> Harken back to the days when KVIL brought you the contest
> where you could when a CHEVY for the rest of your life--
> this promotion is still going on-- the winner is still alive
> and is able to go and retreive her vehicle ( I believe
> through Friendly Chevrolet) every year! NOW we all know that
> there are probably restrictions on this prize such as a DEMO
> car would be for dealers and such-- but the fact is.. KVIL
> ran a promotion that was fun and had the eliments of
> suspense-- and drama and enthusasim... and to think they
> could have just as easily gone the "CHEAP" route and gave
> this winner a HOT WHEELS CAR for the rest of her life!
>
> Stations that run such "scams" are distroying only THEIR
> Reputations and their base of listenership! IF this scam was
> to happen here in DFW-- don't you know that not only the
> local media would be all over it-- but so would the national
> media.. now since this incident happened in Bakersfield (a
> 100 miles north of LA and a very low market-- thanks to an
> earlier post stating that)... this is a blip on the radar
> scope-- but it's still just plain wrong to dupe the public.
> Radio counts on that public to survive--- otherwise-- we
> will all purchase our XM or Sirrus radios and be done with
> it-- personally speaking-- if I want something like satelite
> radio-- I am going to plug in my CD's-- but then again--
> sometimes my CD's have more personality than what I hear on
> the air these days!
>
> Just a thought!
>
> And a good one. KVIL always delivered on its promotional (and other) promises. Chapman said after the "send us $20" money flood that it happened because people trusted KVIL, that they knew "we won't lie to them, we won't jive 'em, we'll do what we say." I remember in the late 80s the station ran a basically "nothing promotion," in which the prize was some insignificant, practically worthless something and it was described as being just that--and listeners still participated in droves, just as if the prize had been worth a million dollars. People don't expect something big for nothing, they just don't want to be led on, lied to, or treated as if they're too stupid to know when they're getting dumped on by a station. Their desire is to enjoy listening to a station and feel good about it. Afraid that isn't the feeling people get anymore listening to terrestrial radio. A man hanging on by a thread doesn't use it as a test to see how sharp his scissors are.
Gordon McLendon had a promotion go bad once, not because it was a scam but because it was so successful. It consisted of numbered prize ping pong balls being dropped from a building downtown. A brisk breeze created a wind tunnel effect and the prize ping pong balls flew everywhere. A near riot erupted as people crawled over cars and each other to catch one. Dallas police quickly informed Mr. Mac that he would NOT be executing any further similar promotions downtown. That may be the origin of the treasure hunt promotion confined to the less populated and more open areas of the county. The KLIF promotion was well intentioned but innocently flawed. The Bakersfield promotion was neither and probably carefully worded in reflecting what the payoff actually was. Not making excuses for the station's conduct, but what people perceive and what the reality of the prize was turned to out to be vastly different. Be nice to see transcripts or hear air checks of the promotion as it unfolded to see what license with the truth the station used.
We now return to your regularly scheduled foresight/hindsight program.
>
> > > Say what you will. He probably doesn't have a case, but
> I
> > > think it sucks.
> > >
> > > I'd probably end up in jail if that happened to me
> because
> > I
> > > would kick the crap out of the promotions team.
> > >
> > > How would you like to win tickets to see your favorite
> > > band--try all day, 100+ calls and pouring your heart and
>
> > > soul in doing everything you can into seeing this band?
> > >
> > > You win and it turns out to be a piece of paper that has
>
> > the
> > > bands name on it.
> > >
> > > It's just like paying $300 to go a major basketball game
>
> > > only to find that your ticket is fake.
> > >
> > > When people win prizes, they want their damn prizes. Not
>
> > to
> > > be fooled.
> > >
> > > It's not funny and people with real emotions have a
> right
> > to
> > > be pissed.
> > >
> > > Now in this case, I don't think the make and model were
> > > included in the giveaway promos.
> > > He would have a case if the vehicle's specifications had
>
> > > been mentioned specifically on air.
> > > If they say a brand new 2005 Hummer with _____ engine
> and
> > 4
> > > wheel drive, then they are at obligated to give away
> that
> > > exact model.
> > > However, if you just say "new hummer," that's an opening
>
> > for
> > > giving away anything that's relatively new and could be
> > > called a hummer.
> > >
> > ..or it could be for a free "favor" from air force amy at
> > the bunny ranch, if you catch my drift
> >
> > I agree with a previous posters, the "terrestial radio
> > business" is on shakey ground as is with listeners for all
>
> > their merges,destruction of legacy stations and
> homoginizing
> > of the airwaves without resorting to the shyster business.
>
> > This reminds me of the old days where radio
> > preachers,broadcasting from some border town with a 10
> > million watt torch, would sell you "Holy Water" or "Ten
> > Commandment Dinner Plates" for a small cash donation.
> >
>
