Listening Area

[RDO]

What the heck is that? I hear it all the time on the radio. Really unprofessional. Think about it.

As an average listener, I don't know where your signal goes. I may be on the southern part of the listening area and not actually know that I am on the northern part of the listening area.

Please stop using that phrase. Please. Be specific on what you are talking about.

 

[flip23]

Sometimes things are on that don't apply to the station's "listening area". Yesterday there was an Amber alert dealing with a situation in Hammond. The suspect was believed headed toward Chicago. That alert should have been aired in northern Indiana and northern Illinois, but it did little good airing on Indy radio. At the same time there was a storm happening in northern Indiana. Some of the tv stations ran a graphic for that, PLUS an Amber alert graphic. Neither situation was relevant to 95% of their audience. When something that DOES apply to a local area is broadcast, people are then less likely to pay attention.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

As an average listener, I don't know where your signal goes. I may be on the southern part of the listening area and not actually know that I am on the northern part of the listening area

Why does it matter whether you're on the northern end or southern end of the listening area? By definition, you know you're in the listening area by listening...

 

[kb9wsl]

And what if you are listening to the internet stream from a station's website? I may be in Australia, but am I in the listening area???

 

[radio programmer]

And what if you are listening to the internet stream from a station's website? I may be in Australia, but am I in the listening area???

During a storm, I'm only caring about the terrestrial listening area.

 

[RDO]

As an average listener, I don't know where your signal goes. I may be on the southern part of the listening area and not actually know that I am on the northern part of the listening area

Why does it matter whether you're on the northern end or southern end of the listening area? By definition, you know you're in the listening area by listening...

Because the guy on the radio the other day told me that there were going to be storms in the northern part of the listening area. I don't know where that is. Be more specific.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Because the guy on the radio the other day told me that there were going to be storms in the northern part of the listening area. I don't know where that is. Be more specific.

If you're unfamiliar with the area, would it have been more helpful if he had said "there will be storms in Benton county"?

 

[WOW Really?]

Wow! Is this really the level to which we have dropped? Discussing the evil use of the term "listening area"? hahaha Watch out, at any moment, when we least expect it mind you, some DJ may refer to a new hit as a "record". GASP!

 

[Tom Wells]

It is not too much to expect the listener to have enough mental capacity to grasp the concept.

Geography and awareness of one's location relative to other things is not beyond what people can figure out.

Those who cannot figure out the W--- in Squatsville is only speaking about the immediate Squatsville area,
which everyone knows is small.

Perhaps this is becoming a problem because it has become declasse to
use call signs and city of license in a loud and proud way.

As radio stations decide to become "other" types of stations as well, it may
be wise to return the old promos where all areas, towns, cities served by the station are individually acknowledged in
in 30 seperate 5-second drop-ins.
Over a period of weeks, the listener will know the range of your service area.

In the case of AM skywave on huge signals, it's the duty of the on-air person to be specific for good reason.

In the case of an Amber Alert in Hammond, there's no point in bothering Indianapolis, while a great deal of
good is done in alerting Illinois.

Radio separates such data naturally by signal attrition into local markets.

Internet-linked alerts and do not yet contain enough smarts to best direct such information,
so this is the new standard until the distribution chain can figure out things like geography/markets/listening area.

 

[RDO]

Because the guy on the radio the other day told me that there were going to be storms in the northern part of the listening area. I don't know where that is. Be more specific.

If you're unfamiliar with the area, would it have been more helpful if he had said "there will be storms in Benton county"?

Yes. More specific and I could look it up if I didn't know where it was.

 

[cspotrun]

another one of my favorites...."If you are within the sound of my voice".....

 

[secondchoice]

I can say this, having worked live radio during a tornado event less than a mile from the studio and several other local emergencies. If you are doing it correctly, you could save lives. Worry about the English and Literature police later. Of course I knew the local counties and cities in the coverage area, but you would be surprised at the lack of geographical knowledge a lot of folks have. Every station should have a "list" of the cities and counties in their coverage area in the control room. On a class A or D FM or Class C or D AM "if you are within the sound of my voice" can be "local".

 

[Drucifer]

Two things come to mind from the days of old

FROM WTRE - "The temperature on Park Road is ______"

FROM WCSI - "CSI-land weather from ________"

 

[ChiefEngineer]

The day Randy Michaels came into the WLW studios and grabbed me by at least one nipple and yelled "No one lives at the airport" reminded me it is a radio ego thing to give airport temperature.

His note to Tribune Staff might be a good primer. Never have found the whole thing.

 

[Drucifer]

And what if you are listening to the internet stream from a station's website? I may be in Australia, but am I in the listening area???

If you are going through the trouble to log onto a radio stations web-stream, you know whether you are in the terrestrial listening area or not. I would never listen to a stream from the BBC and expect the Houston weather forecast.