stacker said:
I wonder who the moron was who designed this thing!
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Citadel Starguide III going away...
- Thread starter rfburns
- Start date
I wonder who the moron was who designed this thing!
I have iPumps (4 of 'em) and a couple of XDS receivers. The iPump appears to have been designed for network control of programming. It has a radio antenna on the back, I'm told that in the future the networks may actually monitor the air signal to make sure the affiliates don't cheat. And programming changes must be done by D-G in Denver, and I would think that is so an affiliate can't steal a program.
The XDS, in the other hand, allows affiliates to make the choice on a number of programs, while restricting other programs by not allowing them to show up on the menu.
Both receivers utilize recording for later playback when needed, and both receivers allow the network to regionalize network commercials.
Talk Radio Network moved to the Dial-Global carrier some months ago, thus they are on the iPump platform. Some sports networks, including Compass Media, use the D-G carrier.
I like the longer depth of the iPump; it allows me more space to pile up little stuff, like relays, screwdrivers, solder, connectors, etc.
The XDS, in the other hand, allows affiliates to make the choice on a number of programs, while restricting other programs by not allowing them to show up on the menu.
Both receivers utilize recording for later playback when needed, and both receivers allow the network to regionalize network commercials.
Talk Radio Network moved to the Dial-Global carrier some months ago, thus they are on the iPump platform. Some sports networks, including Compass Media, use the D-G carrier.
I like the longer depth of the iPump; it allows me more space to pile up little stuff, like relays, screwdrivers, solder, connectors, etc.
Bill...
When a network is demanding thousands of dollars a spot agencies want proof that the spot aired. If the receiver can listen to a station and make a record that a spot aired that would be very valuable.
The ability to air regional commercials is becoming important to agencies that buy national networks. The network I look after ran its first regional commercials a couple of weeks ago. The network became the first non-24hour Citadel client to split copy. I can tell you it was not an easy thing to pull off.
We found out after the broadcast that some stations with Pro-4 receivers were airing our program via a port that was not assigned to the call letters in the network's database. That means the regional commercial for that station did not air. I believe a change in the XDS receiver's code will be coming in the future to prevent that.
t123
When a network is demanding thousands of dollars a spot agencies want proof that the spot aired. If the receiver can listen to a station and make a record that a spot aired that would be very valuable.
The ability to air regional commercials is becoming important to agencies that buy national networks. The network I look after ran its first regional commercials a couple of weeks ago. The network became the first non-24hour Citadel client to split copy. I can tell you it was not an easy thing to pull off.
We found out after the broadcast that some stations with Pro-4 receivers were airing our program via a port that was not assigned to the call letters in the network's database. That means the regional commercial for that station did not air. I believe a change in the XDS receiver's code will be coming in the future to prevent that.
t123
The main difference I see? The sound quality on the iPump's "regional" spots is somewhere around a 16kbps mp3. The regional XDS spots sound normal. I'm not sure if that's a problem with the receiver itself or with how Dial Global sends the spots down. I'd guess the latter.
Is anybody else nervous about a national network airing "local" commercials? Isn't that going to become direct competition to the local station itself? I don't mind hearing a national FORD commercial, but I would pull the plug if I began hearing "my local FORD dealer" advertising with Citadel instead of me.
Lazy J...
That is a concern...I not sure how many advertisers are buying station level splits. I have heard John Deere and Auto Owners Insurance have been.
In the case of the network I work for the splits were for businesses that were having sales in specific parts of the country. There are also clients that don't operate in some parts of the country. Advance Auto Parts for example ran a PSA in place of their spot on some stations. Boston Beer is advertising Twisted Tea in some parts of the country but it is not available in other parts of the country. In that case they run spots for Samuel Adams.
It is a catch 22 for the networks. Agencies are demanding the ability to split. Networks are in the business to make money. Networks are also in the business of having as many stations airing their programming as possible. If a station decides not to air a network because they think the network is taking business away then the network is not going to be able to sell as many spots.
PTBoardOp94...
We are required to send the regional commercials to Citadel 256 kbps Stereo Layer2 (mp2) 44.1k sampling. It is my understanding the files are sent to the receivers in that format.
t123
That is a concern...I not sure how many advertisers are buying station level splits. I have heard John Deere and Auto Owners Insurance have been.
In the case of the network I work for the splits were for businesses that were having sales in specific parts of the country. There are also clients that don't operate in some parts of the country. Advance Auto Parts for example ran a PSA in place of their spot on some stations. Boston Beer is advertising Twisted Tea in some parts of the country but it is not available in other parts of the country. In that case they run spots for Samuel Adams.
It is a catch 22 for the networks. Agencies are demanding the ability to split. Networks are in the business to make money. Networks are also in the business of having as many stations airing their programming as possible. If a station decides not to air a network because they think the network is taking business away then the network is not going to be able to sell as many spots.
PTBoardOp94...
We are required to send the regional commercials to Citadel 256 kbps Stereo Layer2 (mp2) 44.1k sampling. It is my understanding the files are sent to the receivers in that format.
t123
test123 said:
That's interesting. I didn't know that the individual port was that specific to the station.
When we were still utilizing Citadel music formats, we had our XDS, with one port for ABC Entertainment news for station A, second port AC format for station B, third port Hot AC for station C, and fourth port generic ABC news used by station B and station C. AFter we stopped using Citadel music formats, we were able to use second port for talk programs on station A. In that case, the station B call letters were still assigned to that port. Any one of those ports can be station-specific, and the network can regionalize spots or spot tags all the way down to a specific station, as I understand it.
I don't know if this relates to what test123 was referring to, but if I wanted to, I could program the XDS even now to receive, for example, Doug Stephan's Good Day, on any one of the ports, although they are identified for different stations, and if the network wanted to run a spot on KBKW, for example, and I was running the program from the port for KJET, then we would air the wrong network spot.
I don't know if this relates to what test123 was referring to, but if I wanted to, I could program the XDS even now to receive, for example, Doug Stephan's Good Day, on any one of the ports, although they are identified for different stations, and if the network wanted to run a spot on KBKW, for example, and I was running the program from the port for KJET, then we would air the wrong network spot.
Exactly...If you have a Pro-4 (the way I understand it) at least one port has to be associated with a set of call letters. That is the way Citadel keeps track of the receiver. The rest of the ports would be associated with other calls or no calls at all. I am told you can use the front panel buttons and screen and put any Citadel delivered program on one of the ports without assigned calls. That causes the regional commercial system to have heartburn.
Test123
Test123
Other options!
A second XDS with the same station(s) on it as a backup. The second one follows the first ones schedule.
KXXX-AM can have a second port set up as KXXX-REC-AM so you can schedule recording/playback of simultaneous feeds and get the proper commercial feeds.
A second XDS with the same station(s) on it as a backup. The second one follows the first ones schedule.
KXXX-AM can have a second port set up as KXXX-REC-AM so you can schedule recording/playback of simultaneous feeds and get the proper commercial feeds.
And that is what eventually was done with our main XDS. Port A is ABC Entertainment Network, and a few of the programs are delayed for later broadcast. Meanwhile, Port B is as you said, KBKW-REC-AM and used for the long-form talk programs.
But we were already using Port B for this when it still had the calls KSWW associated with it.
But we were already using Port B for this when it still had the calls KSWW associated with it.
Now if we could just get Hanity to take his breaks on time, or not skip one like last week. Lucky for us a Tornado warning interruped him.
I'm curious how many stations had to purchase their own XDS receiver. Are the days of network supplied receivers coming to an end?
Only one's we've had to purchase were the two "spares". One for Citadel Media/ABC and one for Premiere.
Yes, even Citadel stations have to buy the things from Broadcaster General Store.
Otherwise, the program supplier has been sending them to us.
Yes, even Citadel stations have to buy the things from Broadcaster General Store.
Otherwise, the program supplier has been sending them to us.
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