670 the Score Streaming?

[snorlax]

Hi, all...
For the past few days, the stream of 670 the Score has been overloaded with commercials.

While I certainly understand the need for commercials on a stream, the ads on the 670 stream interrupt the show hosts in mid-sentence, so it's very difficult to follow a story.

This happened throughout the morning show yesterday, and well into the 10am (9am) show. It was nearly impossible to follow a topic. Additionally, a couple of the commercial blocks were well over five minutes long.

I had the stream on as I was doing some busy work yesterday and eventually went back to the static-riddled terrestrial radio.

Why did the commercials come without regard to pauses in the program? Is that a failure of automation or did it have something to do with the recent launch of CBS Sports Radio? I noticed that the problem started over the weekend.

I used mostly radio.com on the iPhone, but the same problem seemed to exist on other apps as well.

Any wisdom on this topic? Thanks.

 

[RadioFanBoy]

It's most likely a major automation malfunction. Happens a lot on different stations' web-streams. Every now and then, the streaming commercials run on top of the OTA ads on 93.9 The Lite, so you hear both at once WDRV - The Drive, sounds sooooo much better and smoother online, now that Hubbard has decided to work things out, and end "ad-sertion" on all their stations. ;D

 

[FightingIrish]

Listening to CBS station streams can be a real grueling experience sometimes. They slot in separate ads for the streams, and they're typically the same 5 or 6 over and over and over. For as long as 5-10 minutes. And that's just on their music stations! At least Clear Channel/IHeart has the right idea, as they drop in a song during some commercial breaks.

I'm guessing it's an issue with the way ads are inserted into the streams.

 

[crainbebo]

Saga Communications also stopped that "ad-substitution" crap. So you now have a raw feed of any Saga Communications station. KAFE 104.1 in Bellingham, WA is just like that. All the commercials played on-air are on the webstream now.

-crainbebo

 

[snorlax]

Thanks to all for the info. It would be nice if listeners could get the "raw" stream, but I can see where that would be suboptimal.

@FightingIrish: YESSS! Hearing the same ads multiple times is a drag, and bad advertising strategy to boot.

I suppose that the need for different ads on the stream has two roots:
1. The need to use regional or national advertisers instead of local ones in cases where a listener in Indianapolis is listening to a Chicago station, for example, and/or...
2. Demands for additional compensation for voice talent used on streams in addition to locally.

I suppose it's a must for stations/networks to run inserted ads in order to monetize the streaming venture, but it sure would be nice if the inserted ads were a bit better coordinated with the content of the stream. Otherwise, why listen to the stream?

I wound up switching to the static-heavy Superradio for a while. I'll check the stream again today & see if the advertising is still as invasive.

Jim

 

[almaniac27]

Have you brought this to their attention? I'm sure local CBS stations have their hands tied about this, but if enough people start complaining that the online streaming experience is unacceptable, something might finally be changed.

 

[snorlax]

@almaniac27: Yes, I did bring it to their attention via text.
I received no response.

 

[FightingIrish]

Have you brought this to their attention? I'm sure local CBS stations have their hands tied about this, but if enough people start complaining that the online streaming experience is unacceptable, something might finally be changed.

I've left some scathing reviews on Google Play about the bugs in the Android app. Took forever for them to make it work, but they finally did. CBS seems slow to do anything tech-related. I plan on updating my review to complain about the ads.

 

[FightingIrish]

Looks like CBS has a feedback site for streaming issues, complaints, suggestions, etc.

http://cbsradioplayer.uservoice.com/forums/62175-radio-com-player

 

[snorlax]

Just posted there.
earlier posts indicate that "they're working on it."

We shall see (or hear).

Listening now and it seems to be better.

Unfortunately, a lot of my work activity is solitary and I like streaming audio to pact the time as I work, so a lot of these issues become apparent quickly.

 

[OldChicago]

Saga Communications also stopped that "ad-substitution" crap. So you now have a raw feed of any Saga Communications station. KAFE 104.1 in Bellingham, WA is just like that. All the commercials played on-air are on the webstream now.

-crainbebo

This is strange. Could this be illegal. I thought stations **MUST** run
separate commercials on the web from they are running locally due to some rule that says the voice actors/announcers in the spot must be given more compensation it the spot run on the internet audio feed. I thought that is what started all of this ad-substitution business in the first place. If I remember correctly, many stations (including WGN) stopped their internet streams altogether until they could find a way to do a split during a break.


OLD CHICAGO

 

[crainbebo]

Royalties issues are still affecting WEJZ-96.1 in Jacksonville. The soft rock station has not streamed for a long time due to royalties issues with the music on the stream.

KRVY-97.3 Starbuck, MN is also a RAW feed with all commercials intact, nothing taken out (some PSAs, but they are also played on air). Also, smooth jazz station KOAZ-1510/103.7 Albuquerque, NM plays all commercials raw, nothing substituted. Looks like the ad-substitution rule is getting a little better on many stations.

-crainbebo