Advertising on pirate radio stations

[d21ofnj]

If the purpose of Arbitron is for the ad angencies to look at the performance of a radio station and can sell their ads to the station, then how is pirate stations like Roadblock Radio, Blaze 103.9, and Fire 104.7 airing ads for Metro PCS and ads for bus charter services?

 

[satech]

These pirates steal "real" ads in order to make themselves sound and appear more "professional." Just look at some of their web sites (if you dare). They're plastered with ads for iPhones, flat screen TVs, designer clothing brands, etc... but if you try to click on these "ads", they don't link to anywhere... they just stole the images and put them up on their web site.

 

[nd2023]

Why would a station want to air MORE ads than they have to?

Many marketing executives don't know what stations are pirate and what are legal. They assume that if a station is on the air, it's legal.

 

[cd637299]

I'm not in NYC, but in South Florida, almost 100% of all pirate "ads" are for nightclubs. It gets kinda old, too, if you ask me.....I just wish the FCC would yank these pirates off.

cd

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

A pirate radio station should advertise eye patches and peg legs.

 

[nd2023]

I'm not in NYC, but in South Florida, almost 100% of all pirate "ads" are for nightclubs. It gets kinda old, too, if you ask me.....I just wish the FCC would yank these pirates off.

cd

Too bad they don't. It's sad that a pirate station can go on the air and stay on for years. If they get caught, nothing happens to them. And when they do get fined, they never pay, or for the pirates that sell commercials, a $10000 fine is the cost of doing business. The number of pirates busted per year around the country can be counted on your fingers. If the FCC doesn't investigate the pirates, maybe the IRS should, since it would love to get a cut of the illegally obtained revenue.

 

[DToTheJ]

A pirate radio station should advertise eye patches and peg legs.

And illegal radio broadcasts of Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Buccaneers games!

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!

 

[steve732]

Pirate stations are ( except for a few) are creative. COmmercial stations ceased that years ago. You listen to what sounds good and is interesting.
Therefore advertise where there is an audience.

 

[satech]

Pirate stations are ( except for a few) are creative. COmmercial stations ceased that years ago. You listen to what sounds good and is interesting.
Therefore advertise where there is an audience.

The thing I've always wondered is, if the big NYC pirates can afford a $10,000 fine as a "cost of doing business", why can't they afford a $1000 audio processor, to keep their signal from spitting and splattering all over the dial?

 

[MickeyD]

Pirate stations are ( except for a few) are creative. COmmercial stations ceased that years ago. You listen to what sounds good and is interesting.
Therefore advertise where there is an audience.

The thing I've always wondered is, if the big NYC pirates can afford a $10,000 fine as a "cost of doing business", why can't they afford a $1000 audio processor, to keep their signal from spitting and splattering all over the dial?

Who says they pay the fines? The FCC fines the owner of the property and not necessarily the pirate. If a pirate gets busted, all they have to do is relocate and go on the air again and the process has to start all over again.

 

[rapking]

PIRATE STATIONS RULES !!!!!!! Pirate radio is the future of radio. Act of 96 and the New Tax Bill ( if it Pass ) is killing legal radio .

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

It should be mandatory that Bob Prince is on every pirate station.

 

[sancocho]

Pirate stations that I've heard in NJ advertise local businesses, such as "Papi's Bodega" or "Martinez Travel Agency", or maybe a local bar or restaurant. That's all those businesses can afford. I'm sure that "Maria's Restaurant" on the corner of "ghetto" street in "el barrio" cannot afford to play an ad on X or La Mega. So it's a good opportunity for small businesses to advertise.

 

[MN Maniac]

Back in 1996-97, we had a "professional pirate" on 95.9 in Orlando. These guys were running close to 1,000 watts ERP from an 80-foot business band tower! They could be heard well throughout the metro. Format was uncensored rap music. They aired many commercials for clubs, concerts, etc. It took several years for the FCC to finally shut them down. I'd be curious as to how much money they made. So would the IRS, I'm sure.

 

[8638]

I'm not in NYC, but in South Florida, almost 100% of all pirate "ads" are for nightclubs. It gets kinda old, too, if you ask me.....I just wish the FCC would yank these pirates off.

cd

Too bad they don't. It's sad that a pirate station can go on the air and stay on for years. If they get caught, nothing happens to them. And when they do get fined, they never pay, or for the pirates that sell commercials, a $10000 fine is the cost of doing business. The number of pirates busted per year around the country can be counted on your fingers. If the FCC doesn't investigate the pirates, maybe the IRS should, since it would love to get a cut of the illegally obtained revenue.

Unless they are a non-minority format/operator. Then, the FCC will show up, guns a-blazin! Then again, I'd be in no hurry to bust anyone doing anything in, say, East Orange, N.J. Staying alive is a virtue!