I hope that, as I have been doing this evening (Jan. 22 2010), you also have been able to watch the Hope for Haiti benefit concert on most of the commercial TV networks, as well as PBS, CBC, HBO and a few other cable channels. Incredibly moving, just the right thing to help mobilize support for relief and ongoing sustainability to the nation of Haiti, and a chance to witness American broadcasting and musicians at their best. I hope they raise many millions that will help the suffering people of Haiti.
I scanned my kitchen FM radio around the start of the TV broadcast (delayed for Pacific time zone), but didn't find any stations at all doing a simulcast. Wondering if there was not a radio-friendly version of the telecast being offered thru the usual distribution systems, or if no station in Seattle took it. Or if someone ran it at 5pm PT from the live Eastern time zone broadcast. It really would have been adequate to just run the audio, without audio commentary added in, since the support pitches mentioned the phone number and website for contributions.
I PD'd at a medium market NPR station during 9-11, and regretted that we had no access thru the public radio satellite system to get a feed of the similar post-9-11 concert, and so stuck with a mix of NPR and BBC coverage and local call-ins during the national concert on Sept. 15,, 2001. But I recall many of the area commercial stations were able to simulcast it, and did.
Other thoughs: if the only thing your station's listeners hear about Haiti are the sick Tourette's-flavored ramblings of Limbaugh or Pat Robertson or their imitators, I hope your conscience gets the better of you and you will do something postive on the air to assist in the fundraising efforts. Without even weighing the public relations benefit. Just do it.
Other radio thoughts: What marvelous music performances tonight. The "covers" of major songs by other major artists were revelations to hear. The tone and substance of the lyrics touched my soul in ways no news coverage or commentary could ever match.
For my taste, it would also be a real class act to hear just one radio station in Seattle offer a music format with the depth and restraint of the performances we heard tonight on TV. A medium and downtempo format of adult rock and related genres. And enough variety to be able to occasionally add in some real spice, like the Haitian performances, for example. No screaming promos. Sounds like an NPR-AAA type of format, but I think a commercial operator with a better than average sense of taste and a talented sales force could find a new audience that's not being addressed with the current music formats. The content, and the presentation style, designed for smart people who don't like to be yelled at. Something on the order or WXRT Chicago and what I remember KINK Portland sounding like last year are in the ballpark of what I'm suggesting.
On a different level, it was an interesting chance to compare any differences between outlets on their HD video and audio. The only differences I noticed, via Comcast cable, were a louder, processed (but not unpleasant) sound on channel 11/111, and a slightly less clear and vibrant picture quality on KCTS 9/109 than the rest. Glad, for reasons of the content and effort, to see nearly every local TV outlet provide a Friday night for the Haiti relief fundraiser.
Please share your impressions of the special broadcast tonight. Let's presume we'll all donate what we can, and that information can remain private and between you, your maker, and your credit card company.
Did anyone else find tonight's telecast a powerful broadcast expereince? And can we get some more buy-in from the powers that be at radio stations in our town, commmerical AND non-comms, too?
GL
I scanned my kitchen FM radio around the start of the TV broadcast (delayed for Pacific time zone), but didn't find any stations at all doing a simulcast. Wondering if there was not a radio-friendly version of the telecast being offered thru the usual distribution systems, or if no station in Seattle took it. Or if someone ran it at 5pm PT from the live Eastern time zone broadcast. It really would have been adequate to just run the audio, without audio commentary added in, since the support pitches mentioned the phone number and website for contributions.
I PD'd at a medium market NPR station during 9-11, and regretted that we had no access thru the public radio satellite system to get a feed of the similar post-9-11 concert, and so stuck with a mix of NPR and BBC coverage and local call-ins during the national concert on Sept. 15,, 2001. But I recall many of the area commercial stations were able to simulcast it, and did.
Other thoughs: if the only thing your station's listeners hear about Haiti are the sick Tourette's-flavored ramblings of Limbaugh or Pat Robertson or their imitators, I hope your conscience gets the better of you and you will do something postive on the air to assist in the fundraising efforts. Without even weighing the public relations benefit. Just do it.
Other radio thoughts: What marvelous music performances tonight. The "covers" of major songs by other major artists were revelations to hear. The tone and substance of the lyrics touched my soul in ways no news coverage or commentary could ever match.
For my taste, it would also be a real class act to hear just one radio station in Seattle offer a music format with the depth and restraint of the performances we heard tonight on TV. A medium and downtempo format of adult rock and related genres. And enough variety to be able to occasionally add in some real spice, like the Haitian performances, for example. No screaming promos. Sounds like an NPR-AAA type of format, but I think a commercial operator with a better than average sense of taste and a talented sales force could find a new audience that's not being addressed with the current music formats. The content, and the presentation style, designed for smart people who don't like to be yelled at. Something on the order or WXRT Chicago and what I remember KINK Portland sounding like last year are in the ballpark of what I'm suggesting.
On a different level, it was an interesting chance to compare any differences between outlets on their HD video and audio. The only differences I noticed, via Comcast cable, were a louder, processed (but not unpleasant) sound on channel 11/111, and a slightly less clear and vibrant picture quality on KCTS 9/109 than the rest. Glad, for reasons of the content and effort, to see nearly every local TV outlet provide a Friday night for the Haiti relief fundraiser.
Please share your impressions of the special broadcast tonight. Let's presume we'll all donate what we can, and that information can remain private and between you, your maker, and your credit card company.
Did anyone else find tonight's telecast a powerful broadcast expereince? And can we get some more buy-in from the powers that be at radio stations in our town, commmerical AND non-comms, too?
GL
