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LETTER TO ED: FCC PORTLAND HEARING A JOKE

I know I posted this before....but many of the broadcasters on the panels gave me the impression that they weren't just over-stressing their 'public service audience involvement'...but that they were ALSO APPLYING FOR SAINTHOOD!

It's just my opinion...but the 5 FCC commissioners on the panel were probably promised extravagant hotel suites...along with a 2-POUND LOBSTER Dinner...in exchange for listening to broadcasters and others ramble about EVERYTHING! After all, government officials have to be PAID! It's the American Way

Maybe this is an example of how hard our tax dollars are working our behalf to improve the art of broadcasting.....? Or at least as we know it THIS WEEK?

[I still didn't get an answer as to why all television sets must become HDTV's by the year 2009?

To paraphrase Fred Foy (who used to do intros for THE LONE RANGER and other classic radio programs):

Tune in a month from now and listen for the new and improved broadcast changes!

Aside from the possibility of a different type of station imaging, promotional line or an alteration in frequency...I'm willing to bet there will be VERY FEW?

Since most listeners seem to be content eating their CHEERIOS with a little milk and sugar....perhaps that's why so many radio stations all taste the same??? :'(

argytunes
 
Since most listeners seem to be content eating their CHEERIOS with a little milk and sugar, milk price controlled by the Maine Milk Commision?
 
argytunes said:
[I still didn't get an answer as to why all television sets must become HDTV's by the year 2009?
Click to expand...

I suppose this doesn't answer the question you *really* wanted answered but...

- All TVs *don't* have to become HDTVs by 2009. Those that are connected to cable, satellite, or a VCR/DVD player can stay just as they are. Those that are connected to an antenna must become *digital* TVs but do not have to become high-definition.

- It has to happen because they're going to pack digital stations closer on the dial than analog - they're going to be able to squeeze all the TV stations out of channels 52-69 - and the government wants the revenue from auctioning off those no-longer-used channels.
 
This one's for Andy Taylor...

I wonder if the milk price increase is the reason there are more old bottles of milk on the shelves?

To be honest...there's a Maine Made Milk that I WILL NEVER BUY! Partly because their milk is too expensive....and partly because the majority of their television ads are incredibly STUPID! ::)

argytunes
 
You guys didn't actually think anything would be accomplished as a result of those hearings, did you?

Grow up and stop whining. It's unseemly.
 
Hip Hop!

I always thought message boards were designed to express an opinion? Whether you agree or disagree is called freedom of expression!

But if you weren't among the hundreds of people who showed up...which included broadcasters and listeners who stayed for most of the 11 hours...you might want to bite your tongue when it comes to whining? :p

argytunes
 
Argy, you seem to have strong opinions about what radio stations should be doing. If you were the FCC, what would you mandate? (Please don't tell me Sunday morning church services and pre-recorded "Join the Air Force" Top 40 shows!!)

As one who has talked with people very close to the hearings, believe me, there were no two pound lobster dinners, etc., given to the Commissioners. Their stance as a group is very anti-broadcaster. I'm not saying that's good or bad. I'm just sayin'.
 
ray ting...

Since I spent close to 7 hours at the June 28th FCC hearing...and made my less 2 minute audience comment around 11:30pm...here's what I observed from 3rd row center of Portland High School Auditorium:

All 5 members of the FCC panel took a lot of notes. Now whether they were actually writing down comments from the public or just doodling is anybody's guess?

I'm guessing that the 2-pound lobster dinners probably arrived after the hearings were over....or perhaps on Friday?

To get serious...I hated those canned AIR FORCE shows when I had to run them at various radio stations. But I don't have an issue with religious services on the radio. People either listen or they DON'T! This doesn't mean that 6-noon on Sunday has to be given back to GOD, the atheists, or both!

What many New England Broadcasters still don't understand is the fact that their listeners EVENUALLY GET BORED! And what do you do when you're bored? You turn to a different radio station or go to another audio source! All the hyping in the world isn't going to save a format that sounds tired.

Can you think of any radio station that airs a weekly...or even a monthly we ask our listeners what they like about our radio station show? Any idea that might be similar to this usually get buried? Because the last thing any program director wants to air is a negative comment? Or consider a programming suggestion or public service programming that has nothing to do with the day-in/day-out format!

Don't get me wrong...I visit MCDONALDS, BURGER KING and WENDY'S for an occasionally hamburger, fries and a chocolate shake. But I doubt there are people who can be force feed themselves the same food day-in and day out?

Sadly...this is what radio seems to have turned into...fast food with very little substance, protein, nutrients or creativity! :'(

argytunes
 
I fail to see how the FCC could be anti-broadcaster?

Anti-big corporations maybe (but doubtful. This is America after all). I used to think Argy was full of hot air (no offense, Argy) but honestly, I think there's some truth. Sure listeners love consistency. I believe that.

I also think listeners enjoy it when a programmer takes a risk (even if they are carefully calculated). I point to the only two all-request live Saturday night shows in Portland or the venerable Area Code 207. Those are enthusiastically embraced by the community (the live shows in question should be promoted more, if you ask me, but I wonder if PDs are concerned it would reminder listeners that otherwise requests are largely ignored).

I don't want to give away too much of what I do for work because I like staying anonymous--but I do believe broadcasters need to start thinking hard about what they do and why radio is such a great medium. Things are changing, but to the wags who say no one listens to radio anymore: go to Europe. They're more plugged in then we are, yet the radio is on everywhere! Why? Because in Europe radio is still live, radio is still interactive-programmers have embraced their strengths.

Sorry for my mini-rant. But I get so tired of hearing "radio is dead" spiels. Radio is dead because corporations and shareholders say it's dead and aren't willing to spend the cash to bring it back to life. It's not about the FCC. It's not about more regs. It's about taking the risks needed to survive.
 
Great comments argy and radiothis.

I do agree that listeners are getting bored with terrestrial radio. However, I'll also say that listeners have been moaning about broadcast radio for decades. The difference now is that there are actually new forms of real competition for traditional radio, so radio might want to start thinking about getting a facelift and working out at the gym a little.

Is the FCC anti-broadcaster? Yes. No question. At least the Democrat appointees are. And that's not a knock against them. Radio needs a boot in the britches. And radiothis!, you're right that the Commission is more correctly anti-Big Corporations than they are anti-radio. But the perception out there is the Clear Channel owns everything, thus, my "anti-radio" conclusion. I suspect also that a lot of the Commissioners' objections are political posturing. All part of the Beltway game.

Isn't this fun?
 
I've probably contributed more comments to this subject than to any other...but once again to Ray...if radio needs a boot in the bridges I think it'll either happen...

1. When a brave Program Director defies the corporate programming system and is willing to 'stick his neck out' in favor of something different? The idea might not be cost efficient at the beginning? But over a certain period of time...it'll be impossible for the GSM to count all the dollars that will come in. [To use a parallel...this is what made WALT DISNEY so successful].

2. When advertisers start to realize that their 30 and 60 second spots are merely buried in a cluster...and aren't being listened to by ANYBODY...they'll eventually cancel their contracts! This will leave the radio station with very little revenue from which to pay for their staff and services! So some sort of change will be necessary?

Whether this is a good change for the audience...or a bad change for the accounting department...IS ANYBODY'S GUESS? ???

argytunes
 
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