Forever's Dilemma is Other's Opportunity

[Broadcastress]

ABSENTEE OWNERSHIP IS AT THE HEART OF FOREVER'S PROBLEMS TODAY

 

[#%*#)%*#@)%#$]

There is an earlier poster that suggested when working for the foreverites one must watch their behind because management is insecure and would “punish” leakers. That doesn’t concern me because I know the ways in which they work. My vague comments on sources is so that people such as you, BR, have no chance to sniff out where the info comes from. Now, any on air person can look at the log and see how busy the schedule is and with just a little insight one can see what spots are paid and what are comps. All this information, put together tells the truth of the matter and that is revenues are down.

And you suggest it’s the sale persons fault if sales are off. Now that makes a lot of sense. Sales people are on commission. They have what incentive to not work hard to sell?

But if management prices the product, provides little or no leadership, dumps people, sometimes without legitimate reason, then everyone working at the company is curious as to how the company is doing. When revenues are off, that may be a signal to consider other job opportunities.

The point, once again, is not who is or is not doing what. It's the constant hearsay that is posted on this board. Like I stated earlier, Vague and Unvalidated.

 

[mock3]

There is an earlier poster that suggested when working for the foreverites one must watch their behind because management is insecure and would “punish” leakers. That doesn’t concern me because I know the ways in which they work. My vague comments on sources is so that people such as you, BR, have no chance to sniff out where the info comes from. Now, any on air person can look at the log and see how busy the schedule is and with just a little insight one can see what spots are paid and what are comps. All this information, put together tells the truth of the matter and that is revenues are down.

And you suggest it’s the sale persons fault if sales are off. Now that makes a lot of sense. Sales people are on commission. They have what incentive to not work hard to sell?

But if management prices the product, provides little or no leadership, dumps people, sometimes without legitimate reason, then everyone working at the company is curious as to how the company is doing. When revenues are off, that may be a signal to consider other job opportunities.

The point, once again, is not who is or is not doing what. It's the constant hearsay that is posted on this board. Like I stated earlier, Vague and Unvalidated.

For a bunch of hearsay, certain people sure spend a lot of time reading it. People might not cite their info, but those who have frequented this board for years, know that much of the hearsay is in many cases, not all that far from the truth. Usually those familiar with the situation can judge how much credit to give to the post.

I enjoy reading hearsay, it's much more entertaining than anything on the tube. I'm about to throw my television out the window.

 

[Radioheadbone]

I think their biggest dilemna is who let their dogs out?
Who?
Who?

 

[temp]

The point, once again, is not who is or is not doing what. It's the constant hearsay that is posted on this board. Like I stated earlier, Vague and Unvalidated.

The point is that each poster, depending on who they work for, has a choice:  vague and unvalidated--or unemployed. 

There are only two reasons I can think of why any poster in here would prod others to do exactly that which would be their undoing in this market--either the one challenging them is unfamiliar with the local companies or the nature of radio in general....or that person is management/ownership themselves and attempting to get someone posting troublesome (true) information to reveal themselves. 

I'll take vague and unvalidated for 300 Bob.

 

[#%*#)%*#@)%#$]

The point, once again, is not who is or is not doing what. It's the constant hearsay that is posted on this board. Like I stated earlier, Vague and Unvalidated.

The point is that each poster, depending on who they work for, has a choice: vague and unvalidated--or unemployed.

There are only two reasons I can think of why any poster in here would prod others to do exactly that which would be their undoing in this market--either the one challenging them is unfamiliar with the local companies or the nature of radio in general....or that person is management/ownership themselves and attempting to get someone posting troublesome (true) information to reveal themselves.

I'll take vague and unvalidated for 300 Bob.

For those of us who listen faithfully but don't understand the behind the scences stuff is the reality. In my line of work, I have seen union meetings explode over heresay. Its usually B.S. Doing a search for information on my favorite station, leads you to this sight that mainly has folks bashing the station that I love to listen to.

So, to answer your question, no, I still don't get it. But as I read more, I do learn more. And I will keep on listening.

 

[temp]

I have 10 years in radio and it's been my experience that at least 80% of the scuttlebutt I heard initially, in the markets I've worked in so far, actually came to pass within a year at the most. Some of it's true, some false, but regardless, people working in radio in general, and in this area specifically, have very real reasons to maintain their anonymity at all costs. On a basic level, that has to be respected. There's a great deal of stress and frustration, and people have to vent or they explode. The more any one company is resistant with employees who voice concern, or vengeful with employees who have complaints, the more the employees of that particular company will embrace sites like this one as an outlet. That's industry-wide....not a statement specific to this one company. Pressure builds and release is found whereever one can find a soft spot in the veneer. That's actually a good thing--if there's no soft spot to exploit, you've cornered people and you're looking at implosion. When employees are dealt with fairly, feel they can speak freely at work with legitimate concerns, have no fear of reprisal or revenge, and there's an open door policy, you can tell because they don't air the company's dirty laundry and they don't do a lot of venting on this site. That's because they have recourse "at home."

 

[Broadcastress]

In my experience I have found working for smaller radio stations and smaller groups is a much more fullfilling experience then working for larger groups with ownership from outside the market. The larger the group the more impersonnal. The larger the group the less concern for the employes. The larger the group the less interest that management seems to have in making the work environment empoye friendly. And if the group is in several markets within the region no group gets real attention. I believe that may describe Forever's dilemma. In my opinion that is why they have lost good people and are left with a bunch of on air "old farts."

 

[Radioheadbone]

The problem is that there are not enough small operators that have on-air employment opportunities.

 

[temp]

And off-air opportunities. They're all looking for sales and that's it.

 

[ErikLane]

Just posted from AllAccess.com:

"NICK GALLI's 2510 LICENSES, LLC is buying Country WSGY (FROGGY)/PLEASANT GAP-STATE COLLEGE, PA from FOREVER BROADCASTING for $1,200,000."

 

[clangham]

Oh WOW LOL!

Some more moving around under different license names, but the result is still the same owners.

All roads lead to Forever!

 

[prankster]

Reading a lot of posts about Forever..obviously from a jaded point of view. I find this interesting and amusing. If you look at Forever's staff on the programming side, most of them..yes, including State College..have been there since..well, before "Forever". If it's so bad..how come they're still there? The GSM's and GM's in all other markets that Forever where Forever owns stations have all been there for quite a while..how come?? Sales turnover is prevalent in any market...especially in a transient market like State College. Radio sales is stressful and demanding. A sales manager or general manager in ANY market doesn't keep their job if they can't meet their goals or budgets. Isn't that the basis of any sales job? Doesn't the expectation of managers meeting their goals imply "rate integrity"? Spot revenue is down everywhere. Seems like everyone on this board likes to take potshots at the big dog...could it be sour grapes.....

 

[Broadcastress]

And then a word from Forever management...is it the froglady? Hey froglegs how's Las Vegas?

 

[Marketer1021]

Ten dollar rates on forever country in State College and Altoona, plus freebies on their dead stations. That's the type of rate integrity that we like. We're putting a few more dollars this quarter in radio. Oh and we made a buy two weeks ago for less than $5 per cable spot with production. Ain't competition grand?

 

[temp]

Reading a lot of posts about Forever..obviously from a jaded point of view. I find this interesting and amusing. If you look at Forever's staff on the programming side, most of them..yes, including State College..have been there since..well, before "Forever". If it's so bad..how come they're still there? The GSM's and GM's in all other markets that Forever where Forever owns stations have all been there for quite a while..how come?? Sales turnover is prevalent in any market...especially in a transient market like State College. Radio sales is stressful and demanding. A sales manager or general manager in ANY market doesn't keep their job if they can't meet their goals or budgets. Isn't that the basis of any sales job? Doesn't the expectation of managers meeting their goals imply "rate integrity"? Spot revenue is down everywhere. Seems like everyone on this board likes to take potshots at the big dog...could it be sour grapes.....

Thanx for chiming in Ms Froggy. Managers having to meet their goals does not imply rate integrity when pressure is so severe and unrelenting that these managers take every rate they can get and continually throw comps--sometimes 40 and 50 percent of an order--at clients in an effort to drag them kicking and screaming onto the air so that those managers can make those goals. Rate integrity is built and maintained by not letting rates go so low that there's just no respect for the stations anymore. They go down at forever and then rates have to dip at other stations in order to compete--now commercials playing on State College radios are selling cheaper than a gallon of gas. Commercials playing on State College radio stations have very little value. That's a lack of rate integrity, which as we all know, is actually the polar opposite of rate integrity. As well, what happens at forever that does NOT happen at "ANY market," is burning through GSMs and GMs like other companies go through temp workers.

 

[fowler]

Pretty funny, that bit about Managers and goals.
The SC stations have had quite a few GM's GSM's and SM's that hit their numbers and still got canned.
They hit goals for other companies now.
No, in fact the number of managers (ten!? over the last four years) tells a different story.

AE turnover, it is true, is high everywhere in the business, but in this case it is absurd.

 

[temp]

Pretty funny, that bit about Managers and goals.
The SC stations have had quite a few GM's GSM's and SM's that hit their numbers and still got canned.
They hit goals for other companies now.
No, in fact the number of managers (ten!? over the last four years) tells a different story.

AE turnover, it is true, is high everywhere in the business, but in this case it is absurd.

I couldn't have put it better myself.

 

[#%*#)%*#@)%#$]

I have 10 years in radio and it's been my experience that at least 80% of the scuttlebutt I heard initially, in the markets I've worked in so far, actually came to pass within a year at the most. Some of it's true, some false, but regardless, people working in radio in general, and in this area specifically, have very real reasons to maintain their anonymity at all costs. On a basic level, that has to be respected. There's a great deal of stress and frustration, and people have to vent or they explode. The more any one company is resistant with employees who voice concern, or vengeful with employees who have complaints, the more the employees of that particular company will embrace sites like this one as an outlet. That's industry-wide....not a statement specific to this one company. Pressure builds and release is found whereever one can find a soft spot in the veneer. That's actually a good thing--if there's no soft spot to exploit, you've cornered people and you're looking at implosion. When employees are dealt with fairly, feel they can speak freely at work with legitimate concerns, have no fear of reprisal or revenge, and there's an open door policy, you can tell because they don't air the company's dirty laundry and they don't do a lot of venting on this site. That's because they have recourse "at home."

OK putting it that way, I understand your point of view better. Thanks