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AE PARTICIPATES IN COMPETITOR'S CONTEST

R

Radiofornia

My brother is the GM for a station in California. One of his account executives decided to register for a competing station's contest (a local 'American Idol' style singing competition), and now she has been chosen to participate. She then proceeded to post all about her excitement on her personal Facebook page.

The actual singing competition is not until the end of this month, and my brother is debating what to do about this situation.

1. Do nothing now and see how far she goes with this
2. Talk to her and ask her not to participate
3. Terminate her immediately for cause

Her employment contract has the standard blurb about not participating in her own radio station's contests, but it says nothing about not participating in another station's contests. However, IMHO this speaks volumes about a person's loyalty.

Any opinions on this?
 
Most radio stations (in my area) don't allow people to win if they are employees of, or live with (family/spouse) of an employee of their station OR any other station in the market. I'd think the competing station would be doing the ousting. Darn Sales Weasels
 
Sure there is nothing about this sort of thing in her contract however she should exercise better judgement. The whole situation is in bad taste to do anything with the competition let alone blast it on facebook. Having said that I think the exception to the rule is having friends at competing stations. People in radio move around and just because you join a competing station does not mean you have to terminate the friendship. You guys know what I am getting at.

My advice would be to pull her aside and let her know it is not appropriate. There is no need to fire her. If she defies the warning, then yes she should be let go.
 
Look at the terms and conditions for the station conducting the contest. If they allow her to participate, let her do so. It's a free country, and she is free to do what she wants in her own time. Especially if the competing station is in an adjacent market. If someone works at an AC station but they like Rhythmic CHR, they're free to listen to the competing Rhythmic CHR station.

If the other station's terms and conditions restrict employees of other stations from participating, call the GM of the other station and say that she is an employee of your station and is therefore ineligible.
 
I can't believe some folks aren't a little smarter about this. Actually in another time, this would have been a GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY to sabotage the competition on their own station. Only now you don't want to really do that because you MAY end up needing a job.........
 
Why so negative and paranoid about this you guys? I'd do the exact opposite and encourage her to participate and hope she wins and then run a promo "Our employees are so good, they kick ass even on the other radio stations in town" or "The other stations in town are so desperate, they are giving awards to OUR people". "We congratulate our employee (her name) for winning the (competitors name, yes, really, say it) competition. We knew she is a winner, she's been winning for clients at (your calls) since (year she started).

Or interview her.

So Jane, tell us, whats the second biggest thrill of your life?
Jane - "The day I won the American Idol contest on (competitors calls).
And Jane, whats the biggest thrill of your life?
Jane - "The day I started working HERE at (your calls).

Have fun with this.
 
radioray said:
Why so negative and paranoid about this you guys? I'd do the exact opposite and encourage her to participate and hope she wins and then run a promo "Our employees are so good, they kick ass even on the other radio stations in town" or "The other stations in town are so desperate, they are giving awards to OUR people". "We congratulate our employee (her name) for winning the (competitors name, yes, really, say it) competition. We knew she is a winner, she's been winning for clients at (your calls) since (year she started).

Or interview her.

So Jane, tell us, whats the second biggest thrill of your life?
Jane - "The day I won the American Idol contest on (competitors calls).
And Jane, whats the biggest thrill of your life?
Jane - "The day I started working HERE at (your calls).

Have fun with this.
Click to expand...
This is what turns off listeners. My Dad can beat up your Dad, my ___is bigger than yours.
 
I totally disagree. It's some good natured fun and the listeners know that (as long as you don't go overboard of course).
 
Rule #1 in successful radio: Making the news in a market is key, sometimes even if bad. (The old phrase 'as long as they get the call letters or dial position correct').

Rule #2: Never be the station who broadcasts the news about a competitor, even if bad news. Calling attention to a local market competitor is a bad and amateur move. The only "fun" one would have with this scenario is by handing over potentially thousands of dollars in free marketing to another operation.

I wonder if the participating station holding the contest has rules about contestants from other stations? Perhaps the station that the AE works for missed the mark in their own contest rules, (which hopefully has been amended by now) but the competition holding the contest may have the more typical rule of not allowing participation from other stations. In that case I, as a GM, would E-mail the competition, calling the discrepancy to their attention. The competing station would not dare risk keeping her in the running.
 
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