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ABI closing its doors

T

Twitch

Guest
I know that this board is usually split on whether or not broadcasting schools are "worth it", so for those who don't, you probably won't find this suprising (or interesting, for that matter).

The Atlanta Broadcast Institute is closing it's doors after 21 years. It's closing is another result of the failing economy and credit crisis.

I went there and learned quite a bit and probably wouldn't have ever been able to get in to the business had I not gone. I know of several people in this market (on and off air) who went there as well.

CSB, with two schools in the area, is now the only school of it's kind in town.
 
CSB, with two schools in the area, is now the only school of it's kind in town.
Click to expand...

Our sports broadcasting entry-level program, Complete Game Broadcasting, launched in late 2008. We were very fortunate to have a full class in the fall and it looks like full capacity for February and April.

I am sorry for the employees that ABI is closing. I have spoken to Thea (the ABI owner) on the phone a few times and she seemed like a very pleasant and earnest person. I know their marketing budget was almost zero for the last few years.

Twitch is right: schools like these get a collective eye-roll from people in the business, but I also know there are a lot of alums in the industry who came out of ABI over their 20 years. ABI deserves a lot of credit for hanging in there for so long, despite their small capitalization.

The Atlanta Regional Commission cut back tremendously on its referral service for prospective students and I assume that ABI was really hurt by the stoppage in that pipeline. It's hard in this economy to get financing for students at $8000 at ABI or $11,500 a quarter at CSB, so that's one reason why our tuition is considerably less.

Jeff Batten
Complete Game Broadcasting
www.completegame.tv
 
this is a sad day indeed, ABI gave a lot of people their start in tv/radio. I'am an ABI alum,I wonder when the last day is.
 
I'm told that they're trying to close up by the end of January....I guess they're trying to work something out with the building ownership and their lease.
 
Twitch said:
I know that this board is usually split on whether or not broadcasting schools are "worth it", so for those who don't, you probably won't find this suprising (or interesting, for that matter).

The Atlanta Broadcast Institute is closing it's doors after 21 years. It's closing is another result of the failing economy and credit crisis.

I went there and learned quite a bit and probably wouldn't have ever been able to get in to the business had I not gone. I know of several people in this market (on and off air) who went there as well.

CSB, with two schools in the area, is now the only school of it's kind in town.
Click to expand...

It closed because, even in flush times, there really is no need for a school that "teaches" broadcasting, much less two.

Now that radio stations aren't hiring anyone except the established and the experienced, there really is no need for people who aspire to public performance to spend money on an experience that can be had for less than $100 via podcasting or YouTube. Those are today's broadcasting schools.
 
seabass said:
It closed because, even in flush times, there really is no need for a school that "teaches" broadcasting, much less two.

Now that radio stations aren't hiring anyone except the established and the experienced, there really is no need for people who aspire to public performance to spend money on an experience that can be had for less than $100 via podcasting or YouTube. Those are today's broadcasting schools.
Click to expand...

Normally I'd agree with THAT end of the logic against broadcasting schools, but it doesn't really fit with CSB, however. They've gone from 15 locations to nearly 30 in the course of 3 years (since they took on new ownership). There is definitely a market and need for it. However diminished some may say it is, it's still there.

You've got to think, too, that not everyone who wants to get in to radio or TV (whether they have the chops or not) necessarily has the resources to be able to "do it on their own".

CSB, Specs Howard, Columbia, etc. all still have a place whether or not broadcast professionals agree with/believe in their validity.

I, for one, would have never been able to get in to the business had I tried to do it on my own. I believe that others would concur.
 
Where is CSB located now? I attended CSB back in 1997 when it was in that complex on Terrel Mill and Powers Ferry. I was hoping that my background in audio production mixed with that might have gotten me into broadcasting but it never happened. I did get into voice-over through Peg Avery when she taught a class there. She was a great instructor.
 
CSB has two locations in metro Atlanta. The Dunwoody campus is on Perimeter Center West near GA 400 & Perimeter Mall. The newest campus is in Lawrenceville right next to Discover Mills.

Peg Avery was great!
 
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