Iheartmedia is a mess

[hoosieralum]

So if you work for Iheartmedia, are you always worried that your position will be eliminated? At least the most recent purge has not affected the Louisville market. https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/...if-at-iheartmedia-continues-as-more-changes-t

 

[TheBigA]

I don't see this name on your list:

WAMZ/Louisville night personality Mike Rowe, who also handled PD duties for Top 40 sister WNRW, has exited after more than 14 years with the cluster.

 

[hoosieralum]

I don't see this name on your list:

WAMZ/Louisville night personality Mike Rowe, who also handled PD duties for Top 40 sister WNRW, has exited after more than 14 years with the cluster.

That is unfortunate. Looks like there may be even more to come https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/...BGWIH7aarnJEv9v4qjvcN698ZDpGjPweb7dmIjcAlrMYc

Thanks, Telecommunications Act of 1996 for creating boring radio and eliminating all local station personality.

 

[greg.hahn]

Thanks, Telecommunications Act of 1996 for creating boring radio and eliminating all local station personality.

For the record, Summit Media has 4 stations in Louisville, 3 of which are live in both AM and PM drive. We haven't let a single air talent go in 2020.

 

[TheBigA]

Thanks, Telecommunications Act of 1996 for creating boring radio and eliminating all local station personality.

FYI there was nothing in the Act that had anything to do with programming or staffing.

The changes the companies made would have happened regardless. Before 96, there had already been growth in voice-tracking and syndication.

Grant County's WNKN is a huge success story in Cincinnati, and there are other similar stories around the country.

 

[gr8oldies]

As far as I know, there was never any staffing required other than operating the transmitter.

FYI there was nothing in the Act that had anything to do with programming or staffing.

The changes the companies made would have happened regardless. Before 96, there had already been growth in voice-tracking and syndication.

Grant County's WNKN is a huge success story in Cincinnati, and there are other similar stories around the country.

 

[Kent]

As far as I know, there was never any staffing required other than operating the transmitter.

The FCC got rid of the requirement that a licensed operator be on duty while the station was on-air about a year before the Telecomm Act passed. On FM's and non-directional AM's under 10,000 watts, meter readings aren’t even required anymore beyond that you have to take enough to prove your transmitter is reliable and take enough to be reasonably expected to catch a critical error within three hours. Most transmitters will automatically shut off if the power runs too high for too long, even without ATC equipment. Even during the 1995 and earlier era, there were ways to get around having your licensed operator in the building. I understand there were firms that would monitor your transmitter and fax you the logs they kept in the morning. Never dealt with any of those myself, but I seem to remember a co-worker telling me about them.

 

[davideduardo]

FYI there was nothing in the Act that had anything to do with programming or staffing..

In fact, the Act was a direct response to the unfortunate implementation of Docket 80-90 about 6 years before. Many markets, particularly smaller ones, got many more stations with no increase in revenue. Other larger markets got stations that upgraded and moved to a bigger city, increasing the station count in some cases by the double. Again, no increase in revenue.

A huge number of stations had to reduce live programming, local news and community programs. Thousands went to satellite programming, particularly in smaller markets. By the time the chance to do the Communications Act rolled around, half of US stations were losing money.

 

[gr8oldies]

I remember seeing the ads in Broadcasting for firms like that. Even in the 80s, we had a local station that had an arrangement with a motel to monitor them overnight. I suppose dial-in meter readings.

The FCC got rid of the requirement that a licensed operator be on duty while the station was on-air about a year before the Telecomm Act passed. On FM's and non-directional AM's under 10,000 watts, meter readings aren’t even required anymore beyond that you have to take enough to prove your transmitter is reliable and take enough to be reasonably expected to catch a critical error within three hours. Most transmitters will automatically shut off if the power runs too high for too long, even without ATC equipment. Even during the 1995 and earlier era, there were ways to get around having your licensed operator in the building. I understand there were firms that would monitor your transmitter and fax you the logs they kept in the morning. Never dealt with any of those myself, but I seem to remember a co-worker telling me about them.