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Does this sound correct? Input sought

O

oldnewbie

Hi,

I am currently studying Electronics at the local Community College. My goal is to take the SBE Certifications - Certified Broadcast Technologist and Broadcast Networking Technologist.

I was doing research about the Broadcast Profession for a class paper, and saw the US Dept. of Labors descriptions of this occupation.

It states 35,000 employed as "Broadcast Technicians" in the US. Does that sound correct? That seems kind of high, does'nt it?

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos109.htm

That's the site with the descriptions and numbers.

So, how much employment luck will a 48 year old w/ a new AAS degree and new SBE certification have?

What IS the current state of the industry as YOU see it?

Any thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated.
 
> It states 35,000 employed as "Broadcast Technicians" in the
> US. Does that sound correct? That seems kind of high,
> does'nt it?

I'm wondering if they're counting MCOs, Board Ops and other technical crew positions (floor crew, TD, Audio Op) in this along with Engineers. (Hell at a station across town an Engineer roughly equals the equiv. of Master Control Operator at my station.)

-A<P ID="signature">______________

</P>
 
> It states 35,000 employed as "Broadcast Technicians" in the
> US. Does that sound correct? That seems kind of high,
> does'nt it?

It's a pretty broad term. It would include those employed in various
radio broadcast "engineering" positions plus people who still have
jobs in television where, when there are any, master control operators,
studio maintenance and transmitter specialists are all counted as
"technicians". Then, add in all the technical and semi-technical
people employed by networks and various cable programming outfits,
etc. The number is probably correct under those circumstances.

> So, how much employment luck will a 48 year old w/ a new AAS
> degree and new SBE certification have?

With just that, probably close to zero. Add in some computer,
especially computer network training with some sort of certificate
and things look somewhat better. But, once you have THAT
credential, you'll find far better opportunity and money in
Information Services outside of broadcast.

> What IS the current state of the industry as YOU see it?

I am retired from it and very happy about that. I see less and
less enforcement of technical rules (though the public file
better be in order) and less interest on the part of owners
in any kind of quality control. In fact, most people with
long-term background see IBOC and AM bandwidth minimization
as active anti-quality steps. The only people I see making
good money in broadcast (technical side) are long-time
employees of major TV groups with union protection (but NOT
the people who will one day replace them) and contract
engineers who run their own businesses and love working 60-90
hour weeks with their wives doing the book keeping.

Hey, I made good money at it for lots of years but got the
greatest financial reward after turning to equipment sales.
Great travel opportunities...worldwide...too!

Still, I still find broadcast engineering my first love and
do it on a volunteer basis for some non-profits. Above
all, broadcast engineering is a GREAT hobby!<P ID="signature">______________
Misanthropy:

The only religion that truly comes from within!</P>
 
> So, how much employment luck will a 48 year old w/ a new AAS
> degree and new SBE certification have?

I'm 24 with no (broadcast engineering) certifications and the only experience was old war stories from veteran CEs, the manuals and the engineer log books. Took a few weeks before I was comfortable with opening the transmitter door, rewiring the studio, and realigning the satellite dish...but in my own weird style of learning, total immersion in something works much better. 6 weeks later I rebuilt our SX-5A (only the coils and HV caps left to go until I'm done), rewiring the studio, designed a few duct-tape-technology circuit boards for quick fixes, and half-assed rebuilt an old AMPRO console. I fell into the job because the contracted engineer wasn't here enough to get things done, we were hopelessly out of compliance, and some friends working here recommended me because of my computer and professional audio background.

Especially since I come from the computer programming world, certifications look cute on resumes, but getting the job done when the sh-word hits the fan is what employers look for.

It's also clear that in this day and age when information is so easily accessible, you don't have to memorize EVERYTHING. If I need a formula, I'll google it from my mobile phone and use the calculator on it. If I need a consult and no one is around, I'll google that, too. Many instructors I had emphasized that point.

> What IS the current state of the industry as YOU see it?

Young guy perspective. I'm disappointed. I hear stories, read log books, see pictures, etc of days past and I'm upset that I wasn't born in the 40s so that I could have jumped in during the peak of everything in the 70s to early 90s. Everything today is automation, consolidation and politics. Distance yourself from the community and listener as much as possible, pipe in syndicated programming, cut the staff back, and try to make twice as much money.<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
My name doesn't come up in bold type, but I concur with most of what the
moderators have said.

> It states 35,000 employed as "Broadcast Technicians" in the
> US. Does that sound correct? That seems kind of high,
> does'nt it?

You are quoting government generated statistics. Need I say more?
You have to consider a more important set of numbers, that being
the reduction in broadcast ownership. The consolidation of ownership
has resulted in less jobs. Period. Modern electronics including but not
limited to robotics and automation in addition to the consolidation of studio
functions through multiple station ownership within markets isn't helping create new or maintain existing jobs. Digital transmission has eliminated the amount of equipment needed for infrastructure ... VTR's call Sony on their own when they need maintenance ... and a new generation of management continues to downsize the payroll in the interest of profits.

Hey, TV (and radio to a large extent) have NEVER been about science or engineering.

> So, how much employment luck will a 48 year old w/ a new AAS
> degree and new SBE certification have?

None (in a major market). Without a good friend on the inside, you will be discriminated against because of age and lack of direct experience, If you go to a smaller market, you might schmooze your way into some position in a station that hasn't yet been assimilated by the Borg.

> What IS the current state of the industry as YOU see it?

Broadcasting died in 1996 when the Congress passed the Telecommunications Reform Act. OK, it's not dead, but it is no longer there to serve the public in any way shape or form. If you think otherwise, you are terribly misinformed. The business of broadcasting has been transformed from a media product to a commodity, to be owned only by the biggest and wealthiest companies. Big companies don't survive by being "nice guys." Oh, yeah, some are able to veil their true intent with slick H.R. management, but I contend it's no place for someone to build a career in. Furthermore, the government has relaxed ownership limits so much so that one owner can pretty much own as many licenses as they can buy, with a small caveat in the big markets. The government defines competition as two players ... just look at wireless licensing procedures ... soon there will be 3 or 4 major broadcast owners that own it all ... hey wait ... I think we're there!!!!!!
There are a lot less engineering positions now than ever before, and the BLS is not the place to look ... just call around and ask "How many tech guys do you have on payroll compared to 10 years ago?" (If you can get through to a real person, that is). Of course, if you ask for the sales department, a live person will probably answer. Of course, if the damn breaks on the edge of town after 5 PM you'll find there is no one answering phones at the local station.

Don't do it. Not at your age.

OK, I'll stop ranting. Good luck.
<P ID="signature">______________
Electricity is really just organized lightning.
~George Carlin</P>
 
> So, how much employment luck will a 48 year old w/ a new AAS
> degree and new SBE certification have?
>
> What IS the current state of the industry as YOU see it?
>
> Any thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated.

Dunno about the statistic, but that would put 350 in the Seattle market and I doubt that number.

BLS also says that there are 75,000 "announcer" jobs in the U.S. That statistic would break down to 750 in the Seattle market. I don't think so.

In the smaller markets it is extremely rare anymore to find a technical person on the staff even parttime.

I am in the business, fortunately for 45 years. This is NOT a growth industry in terms of labor.
 
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