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EAS test during Prime Time? Really?

C

CurtisNEPA

I was watching A.D. The Bible Continues on NBC and suddenly I was hearing EAS tones in the middle of the show. But suddenly, I quickly tuned out because I assumed it was only a test and there was neither severe weather nor there was an Amber Alert situation occurring in my area at that time. This was my first time ever seeing or hearing an EAS test during prime time, but it was significant because it took place on a Sunday evening, whereas such tests are mostly done during the morning, afternoon or late night hours where less people are watching. Plus, this was seen over-the-air, not on cable. It happened on an NBC station in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre market.

I hate EAS tests! I wish the FCC should get rid of this botched system and replace it with a much better one which most of the testing sequence is much similar to the old EBS done in the 80's. I have never seen any stations conducted such test in prime time hours during the 80's-90's right until when EAS replaced the EBS. The only time when I experience interruptions like this is when there is a tornado warning, an Amber Alert, or just recently, when there was a Shelter-In-Place warning during a manhunt for a guy who murdered a state trooper in the densely populated wooded area.

What if a station conducts a EAS test during the middle of Sunday Night Football, especially there's no severe weather going on? Will it freak out football fans?

Thank god, I have both Hulu and Netflix subscriptions! I don't have to deal with this crap...
 
That is unusual but from my reading of the rules, the EAS Test should be done at various times. Most stations keep it out of prime time unless an emergency.

I too find the weekly and monthly tests as pretty worthless. Monthly might be okay. From working radio I recall when transmitters and all other equipment was not as reliable and secure as now. Broadcast equipment, properly maintained, is usually outdated before it would fail. It seems there should be a way to check the EAS equipment off air that would meet the FCC's criteria. I understand we need to be sure a test can get on the air but I think weekly tests just causes people to blow off EAS Tests in much the same way we blow off car alarms when they go off.
 
CurtisNEPA said:
What if a station conducts a EAS test during the middle of Sunday Night Football, especially there's no severe weather going on? Will it freak out football fans?
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What if a DJ compiles a "song" centered around the EAS signal (preferably using the short beeps as "notes") and plays it on his morning zoo show?

ixnay
 
ixnay said:
What if a DJ compiles a "song" centered around the EAS signal (preferably using the short beeps as "notes") and plays it on his morning zoo show?
Click to expand...

Would said "song" incorporate the announcement that accompanies the tone on the test? If so, and if the tones were aired as received, it would probably pass muster.

Otherwise, expect a fine from the FCC.
 
There are so many EAS tests, when you count the individual stations and the regional/statewide tests. Then throw in all the cable company tests and radio station tests/alerts for minor weather events. If people haven't already started to ignore EAS. they will.
 
The EAS tests were designed to be a daisy-chain. When received from the primary station, other stations transmit the test.
The original concept was to make these tests automatic. The EAS system would interrupt whatever was on the air at the time and get the information out as quickly as possible.
After receiving the EAS tests, most stations delay the retransmission to a more convenient (during a stop set) time.
 
As a part of a song I think you'd be fine. The FCC has fined stations big time for using the EAS tone (not the beeps/chirps as far as I know) in bits where the audience could be confused about whether it was real or just a 'bit' the jock was doing. Thinking back to early years in radio, there was a 'sung' version of the text we had to use for Emergency Broadcast System. I actually heard it used and thought that was pretty cool. Everybody sing along...["This is a test of the Emergency Broadcasting System..."
 
frankberry said:
The EAS tests were designed to be a daisy-chain. When received from the primary station, other stations transmit the test.
The original concept was to make these tests automatic. The EAS system would interrupt whatever was on the air at the time and get the information out as quickly as possible.
After receiving the EAS tests, most stations delay the retransmission to a more convenient (during a stop set) time.
Click to expand...

I would hope that most local stations would do the tests during a stop break, but I know that Charter Cable in Jackson, TN will do an EAS test that interrupts the entire system at one time, regardless of what is on. It's very irritating, but it's usually late at night.
 
I'd love it if random EAS tests would interrupt ads for "As seen on TV" or infomercial type junk.

"Don't for get that toll free number is "BUZZZZZZ" :rolleyes:
 
I assume WVEA-TV in Tampa Bay is always getting fined for airing EAS tests in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's a Spanish station, of course. They aired it during the news (which is not supposed to happen), during live events (very rare), and they even aired one during PRIMETIME, just today! Lots of people are being scared and questioned about a test while watching a novela. EAS, DON'T AIR IN PRIMETIME! At least they did the National 2011 Test OK. Just a still screen with EAS with no worries, but people were expecting this.
 
Why would a TV station be fined for airing an EAS test at a wrong time when there is no wrong time. Can you show me the FCC Rules that says differently. All I see is at varied times weekly. The idea is so everyone becomes familiar with the EAS. Obviously what is happening at WVEA is the EAS is set on Automatic, not manual meaning when their Primary station fires off the EAS, their unit receives it and immediately runs their test. Lots of stations do this and many are obviously unmanned.

Funny thing, on a visit from the FCC, we interrupted programming without warning to run a test. The FCC Field Rep said we could have waited until the next stop set to run it. I said I figured he wanted to see how quickly we could be on the air with it as well. He smiled and said he liked that attitude.

By the way, for a scary read, read one of those EAS Procedure Manual scripts for a national emergency. The government takes EAS very seriously.

Granted, EAS needs to be updated and I personally believe airing tests so frequently only means people dona't take it seriously. It should grab your attention, not make you say 'here we go again'.
 
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OK, then. However, WVEA-TV are airing the EAS tones as background sound for their "weather alert" graphic during their newscasts (along with normal graphic music), which are at 6 and 11. This can be concerning for them...
 
I get what you are saying: the station is not airing a test but using the alert tones as a part of their programming, right? That would not be legal. That can generate some huge fines.
 
b-turner said:
I get what you are saying: the station is not airing a test but using the alert tones as a part of their programming, right? That would not be legal. That can generate some huge fines.
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yep, your right, if TBS, a cable channel could get fined for using the EAS tones to promote Conan O"Brien. then a local TV station will get in trouble to use the EAS tone as the intro of their severe weather coverage and not playing the EAS alert from the main source of the local EAS alert.
 
MarcB said:
All of them are annoying, but especially the ones in the middle of the night. On more than one occasion I've fallen asleep with the TV on only to be woken up by the stupid EAS test.
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It has happen to me as well since I sleep with the TV on all night when I'm just about to get into a deep sleep into dreamland the EAS wakes me up but I can get back to sleep in minute after it is done.
 
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