Dead Air at WROR?

[Retro]

As of this moment, I am tuned into 105.7, but I am not hearing anything at all. While I suppose it could be my tuner, I kind m of doubt it. Did someone fall asleep at the wheel?

 

[Eli Polonsky]

As of this moment, I am tuned into 105.7, but I am not hearing anything at all. While I suppose it could be my tuner, I kind m of doubt it. Did someone fall asleep at the wheel?

There’s still just a silent carrier on the air an hour later. WROR doesn’t have anyone there overnights to “fall asleep at the wheel”. It’s run on automation at night.
I believe all of the other Beasley Boston stations are also fully automated overnights, so there may not even be anyone in the building.
It could be anything from automation failure to a STL (studio to transmitter link) failure or some other technical problem.

 

[davect]

Still dead air at 6:45am.

 

[Retro]

FWIW, 94.9 Zumix Radio is/was silent too, however that is due to a power failure in the area from Eversource.

 

[WMC2006]

Looking at their Music Recently Played list, starting around 2:22 this morning, all titles are listed 3 or 4 times in a row right up until 3:05am:

• 3:05 AM Gloria—Laura Branigan
• 3:04 AM Gloria—Laura Branigan
• 3:03 AM Gloria—Laura Branigan
• 3:01 AM Gloria—Laura Branigan
• 3:00 AM Edge Of 17—Stevie Nicks
• 2:58 AM Edge Of 17—Stevie Nicks
• 2:58 AM Edge Of 17—Stevie Nicks
• 2:56 AM Edge Of 17—Stevie Nicks
• 2:56 AM Somebody To Love—Queen
• 2:53 AM Somebody To Love—Queen
• 2:52 AM Somebody To Love—Queen
• 2:51 AM Somebody To Love—Queen
• 2:49 AM Any Way You Want It—Journey
• 2:48 AM Any Way You Want It—Journey
• 2:47 AM All Star—Smash Mouth
• 2:46 AM All Star—Smash Mouth
• 2:45 AM All Star—Smash Mouth
• 2:43 AM Pour Some Sugar On Me—Def Leppard
• 2:42 AM Pour Some Sugar On Me—Def Leppard
• 2:41 AM Pour Some Sugar On Me—Def Leppard
• 2:36 AM I'M STILL STANDING—Elton John
• 2:35 AM Every Breath You Take—Police
• 2:33 AM Every Breath You Take—Police
• 2:32 AM Every Breath You Take—Police
• 2:31 AM Live And Let Die—Paul McCartney
• 2:30 AM Live And Let Die—Paul McCartney
• 2:29 AM Live And Let Die—Paul McCartney
• 2:28 AM Invisible Touch—Genesis
• 2:28 AM Invisible Touch—Genesis
• 2:26 AM Invisible Touch—Genesis
• 2:25 AM You Shook Me All Night Long—Ac/Dc
• 2:23 AM You Shook Me All Night Long—Ac/Dc
• 2:22 AM You Shook Me All Night Long—Ac/Dc

Meanwhile, at 3:08pm, the station is coming in loud and clear here in Worcester County. I noticed there is nothing on their website (or nothing that i can find) that mentions who is on air. Not sure who I just heard (JC Hayes maybe?) as I'm not normally listening Saturday afternoons.

 

[Retro]

When I tuned in to find a dead carrier, the digital was showing a regular roster of songs, with no play overs at that point. It is very interesting to say the least!

 

[nowradioguy]

There’s still just a silent carrier on the air an hour later. WROR doesn’t have anyone there overnights to “fall asleep at the wheel”. It’s run on automation at night.
I believe all of the other Beasley Boston stations are also fully automated overnights, so there may not even be anyone in the building.
It could be anything from automation failure to a STL (studio to transmitter link) failure or some other technical problem.

I'm sure iHeart and Entercom (sic) operate the same way after dark. Everyone "has left the building." Radio seems to be providing the undertaker with nails for its own coffin.

As for a power failure at their studio location: whatever happened to back-up generators? Not only is the studio feed to the transmitter lost, but also the feed to the streaming provider. Nice.

 

[TheBigA]

It could be anything from automation failure to a STL (studio to transmitter link) failure or some other technical problem.

Did anyone check any of the other Beasley stations during the outage? Was this just WROR or the whole cluster?

Typically if something goes wrong, an alert is sent to the MOD: Manager on Duty. Someone is responsible at all times.

 

[CTListener]

I'm sure iHeart and Entercom (sic) operate the same way after dark. Everyone "has left the building." Radio seems to be providing the undertaker with nails for its own coffin.

Other than having to give make-goods to advertisers whose spots were not heard, what does a glitch like this cost WROR? Will those advertisers pull all advertising from WROR in anger? Or are there thousands of listeners who will never forgive WROR for not being there for them today and won't listen to the station again? No and no. Sorry, the scorn of anti-corporate radio geeks and bitter old-timers isn't going to bring this ratings (and revenue) giant down one notch.

 

[Retro]

Did anyone check any of the other Beasley stations during the outage? Was this just WROR or the whole cluster?

All of their other stations, especially WBOS, it was normal as usual, that is whatever normal even is these days.

 

[TheBigA]

All of their other stations, especially WBOS, it was normal as usual, that is whatever normal even is these days.

How about the stream? What was being fed on the stream at that time?

I've seen lots of stations off the air for some reason, but the stream continues unaffected.

We're going through the checklist, item by item.

 

[Retro]

How about the stream? What was being fed on the stream at that time?

I've seen lots of stations off the air for some reason, but the stream continues unaffected.

We're going through the checklist, item by item.

I have no idea, I was scanning the dial, when my power went out. I was not using a cellular connection at that time, so it was straight over the air instead.

 

[raccoonradio]

Speaking of iHeart, members of the Fans of Morgan White Jr Facebook group are lamenting
that starting next week the show loses an hour as an informercial will air Sat at 9 followed by
Morgan from 10 to midnight

 

[Deleted User]

How much money can they charge for a infomercial at 9:00 PM on a Saturday night?

Is there a lower rated daypart in all of radio?

I know, after 7:00 PM nobody buys spots for more than pennies, so if someone wants slide an infomercial in there it is more money for the corporate overlords.

It must give Morgan a warm fuzzy feeling as to his worth as an employee

 

[TheBigA]

It must give Morgan a warm fuzzy feeling as to his worth as an employee

That infomercial will pay his salary, as his show wasn't attracting actual paid advertising.

 

[TheBigA]

I have no idea, I was scanning the dial, when my power went out. I was not using a cellular connection at that time, so it was straight over the air instead.

Next time check the stream. It will help target the cause of the problem. If the stream is still live, then it's not an automation problem.

 

[Methuselah]

There's 4 hours of dead air every morning from 6-10 on WRKO, hasn't affected them at all.

 

[Wimmmex]

There's 4 hours of dead air every morning from 6-10 on WRKO, hasn't affected them at all.

Cue the drummer....

 

[ajaynejr]

There is a station, WGHM fka WOTW 900 in Nashua NH, broadcasting the same automated program (currently oldies) as sister WGAM fka WKBR 1250 in Manchester. On infrequent random nights, particularly during inclement weather, it has gone off the air and not until after dawn (someone comes to) put it back on the air. Not dead air; co-channel stations were coming through although I have not sat down and DXed any of those yet. I am suspicious that the transmitter was intentionally shut off during thunderstorms for protection against lightning strikes.

 

[bostonradio]

I have no idea, I was scanning the dial, when my power went out. I was not using a cellular connection at that time, so it was straight over the air instead.

Could be a number of things.

BTW, Beasley is moving out of Dorchester later this spring/summer and heading out to West End neighborhood of Waltham(1075 Main Street). They signed a longterm lease last summer. 35k sqf of space. Nice office complex called CitySide. Don't think the rent is too high in that area and it's pretty close to the 128/Pike.