24/7 staffing issue

[virgilstreetnc]

Again, someone suggested some topics to get the board fired up ...

There was an interesting thread on the Indiana board about the proposed required staffing of 24/7 stations. How will this hurt you if you had to have someone at the board 24/7? Some already do, but what about the automated stations?

More info here http://www.helpradionow.com (with the FCC link to actual info).

 

[ratingsgeek]

I'm betting the NAB and the rest of the broadcast lobby won't let this one pass.

If it did manage to slip through, I'd further bet that there would be big concessions for cluster operators, along the lines of allowing one human being to operate multiple stations. Minimum-wage interns 7P to 6A.

If, God forbid, a truly oppressive worst-case rule requiring 24-hour staffing for every radio station was to surface, the FCC would find itself in the position of forcing many very small market operators to either shut down or just ignore the rule. With voice-tracking being as slick as it is now, it's easy enough to "sound" live & local even when it ain't. FCC inspectors won't know for sure without barging into the building. But are broadcasters going to require their 19-year old midnight-to-6 jock to open the door to anyone banging on the door at 3 AM claiming to be from the FCC? Not if that jock is MY son or daughter!

The Smaller Government movement has already cut the FCC enforcement staff to a handful of inspectors. It's not hard to imagine this turning into a nationwide game of "Catch Me If You Can."

 

[ZAX Double J]

I hope this does happen because this is the one area where radio has suffered from for some time and the on-air product shows. Granted smaller stations may not be able to do this for budgetary reasons, but it was wrong for stations to reduce their staffs in the first place. As a minimum there should be someone at the station on-air from 6am to midnight seven days a week but realistically 24/7. Would you expect to go to the hospital at 3am for an emergency and find the emergency room was closed? Of course not! Same with radio you're broadcasting 24/7 so why not have someone there that period of time. Not to mention it would put some good talent back on the air and out of the unemplyment line or other jobs that are not what the person wants to do or who have gotten totally out of the business back in it. Finally there is a movement going to bring radio to it's senses before it dies of total heart failure. All the corproatization and dregulation have made it so that certain parties or individuals could get into the business and the results are now showing that that was a totally wrong move.

 

[virgilstreetnc]

I hope this does happen because this is the one area where radio has suffered from for some time and the on-air product shows. Granted smaller stations may not be able to do this for budgetary reasons, but it was wrong for stations to reduce their staffs in the first place.

If faced with the choice of not staffing after midnight, or even 6pm in small towns where families are now eating and watching TV, or completely shutting down the station, it's an easy choice.

One consideration must be cost. If your audience is very small after 6pm, especially after midnight in rural markets it's likely you have no ad sales either. If you do, you can't charge what you do for daytime spot runs, so do you pay out of your pocket and lose money simply to give a board operator a minimum wage job? Or do you cut the pay of the daytime staff that is actually producing the sales and on air quality that is bringing in the daytime cash?

As a minimum there should be someone at the station on-air from 6am to midnight seven days a week but realistically 24/7. Would you expect to go to the hospital at 3am for an emergency and find the emergency room was closed? Of course not! Same with radio you're broadcasting 24/7 so why not have someone there that period of time.

Comparing a life threatening emergency situation to being able to call up the local board operator at 3am to chat or request a song is hardly the same. Demanding a station stay on 24/7 will fix what problem? If there is severe weather, most rural stations will get out of bed and go on air. Otherwise, what possible public service could it provide simply by having someone pushing buttons and giving the time and temperature at 3am in a town where there are no overnight shifts and no nightlife?

Not to mention it would put some good talent back on the air and out of the unemplyment line or other jobs that are not what the person wants to do or who have gotten totally out of the business back in it.

That's the financial responsibility of a station owner?

Finally there is a movement going to bring radio to it's senses before it dies of total heart failure. All the corproatization and dregulation have made it so that certain parties or individuals could get into the business and the results are now showing that that was a totally wrong move.

Maybe in large markets, but again, you don't penalize someone, or a corporation, for creative or financial decisions. There must be a reason put forth to justify staffing a radio station 24/7 when it is not necessary. Again, severe weather is covered by EAS, and I agree it is the responsibility of every radio station to go live in emergency situations.

 

[w00t]

That's the financial responsibility of a station owner?

THANK YOU!!!!!

 

[ZAX Double J]

I hope this does happen because this is the one area where radio has suffered from for some time and the on-air product shows. Granted smaller stations may not be able to do this for budgetary reasons, but it was wrong for stations to reduce their staffs in the first place.

If faced with the choice of not staffing after midnight, or even 6pm in small towns where families are now eating and watching TV, or completely shutting down the station, it's an easy choice.

One consideration must be cost. If your audience is very small after 6pm, especially after midnight in rural markets it's likely you have no ad sales either. If you do, you can't charge what you do for daytime spot runs, so do you pay out of your pocket and lose money simply to give a board operator a minimum wage job? Or do you cut the pay of the daytime staff that is actually producing the sales and on air quality that is bringing in the daytime cash?

As a minimum there should be someone at the station on-air from 6am to midnight seven days a week but realistically 24/7. Would you expect to go to the hospital at 3am for an emergency and find the emergency room was closed? Of course not! Same with radio you're broadcasting 24/7 so why not have someone there that period of time.

Comparing a life threatening emergency situation to being able to call up the local board operator at 3am to chat or request a song is hardly the same. Demanding a station stay on 24/7 will fix what problem? If there is severe weather, most rural stations will get out of bed and go on air. Otherwise, what possible public service could it provide simply by having someone pushing buttons and giving the time and temperature at 3am in a town where there are no overnight shifts and no nightlife?

Not to mention it would put some good talent back on the air and out of the unemplyment line or other jobs that are not what the person wants to do or who have gotten totally out of the business back in it.

That's the financial responsibility of a station owner?

Finally there is a movement going to bring radio to it's senses before it dies of total heart failure. All the corproatization and dregulation have made it so that certain parties or individuals could get into the business and the results are now showing that that was a totally wrong move.

Maybe in large markets, but again, you don't penalize someone, or a corporation, for creative or financial decisions. There must be a reason put forth to justify staffing a radio station 24/7 when it is not necessary. Again, severe weather is covered by EAS, and I agree it is the responsibility of every radio station to go live in emergency situations.

All this happened years ago. Stations WERE staffed 24/7 for those that operated those hours and radio made money, SO why can't it be done now. one word - GREED.

If there is severe weather, most rural stations will get out of bed and go on air.

I don't know of many who will this day and time. Just the EAS going off and a computer automation system running. What if the listern MISSED the EAS or just turned on their radio after the EAS went off? They don't know about it. There has to be an announcer who can reannouce it rather than a recorded weather voicetrack that was done hours ago that says there's a CHACE of storms. This is not serving the public interest as mandated by the FCC.

Granted maybe a bad analogy for the emergency room, but if they are open 24/7 and serve their customers those hours and you a station who is broadcasting 24/7 then shouldn't a listener be able to call up the station at 3am and request a song if they want to? I say yes.

Unfortunately those that do wrong make it hard for those that do right we all suffer. And somewhere along the way someone must have done wrong so now the FCC deregulated stripped radio to it's barest essentials for those to make a ton of money at the expense of the listener and employees of all stations.

 

[virgilstreetnc]

I hope this does happen because this is the one area where radio has suffered from for some time and the on-air product shows. Granted smaller stations may not be able to do this for budgetary reasons, but it was wrong for stations to reduce their staffs in the first place.

If faced with the choice of not staffing after midnight, or even 6pm in small towns where families are now eating and watching TV, or completely shutting down the station, it's an easy choice.

One consideration must be cost. If your audience is very small after 6pm, especially after midnight in rural markets it's likely you have no ad sales either. If you do, you can't charge what you do for daytime spot runs, so do you pay out of your pocket and lose money simply to give a board operator a minimum wage job? Or do you cut the pay of the daytime staff that is actually producing the sales and on air quality that is bringing in the daytime cash?

As a minimum there should be someone at the station on-air from 6am to midnight seven days a week but realistically 24/7. Would you expect to go to the hospital at 3am for an emergency and find the emergency room was closed? Of course not! Same with radio you're broadcasting 24/7 so why not have someone there that period of time.

Comparing a life threatening emergency situation to being able to call up the local board operator at 3am to chat or request a song is hardly the same. Demanding a station stay on 24/7 will fix what problem? If there is severe weather, most rural stations will get out of bed and go on air. Otherwise, what possible public service could it provide simply by having someone pushing buttons and giving the time and temperature at 3am in a town where there are no overnight shifts and no nightlife?

Not to mention it would put some good talent back on the air and out of the unemplyment line or other jobs that are not what the person wants to do or who have gotten totally out of the business back in it.

That's the financial responsibility of a station owner?

Finally there is a movement going to bring radio to it's senses before it dies of total heart failure. All the corproatization and dregulation have made it so that certain parties or individuals could get into the business and the results are now showing that that was a totally wrong move.

Maybe in large markets, but again, you don't penalize someone, or a corporation, for creative or financial decisions. There must be a reason put forth to justify staffing a radio station 24/7 when it is not necessary. Again, severe weather is covered by EAS, and I agree it is the responsibility of every radio station to go live in emergency situations.

All this happened years ago. Stations WERE staffed 24/7 for those that operated those hours and radio made money, SO why can't it be done now. one word - GREED.

If there is severe weather, most rural stations will get out of bed and go on air.

I don't know of many who will this day and time. Just the EAS going off and a computer automation system running. What if the listern MISSED the EAS or just turned on their radio after the EAS went off? They don't know about it. There has to be an announcer who can reannouce it rather than a recorded weather voicetrack that was done hours ago that says there's a CHACE of storms. This is not serving the public interest as mandated by the FCC.

Granted maybe a bad analogy for the emergency room, but if they are open 24/7 and serve their customers those hours and you a station who is broadcasting 24/7 then shouldn't a listener be able to call up the station at 3am and request a song if they want to? I say yes.

Unfortunately those that do wrong make it hard for those that do right we all suffer. And somewhere along the way someone must have done wrong so now the FCC deregulated stripped radio to it's barest essentials for those to make a ton of money at the expense of the listener and employees of all stations.

You make some broad statements by saying all stations did this years ago, and now do not do it because of greed. That's like saying the small grocery store on the corner trying to compete with Wal-Mart is wrong to not stay open 24/7 with a staff, electric, security, etc. all because you want to buy a half-gallon of milk and are upset that you have to drive a few extra miles.

And when you say you don't know many rural radio stations that will get out of bed when there is bad weather, I'd like to know what market you live in and how often you are in rural areas at 3am when a tornado warning is issued? To make a broad statement like that shows this is just your opinion based on nothing.

I contend most rural stations do get out of bed and open the mic when tornado warnings, etc are issued. I know of several stations that are daytimers only, but will still crank up the power at night when the communities' safety is at risk. They of all people have an excuse to not fire the bird up, but they do it anyway.

Most large market stations, even when staffed overnight, do nothing more than play the EAS alert. Is that any better?

Again, are you more concerned about public safety, or someone giving you a handout of a job of sitting at a console reading sports illustrated all night?

 

[ZAX Double J]

Not here in Eastern NC they don't and I can't speak for other markets. I know here in Rocky Mount that stations back 30 years ago that were on 24/7 were staffed all the time as I have spoke with many who were working here then and they know. Yes even at the stations I work at we don't do it. Unless it is my PD who goes in and does it and I'd be more than happy to do it if I was told to do so. Granted times have changed and yes not every mom and pop operation can't compete with the "Wal-Mart" of the area. (open disclosure here I DO work for Wal-Mart so I know what you are saying believe me). I do feel that IF stations once staffed their stations 24/7 they can or at least should try to do so again. And maybe I am looking for a handout of a job sitting at a console as you say at least it's better than working in a milk cooler all day at Wal-Mart (which I Do).

 

[allenv]

I agree with Double J 1000%.It should be FCC law that a station has to be manned
24/7.If you can't afford to do that.. you can't afford a radio station.To me its just like police,fire or any what is supposed to be public service broadcasting.If it is on the air, a human should be in the building.Stations used to care about actually serving the public.Sadly it has become a lost art in most cases.Less ain't more guys...less is less anyway you slice it...Just my opinion...

Allen

 

[virgilstreetnc]

Serving you specificly in what way? At 3am, if there is an emergency, and your station gets on live, what is the problem when it's clear skies outside? Why does someone need to be there? Only asking to clarify, not to patronize.

 

[XTalker]

This really ties in the the thread about local formats in small towns. Bottom line is that people no longer rely on their "hometown" station to provide even emergency information. Stations that intend to truly serve their listeners would not only air the EAS alert, but would continue with followup information concerning the emergency.

I recall a tornado alert that struck Winston-Salem about ten years ago. It happened in the middle of a sports call in show and the host was freaked out! After that experience, we developes an emergency book that contained scripts for every possible emergency. We had a one minute recorded announcement with some basic instructions. While it aired, the board op was to call the PD and ND. Then turn to the proper section and start reading the book until the more experienced person arrived!

Even the most inexperienced board operator could pass along valuable information about the emergency situation.

 

[ZAX Double J]

The reason they have turned away to other sorces is becuase their "hometown" station has abandoned them, moved out of town or gone dark completely. I agree that even a moderatly inexperinced board op can relay vital information. As to the question of what about those clear nights well for those who listen on third shift they like the company of a human voice on the radio. They should be able to call your station at anytime because you serve the public (as Allen said)

I agree with Double J 1000%.It should be FCC law that a station has to be manned
24/7.If you can't afford to do that.. you can't afford a radio station.To me its just like police,fire or any what is supposed to be public service broadcasting.If it is on the air, a human should be in the building.Stations used to care about actually serving the public.Sadly it has become a lost art in most cases.Less ain't more guys...less is less anyway you slice it...Just my opinion...

Allen

he nailed it perfectly.

 

[virgilstreetnc]

To me its just like police,fire or any what is supposed to be public service broadcasting.

Of course, the police, fire and any what is paid for by public tax dollars. The radio station owner in a small town relies solely on advertising to serve the public. No one purchases a business to lose more than they earn. Even with the best of intentions, this does not happen.

Do you throw out the baby with the bathwater in order to babysit that late night caller that has no one else to talk to? You would prefer there be no station at all to serve the community from 6am to midnight?

You assume there will be a line of people waiting to purchase that station to spend more than they earn in advertising in a town of 6,000 people? The real world does not work that way. If tax dollars run out for fire and police, they will take more of your earnings. What is a radio station to do?

This is where the national christian outfits come in and buy up the small town stations to seek pledges. The community loses its information and then where do they turn at 3am when a tornado is ripping through town?

I assume your opinions are based on mid to large markets with multiple stations and corporate owners?

 

[ZAX Double J]

So tell me how did the small mom and pop stations of 30+ years ago staff their stations all the time they were on the air? They had pretty much the same expenses that any station has today. Or is it just an old business model that doesn't work anywhere except the middle to large markets? It astounds me that radio served it's communities actually better back then than they do today and with LESS technology than we have today. They didn't have the internet to look at the latest radar picture to see where the storms are moving or to access the latest forecasts or The Weather Channel playing on a TV in the control room. All they had was the old EBS system remember that? Or even earlier when they didn't even have that. Granted people are the biggest expense ANY company has, but without people you don't have a company either. So put your automation system on "auto" walk away and let IT run the whole show including sales, traffic, programming, engineering, promotions, production, news, etc. or just turn off the transmitter and turn in your license if you can't or won't serve your communoty. Peple make this harder than it is.

 

[allenv]

Amen John well said my man!!!!

 

[virgilstreetnc]

Yes, it is very simple. Nothing to it

Buy a station, meet a payroll, then we'll talk.

 

[ReelBill]

Yes, it is very simple. Nothing to it

Buy a station, meet a payroll, then we'll talk.

Well speaking of payroll, back when radio was radio. Pop was usually seen as the GM and Mom the bookkeeper / check writer. Program Directors did just that with the help of the jocks and all the programming people came up with promotions. Everyone felt like family and worked together to serve their advertisers and community at a livable wage. It worked well until the Telecommunications Act of 1996 came along.

Today, in the mostly corporate world of radio, the corporate officers make seven figure salaries, investors have to get their cut of the profits, GMs make six figure salaries, Directors of Sales with more fat salaries, VPs of Programming that jet around the country telling people what to play, business managers at a nice salary, OMs with even bigger salaries, Chief Engineers
aren't cheap either and promotions directors (with no radio experience but a diploma on the wall) and their college intern assistants that under serve 5 or six stations with pizza coupons, health club memberships... Finally, traffic people start to see the salary scale slide downward....

Point being, by the time the corporate dollar dwindles down to the on-air staff, they make the least amount of money in the building, but are expected to deliver the ratings so the "sales" staff can make a nice living, cut compelling commercials, remotes and work seven days a week a sales convenience. But come budget time, if sales and upper management aren't doing their jobs, programming is usually the first to take the hits or lose their jobs to automation and format changes... ???

 

[virgilstreetnc]

My town has less than 6,000 people. I don't believe anyone in the entire town is making a seven-figure salary.

 

[ReelBill]

My town has less than 6,000 people. I don't believe anyone in the entire town is making a seven-figure salary.

Maybe that's because the corporate CEOs don't live in your or my town. I think you missed my point. If you've got a corporate owned station in your town, I'll bet the GM is making six figures or darn close.

 

[XTalker]

30 years ago, the Mom and Pop operators didn't have the debt service station owners have today. Since the mid-80s, people paid way too much for most radio stations. When the largest single item in your budget it debt service (rather than a great morning show), there is a problem.