ESPN 1530 at 2am

[wjf82]

I was listening to the ESPN Radio Sunday Night baseball game that didn't start until almost 11pm. WCKY-AM (ESPN 1530) stayed with the game up until the bottom of the 9th inning. At that point, it was 2am. Bottom of the 9th started, and 1530 cut away from the game, first with commercials overlapping their overnight religious programming, then a station ID, and then they went back to the religious programming.

Could the religious programming not wait until after the game was over? Does Clear Channel think nobody is listening that late at night, that nobody would notice them cutting away from a game that is important to Reds' fans (the Cardinals were playing, and ended up losing)?

 

[jry]

You just answered your question. No one is listening, as far as they're concerned. The game just filled in the air time until the paid stuff started. If you are more than 2 minutes late starting the block programming, you no geta paid (as my Sicilian family would say).

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

The same thing happened at WSAI in February when the station cut off the Louisville-Notre Dame basketball game that was in multi-overtimes. Kind of sad. These stations promote themselves as "sports outlets", but don't bother to over-ride the computer that automatically does the switching. In WCKY's case, with 50,000 watts at that time of the night, you would think that a few people are listening - especially to a game that effects the Reds.

 

[almaniac27]

I was listening last night, luckily I knew I could switch over to KMOX to hear the last out.

It is quite ridiculous, but I'm mostly wondering how in the hell Brother Stair is a) still alive and b) can afford the airtime after all these years.

 

[microbob]

Is He still alive or is his ministry running old tapes of him like The Dr Gene Scott organization does? He has been dead for awhile now.

 

[xmusicmatt]

Could the religious programming not wait until after the game was over? Does Clear Channel think nobody is listening that late at night, that nobody would notice them cutting away from a game that is important to Reds' fans (the Cardinals were playing, and ended up losing)?

My guess is that the "religious programming" pays 1530 MORE money than they make off the syndicated ball game. So business wise dumping out of the in progress game to air the paid programming keeps the lights on.

 

[wjf82]

Is He still alive or is his ministry running old tapes of him like The Dr Gene Scott organization does? He has been dead for awhile now.

He's 80 years old, still alive.

 

[Bengalsfan]

Could the religious programming not wait until after the game was over?

Nope. The religious programming was paid programming. They probably made more money off of it than they did on the Reds' game. And the contract for the religious programming probably stipulates a hard start time. If it don't air, they don't get the money for it.

 

[microbob]

Is He still alive or is his ministry running old tapes of him like The Dr Gene Scott organization does? He has been dead for awhile now.

He's 80 years old, still alive.

He sounds older than that on the air. Brother Stair reminds me of Harold Camping of Family Radio predicting the end of the world and such only to extend the deadline time after time.

 

[cardradio]

Could the religious programming not wait until after the game was over?

Nope. The religious programming was paid programming. They probably made more money off of it than they did on the Reds' game. And the contract for the religious programming probably stipulates a hard start time. If it don't air, they don't get the money for it.

Or it could just be a case of nobodys home except for "captin harddrive" and when the time comes....it comes... no matter what.

 

[Bengalsfan]

Could the religious programming not wait until after the game was over?

Nope. The religious programming was paid programming. They probably made more money off of it than they did on the Reds' game. And the contract for the religious programming probably stipulates a hard start time. If it don't air, they don't get the money for it.

Or it could just be a case of nobodys home except for "captin harddrive" and when the time comes....it comes... no matter what.

There's always that possibility. I've seen it happen on the Weather Channel before. When the computer says it's time for a break, it's time for a break. But I'm putting my money on the religious programming was paid programming and it was going to run regardless of what else was on the air at the time.

 

[jry]

Could the religious programming not wait until after the game was over?

Nope. The religious programming was paid programming. They probably made more money off of it than they did on the Reds' game. And the contract for the religious programming probably stipulates a hard start time. If it don't air, they don't get the money for it.

Um, that is about what i was saying, a few posts ago.
Or it could just be a case of nobodys home except for "captin harddrive" and when the time comes....it comes... no matter what.

There's always that possibility. I've seen it happen on the Weather Channel before. When the computer says it's time for a break, it's time for a break. But I'm putting my money on the religious programming was paid programming and it was going to run regardless of what else was on the air at the time.

 

[secondchoice]

The simple answer: It is religiou$$

 

[Thomas Blixa]

- As one who works at CC in Columbus, I'm guessing that whoever was working that late shift did not keep an eye on the game and when the "hard timed" macro hit it went back to regular programming! I was also working that night and if there is any "hard timed" element in there and the game isn't over, Nexgen is going to fire the macro whether the game is over or not! All "hard timed" elements should have been deleted until the game was over.....

 

[MikeStandardsFromIndiana]

- As one who works at CC in Columbus, I'm guessing that whoever was working that late shift did not keep an eye on the game and when the "hard timed" macro hit it went back to regular programming! I was also working that night and if there is any "hard timed" element in there and the game isn't over, Nexgen is going to fire the macro whether the game is over or not! All "hard timed" elements should have been deleted until the game was over.....

I think the Religious Programs on 1530 since they are paid programs they gotta air on time no matter if a game is going on. thus the "hard Timed" elements to trigger Brother Stair have to go through at 2am no matter what due to the contracts. but hey at least 1530 isnt having to start it at midnight like it did some 20 years ago

 

[microbob]

I wonder what will happen when Brother Stair passes on? The money will be gone for CC unless they can sell the airtime to another pay for pray organization. Anyone know how long He's been buying time on 1530? I know Roy Masters has been on WCKY for over 20 years.

 

[Thomas Blixa]

All CC stations that have a contract with The Reds Radio Network are obligated to air the game in it's entirety(?) and paid programming is usually deleted from the log and made good at a later date!
At least that is the way we do it here in Columbus. My P.D. has always said that The Reds come first and the paid programming after!
I do not know if it varies from cluster to cluster, But I delete paid programming if a Reds game goes long, IE: rain delay, tied etc!

 

[wjf82]

It wasn't a Reds' game that was cut off. It was a Cardinals / Rangers game ESPN Radio was carrying. I was just questioning why they'd cut out of a game that affects the Reds, since the Reds are behind the Cardinals in the standings.

 

[Thomas Blixa]

- WOW! I'm so sorry! It's been a long week! Please dis-regard my earlier post! I'm braindead!

 

[schmave]

It wasn't a Reds' game that was cut off. It was a Cardinals / Rangers game ESPN Radio was carrying. I was just questioning why they'd cut out of a game that affects the Reds, since the Reds are behind the Cardinals in the standings.

Common sense dictates the game would air to its conclusion, then just join Brother Stair or whoever in progress. Not that radio always deals in common sense.