Yes, well, if 20,000 people tune out, then that's the licensee's problem, isn't it? Perhaps the FCC is also to blame for deregulation which allowed the conglomerates to bully programmers, give themselves free billboard space, and have enough cash on hand to drown any less-endowed competition. But, the reality is, there are people who enjoy listening to shows like the Patriot group. And that's the basis for my question - does a show like that constitute an infomercial? In my limited TSL to their show, I hear a lot of common talk radio topics about how the government is evil, the sky is falling, etc., but not a lot of "product pimping". If you agreed with what they were saying in their live daily show, you might find it entertaining radio as an alternative to the oohs-and-aahs or Beneficial Addiction of the other talkers in town. Hey, KFNX had the Dr. Sam show before - please explain how that was an infomercial.
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KFNX Horror Story #183
- Thread starter DrAkbar
- Start date
Don't be using a '76 Gremlin as your example of a bad car....use the '76 PACER, which was schlock, through-and-through.
The AMC Gremlin and Hornet were fine cars, the Hornet begat the Eagle, which was 20 years ahead of its time, for 4WD in a small pkg.
And don't bash used or old equipment, which can sound fantastic..
The FCC handily cites "as AMMENDED" to all its legalese, which means "We're making it up as we go along."
The FCC's current position on public service is:
The public service is so, like, 1930's, dude. I suppose you want us to re-instate the AM Clear protections, too, huh?
You want us to have actual paid live humans around here running the station?
Can't "everyone" just buy a computer and find websites to serve them?
I would love to see a few stations lose a license over the decline of service to the public.
The non-staffed CC stations in Minot, ND come to mind.
Any station which advises the public to go to another media for information should also lose their license.
If it's not worth putting on the air, it's not worth sending listeners away.
Brokered programming includes infomercials, but these are a special situation deserving of limitation.
They are far more in the interest of the originator and station than the public.
These programs do more detriment to a station's image than any lackluster music programming.
And these colon-cleansing shows are blatantly false! There is no "buildup of plaque" in the colon any more than there is on the inside of your mouth! You could hardly sell airtime for a show that advised everyone take a "high colonic cleansing" at home, but you can sell
snake oil for the same purpose on a 1-hour show?
Doesn't the presentation of highly slanted, even false information count for anything?
I know it works for the Bush administration, but here in the real world, we once expected the radio to air "the truth".
The AMC Gremlin and Hornet were fine cars, the Hornet begat the Eagle, which was 20 years ahead of its time, for 4WD in a small pkg.
And don't bash used or old equipment, which can sound fantastic..
The FCC handily cites "as AMMENDED" to all its legalese, which means "We're making it up as we go along."
The FCC's current position on public service is:
The public service is so, like, 1930's, dude. I suppose you want us to re-instate the AM Clear protections, too, huh?
You want us to have actual paid live humans around here running the station?
Can't "everyone" just buy a computer and find websites to serve them?
I would love to see a few stations lose a license over the decline of service to the public.
The non-staffed CC stations in Minot, ND come to mind.
Any station which advises the public to go to another media for information should also lose their license.
If it's not worth putting on the air, it's not worth sending listeners away.
Brokered programming includes infomercials, but these are a special situation deserving of limitation.
They are far more in the interest of the originator and station than the public.
These programs do more detriment to a station's image than any lackluster music programming.
And these colon-cleansing shows are blatantly false! There is no "buildup of plaque" in the colon any more than there is on the inside of your mouth! You could hardly sell airtime for a show that advised everyone take a "high colonic cleansing" at home, but you can sell
snake oil for the same purpose on a 1-hour show?
Doesn't the presentation of highly slanted, even false information count for anything?
I know it works for the Bush administration, but here in the real world, we once expected the radio to air "the truth".
Don't be using a '76 Gremlin as your example of a bad car....use the '76 PACER, which was schlock, through-and-through.
The AMC Gremlin and Hornet were fine cars, the Hornet begat the Eagle, which was 20 years ahead of its time, for 4WD in a small pkg.
It's humbling to know someone else appreciates the Gremlin as much as we!
However, back to topic: the audio on KFNX sounds horrendous. Nurse Jeff and I could give a rip whether or not they run colonblow shows 24/7....just don't irritate our ears with annoying distortion.
Our four ears thank you!
The AMC Gremlin and Hornet were fine cars, the Hornet begat the Eagle, which was 20 years ahead of its time, for 4WD in a small pkg.
It's humbling to know someone else appreciates the Gremlin as much as we!
However, back to topic: the audio on KFNX sounds horrendous. Nurse Jeff and I could give a rip whether or not they run colonblow shows 24/7....just don't irritate our ears with annoying distortion.
Our four ears thank you!
Tom Wells said:
The colon cleanser shows are 1/2 hour. And, for the 98th time, unless you've done a scientific study of Americans, let's not allow your personal preferences to be assumed for the 300 million of us that populate the rest of the country.
No, there is no such thing as "colon buildup", but you act as if 30 and 60 second spot advertisers are somehow more noble in their intentions? Did the Body Solutions or Bloussant people act "in the public interest" by running deceptive and false ads back several years ago? Your argument is basically: spots are honest and serve the public good, but infomercials must be schlock and deceptive. Dr. Laura, under your definition, started out as an infomercial, buying time many moons ago.
BTW, Kiss, KMLE, KNIX, KFYI, et al all air the programming that they do not because they care about the public interest, but because it makes them money. Yes, some broadcasters, many of days past, cared more about the public, but the ones that didn't go bankrupt (ie, the ones that still own(ed) stations) realize that even more important is profit. Perhaps you should add to the long list of FCC bashing its willingness to issue new AM licenses to already over-radioed markets. Do you think it's a coincidence many of the best stations in any market were among the first to broadcast there, or at least have a 15-20 year track record? Yes, that's not a blanket statement and there are many exceptions as well, but at least the converse is true... the newest AMs typically have signal flaws because of all the other stations to protect, and for that among other reasons tend to not do too well. So, really, the question is, would you rather see KAZG, (the old) KMYL, etc. turn in their license and have an empty frequency? Because there's not much else they can do to make those stations worth keeping on the air without whoring out time.
Now several relaxed thoughts.....after a "fine" travel day from Corpus Christi back to Chicago, I can think about some of the
horrible audio I've been treated to, and how as "one who stayed out but is still an engineer", I know high quality truly matters
to a very few, the kind who will put on headphones or sit in the sweet spot.
And I would be horrified to be in charge of airing this, especially if the original audio was "mangled".
Public Outcry...
Old timey analogy...
Some people will watch a movie out of focus, some will jump up and yell to the projectionist.
The moment I heard AM 890 WLS in IBOC, I called them, and so far it was only that ONE day a week or three back...
If we average it out, the public response is very much like that the Paw Bear, in The Hillbilly Bears, who always
mumbled in a deep grumbly rumble," hmmphgn nngnaninihgmphnnnmsn hmmna haaayfever.....
This gives us little clue as to what is wrong, being so muffled, distorted, and diluted.
We would all like to see a way for radio support the necesary cash flow, it is only too bad we could not see a return to the
days when Cleanblow Radio Hour would bring you the dance music of.. so and so, and then a vigorous but tidy presentation
of the sponsors cleansing potions while employing REAL PEOPLE.
The refusal of mangement to duly reward and support the ART of radio in air-and-behind-the-scenes talent is the disease inflicted
upon radio, that the business it has become must commoditize the art which gives it life.
The ever decreasing public service expectation, combined with the public's readiness to take whatever is offered,
leads us to whole HOURS of ulterior discussion, just because a radio's rate looks good compared to a major market newspaper.
I know ads are sometimes full of BS. A very good reason to keep them to one minute.
Ahhh, the American Motors Corporation... The Pacer, with the 6, the 343, or the 390 were all awesome cars.
I favor Dodge Darts, but recognize the Hornet, Gremlin, and Eagle as car cousins. Absolutely the finest cars ever dissed by the public.
I am sure that the Dr. only suggests the airtime customer is entitled to a "proper" airing unless the customer is satisfied.
A few toasted P/N junctions somewheres, huh? How's that any better than cathode emission dropoff?
At least you could still sound great, well , half the time..
Bring back the tubes and this wouldn't sound quite as bad while limping, dangit.......
horrible audio I've been treated to, and how as "one who stayed out but is still an engineer", I know high quality truly matters
to a very few, the kind who will put on headphones or sit in the sweet spot.
And I would be horrified to be in charge of airing this, especially if the original audio was "mangled".
Public Outcry...
Old timey analogy...
Some people will watch a movie out of focus, some will jump up and yell to the projectionist.
The moment I heard AM 890 WLS in IBOC, I called them, and so far it was only that ONE day a week or three back...
If we average it out, the public response is very much like that the Paw Bear, in The Hillbilly Bears, who always
mumbled in a deep grumbly rumble," hmmphgn nngnaninihgmphnnnmsn hmmna haaayfever.....
This gives us little clue as to what is wrong, being so muffled, distorted, and diluted.
We would all like to see a way for radio support the necesary cash flow, it is only too bad we could not see a return to the
days when Cleanblow Radio Hour would bring you the dance music of.. so and so, and then a vigorous but tidy presentation
of the sponsors cleansing potions while employing REAL PEOPLE.
The refusal of mangement to duly reward and support the ART of radio in air-and-behind-the-scenes talent is the disease inflicted
upon radio, that the business it has become must commoditize the art which gives it life.
The ever decreasing public service expectation, combined with the public's readiness to take whatever is offered,
leads us to whole HOURS of ulterior discussion, just because a radio's rate looks good compared to a major market newspaper.
I know ads are sometimes full of BS. A very good reason to keep them to one minute.
Ahhh, the American Motors Corporation... The Pacer, with the 6, the 343, or the 390 were all awesome cars.
I favor Dodge Darts, but recognize the Hornet, Gremlin, and Eagle as car cousins. Absolutely the finest cars ever dissed by the public.
I am sure that the Dr. only suggests the airtime customer is entitled to a "proper" airing unless the customer is satisfied.
A few toasted P/N junctions somewheres, huh? How's that any better than cathode emission dropoff?
At least you could still sound great, well , half the time..
Bring back the tubes and this wouldn't sound quite as bad while limping, dangit.......
I actually saw a gremlin on the road yesterday. All gunmetal primer grey and a very angry looking youth behind the steering wheel!
My dad had a 76 Pacer X, he loved it.
My dad had a 76 Pacer X, he loved it.
Oh yes, how wonderful it would be for us to go back to radio dramas and giving out the school lunch menus with news on every station at the top of the hour... uhh, except no one would listen. People who make the argument about radio stations needing to fulfill the "public interest" need to understand that the public isn't interested in the way radio used to be. I hate to break the news to some of you, but this is 2007--whether you wish to admit it or not: News/Talk, where opinion based shows supersede the reading of the minutes of city council meetings are here to stay. The "public interest" is just that: What the PUBLIC is INTERESTED in. Although terrestrial radio may want to again refocus itself as other forms of media are slowly sneaking up on and surpassing them daily.
KFNX is allowed to air their infomercials that 12 people care about, just like Air America is allowed to babble on to virtually no audience... it's the same thing really. Simply because you disagree with the business model doesn't mean a station is violating it's license or the credo of the FCC. Besides, the FCC has more important things to worry about, like whether or not the word "breasts" is acceptable and trying to fine stations arbitrarily for excessive use of the first amendment.
I tuned in for a moment today and heard an ad for a new show, evidently its a free energy scam presentation.
Sounds like fun!
Produce all the energy you need, just become a distributor and sell the rights to the devices, at some point, we will build them if the evil oil companies and the Illuminati let us!
Think of KFNX as an on air museum of all that is bad in radio
Sounds like fun!
Produce all the energy you need, just become a distributor and sell the rights to the devices, at some point, we will build them if the evil oil companies and the Illuminati let us!
Think of KFNX as an on air museum of all that is bad in radio
Legend City said:
I think you could find much worse elsewhere, even on stations with more "legitimate" programming.
Saving Radio in the Satellite Era
http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0228-32.htm
Fortunately, there is a solution: Require every station that wants to add to its holdings to broadcast a minimum level of original, live and local material. This proposal is based on one of the most successful broadcast policies in American history. In the 1960s, when the F.C.C. opened the FM dial, AM stations rushed to acquire licenses — but then simulcast the same shows they were already playing. This was not what regulators had in mind, so they ruled that FM stations had to play original content on at least half of their programming hours. Because radio companies didn’t want to invest much in FM, they ceded control of their studios to young people and amateur broadcasters. The result was the advent of free-form music radio, with programs so fresh and compelling that listeners flocked to FM and stayed there — at least until corporate broadcasters standardized it, too.
http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0228-32.htm
Fortunately, there is a solution: Require every station that wants to add to its holdings to broadcast a minimum level of original, live and local material. This proposal is based on one of the most successful broadcast policies in American history. In the 1960s, when the F.C.C. opened the FM dial, AM stations rushed to acquire licenses — but then simulcast the same shows they were already playing. This was not what regulators had in mind, so they ruled that FM stations had to play original content on at least half of their programming hours. Because radio companies didn’t want to invest much in FM, they ceded control of their studios to young people and amateur broadcasters. The result was the advent of free-form music radio, with programs so fresh and compelling that listeners flocked to FM and stayed there — at least until corporate broadcasters standardized it, too.
j henry waugh said:
No need to shout. Besides, I think most people would say the bloom is off the rose of satradio. As to content restrictions, why dictate what the public wants to hear? You can't be all local, all the time, especially in small markets AND in large markets with 45+ commercial stations. Maybe people don't want all local. The Oscars were broadcast the other day in many countries worldwide and got 40 million U.S. viewers. No local content there.
KJCB said:
XM, iPod can't touch that dial — Good old 'terrestrial radio' still reaches more than 90 percent of Americans age 12 and older, year after year
Satradio is bleeding money and there are big restrictions on it that terrestrial radio is immune to, like accessibility > 2% of population, ability to run on batteries or out of range sky view (don't tell me about computer streaming, if you are able to stream, then you don't really need the satellite part, but still in need of a computer, or device to accommodate such technology (which is not likely given state of patent/DRM affairs))…
j henry waugh said:
I wouldn't call that a "restriction" since there's nothing that prevents them from reaching 100% of the population if everyone decides to buy the service. Not that it'll happen, but there's nothing preventing it outside of people not willing to pay for it.
If the Ogg Vorbis format is used instead of MP3 on the hard disk, patents aren't an issue. Ogg Vorbis is patent- and royalty-free and is actually more efficent a file format than MP3 (although they're very close).
Music licensing is another story, but using a service like Live 365 takes care of that as well (licensing is included in their fees, from what I understand).
KeithE4 said:
No, Ogg v. MP3 is an entirely different legal debate. Besides, battle there has already been sort of won, although if the MP3 wrangling gets nastier, I suspect we might see some more players with Ogg capability.
I am referring to innovation in hardware (and broadcasting) that is actively spiked because of the legal hammer over content transfer copyright issues. There are a number of products that never came (and won't until RIAA/MPAA dinosaur stranglehold is lifted) to market because of it, and it has had a chilling effect.
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