish]

On Monday, the Utah Jazz held their weekly presser in their training center, rather than the Arena, citing precautions against the bug. They made a point of keeping the players and reporters a minimum of six feet apart.
For whatever reason, Jazz player Rudy Gobert decided to run his hands over every microphone and recorder on the table as he stood up.
Last night, just seconds before the Jazz at OKC game, he tested positive, and the game was cancelled. The NBA has shut down all games indefinitely.
I guess there ain't much can be done now. There are several newsrooms and many people that might have been exposed when that gear came and went for a couple of days.

 

[TheBigA]

NCAA Tournament just canceled:

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-b...8893285/ncaa-tournaments-canceled-coronavirus

As well as all league tournaments leading up to the NCAA.

This will affect broadcasting, dependent on the revenues from the tournament. CBS, TBS, and radio.

 

[MarcB]

Entercom Hartford is pretty much on lockdown.

On Social Media for HOT 93.7 and Lite 100.5 there's a notice that they're suspending all on-air contesting and ticket giveaways.

This was also on Lite 100.5's Facebook page.

***IMPORTANT NOTICE***
Entercom/WRCH Offices are closed until further notice. If you've won a prize, please DO NOT COME TO THE STUDIOS. We will contact you by phone and alert you when our offices reopen. Everyone be smart and take precautions during this health crisis. Thank you!

 

[crainbebo]

So what happens when we reach Italy-level quarantines? God forbid. I'm guessing even major-market NYC will go to 24 hour automation and morning shows will be cancelled or done via remote in personalities' homes.
I'm guessing radio engineers will have their hands tied up in their quarantines in case a station goes off or the computer system hiccups.
Assuming some news/talk stations will go to 24/7 national coverage of COVID19, and/or some local cut-ins, especially Seattle, New York City and Ohio stations. 50KW AMs may be EXTREMELY beneficial during a national emergency.

 

[davideduardo]

So what happens when we reach Italy-level quarantines? God forbid. I'm guessing even major-market NYC will go to 24 hour automation and morning shows will be cancelled or done via remote in personalities' homes.

Major market stations of importance have automation systems that can handle all kinds of remote originations as if the person or source were in the studio.

Think of how traffic reports are done: the report comes in from a remote location and is inserted directly into the format in seamless fashion. They can do the same for DJs, morning shows and everything else.

I'm guessing radio engineers will have their hands tied up in their quarantines in case a station goes off or the computer system hiccups.

Most gear can be checked via an engineer's phone or tablet. Auxiliary gear can be switched on. Status reports can be obtained at any moment.

Traffic can schedule spots. PDs can update the music logs and even insert new promos recorded by a talent anywhere in the world.

Generally, special "passes" are issued to media in emergencies, so engineers could travel past checkpoints to fix anything that can't be handled online.

Assuming some news/talk stations will go to 24/7 national coverage of COVID19, and/or some local cut-ins, especially Seattle, New York City and Ohio stations. 50KW AMs may be EXTREMELY beneficial during a national emergency.

To use the clear channel stations, it has to be night time. People will look to TV and the Internet, not radio; that horse already escaped from the corral.

In fact, most folks under 40 or so don't know that you can get distant stations on AM at night as they don't use AM and never have.

 

[kenglish]

I'm getting worried about friends who depend on their work with ESPN and other sports. I know many video guys and techs who work nearly full-time, and many camera guys who work free-lance to supplement their day jobs. They were also counting on working the Olympics.

As for those 50 KW stations coming in handy, we need to get rid of LED light bulbs...go back to quiet incandescents. Let's start a rumor of some kind...like incandescent light repels viruses.?

 

[kenglish]

Those 50 KW stations are often State Primary or Local Primary EAS stations, which will relay EAS to stations downstream. Hopefully, the locals have not let their receive antennas degrade too much, and hopefully local and state officials remember the broadcasters and EAS when things get tough (many don't).

 

[TheBigA]

It's pretty quiet at all of the sports stations now. No play by play. All talking about how the various sports will deal with virus-shortened seasons. All of the various sports own their own cable channels, and they're all in talk show mode.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://radioinsight.com/headlines/185196/cumulus-atlanta-under-quarantine/


Now a COVID-19 investigation is affecting Cumulus Atlanta operations after a staff member was in contract with a person currently being tested for COVID-19.

Cumulus Media has placed its Atlanta offices and studios under quarantine after an employee came in contact with a friend currently being tested for possible infection of COVID-19.

Multiple staffers have gone on social media to explain the situation as “Rock 100.5” Program Director Axel Lowe did in a Facebook Live explaining that he and midday host Lindsey will be doing their shows from home, however their morning show will be in best-of.

At Country “New Country 101.5” WKHX, midday host Corey Dylan mentioned that their morning show will be live tomorrow from the house of JJ Kincaid, while afternoon host Lucas Phelan will be live as well. Dylan notes that she is waiting on some equipment to broadcast remotely as well.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://deadline.com/2020/03/coronavirus-netflix-infection-staffer-lockdown-los-angeles-1202881859/


Update the Netflix offices in LA is facing a COVID-19 investigation.

As nations and the entertainment industry take dramatic precautions over the spreading coronavirus, Netflix may have been hit with by a potential inflection here in Los Angeles.

An employee in the Sunset Blvd offices of the streamer looks “likely” to have COVID-19, I’ve learned. The individual was identified in the past day after coming in close contact with a confirmed case. That confirmed case is the spouse of a Netflix staffer.

Though a number of employees were already out of office and working from home in the last week, the Reed Hastings-run company has emptied out one of its Sunset Blvd buildings in immediate response to around 1000 employees being at varying degrees of risk, Additionally, in what is clearly becoming the norm in Hollywood and around the world, City of Angels staffers have been recommended to absolutely work from home until further notice.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://www.fiercevideo.com/video/nab-cancels-annual-show-nab-show-amid-coronavirus-outbreak


Update the NAB has cancelled their convention due to COVID-19 scares.

The National Association of Broadcasters today said it is canceling its annual NAB Show in Las Vegas, scheduled for April, amid growing concerns over the Coronavirus outbreak.

NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith today issued a statement saying the organization is currently considering several potential alternatives including a potential event for later this year.

“This was not an easy decision. Fortunately, we did not have to make this decision alone, and are grateful to our NAB Show community for engaging with us as we grappled with the rapidly evolving situation. This Show is as much yours as it is ours, and it is important to us that we move forward together,” Smith said.

RELATED: Here are the companies skipping NAB Show 2020

NAB’s decision to cancel this year’s NAB Show arrives as a growing list of companies had announced plans to withdraw from exhibiting at or attending the show. Companies that planned on skipping the event included Nikon, AJA Video Systems, TVU Networks, Zaxcom, Avid, Adobe and BitCentral.

As recent as earlier this week, the NAB Show remained committed to carrying on. Last month, NAB issued a statement reassuring attendees and participants that it was taking every possible precaution to ensure a safe show.

 

[MarcB]

DCRTV reports someone at Entercom DC has it. Sports Junkies are quarantined. People at Cumulus DC were exposed to it and Chris Plante is being tested.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://news.****************/artic...Show-Cancels-Two-Live-Events-Over-Coronavirus


Update Bob and Tom show has cancelled events due to the COVID-19 scare

The "Bob & Tom Show" has canceled two live events that they were slated to headline in March and April, due to concerns from the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak. The first cancellation is a live appearance by the ensemble cast of show, including host Tom Griswold, on Thursday, March 26, for the opening day of the Cincinnati Reds baseball season that would have featured a live broadcast with Cumulus/Cincinnati affiliate WOFX-FM. The show has also canceled an April 3 live broadcast to be held at a Charleston, WV, casino, as part of affiliate WKLC-FM's celebration of its 40th year as a Classic Rock station.