This is the final week of operations for the Columbus office of Metro Networks. Starting Monday, June 15 Metro affiliates (which includes just about everybody that isn't Clear Channel) will get their traffic information out of Detroit. The local Metro staff has dwindled to about a half a dozen lately and have dealt with pay and benefit cuts and reduction in hours. Detroit will absorb the three remaining Metro offices in Ohio, which includes Cincinnati and Cleveland in addition to Columbus. It'll be funny to listen to people who have only flown over Columbus trying to sound local.
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Metro folds it's tent
- Thread starter NotMe
- Start date
Most traffic reporting is done off computer screens today. Here is LA KFI's "Eye In The Sky" Mike Nolan now sits in a room in his house with a phalanx of computer screens and a mike plugged into an ISDN line. Clear Channel's traffic/news service and Metro have quit doing customized versions for most stations. Everyone gets the same news casts. I think some stations pay extra for traffic reporters to chat it up with the jocks.
I honestly feel that airborne traffic reports were window dressing anyway. Especially in a area like SoCal it is too vast to be effective so they were mostly reading the reports from the aircraft anyway. Maybe it is more meaningful for TV, where they can hover over a big tieup, but for radio no. Also I recall Wait Hoyt telling about the early days of radio baseball coverage. They used a telegraph line for away games and the games were called from the studio reading the copy. I think Ronald Reagan told the same kind of thing about his early days at WHO, Des Moines. We've just kind of come full circle here with the internet replacing the telegraph, isn't technology wonderful.
I honestly feel that airborne traffic reports were window dressing anyway. Especially in a area like SoCal it is too vast to be effective so they were mostly reading the reports from the aircraft anyway. Maybe it is more meaningful for TV, where they can hover over a big tieup, but for radio no. Also I recall Wait Hoyt telling about the early days of radio baseball coverage. They used a telegraph line for away games and the games were called from the studio reading the copy. I think Ronald Reagan told the same kind of thing about his early days at WHO, Des Moines. We've just kind of come full circle here with the internet replacing the telegraph, isn't technology wonderful.
NotMe said:
Yeah...I can't wait to hear them pronounce "Olentangy", "Lancaster" and "Pataskala".
One Who Knows said:
Hopefully not as bad as the guy who once stopped me and asked for directions to "Intiginy River Road."
Also, re nmoore's comments about trying to cover the larger areas... When I am in Chicago I listen to the traffic reports on WBBM 780, and they talk so fast -- one guy in particular -- that it's all a blur. The only thing that I can comprehend is his name (Jeff Joniak). Sometimes even the Columbus reports go by too quick to digest in my mental roadmap. Maybe I'm just getting old...
Yeah...I can't wait to hear them pronounce "Olentangy", "Lancaster" and "Pataskala".
Don't forget the one that really trips 'em up: "Scioto"
Don't forget the one that really trips 'em up: "Scioto"
schmave said:
Well, I can hear him saying, "Jeff Joniak, Newsradio 780, WBBM." Maybe it was actually during his afternoon sports reports? Or I wonder if he does do (or did) traffic once in awhile? The website bio says he used to work at Metro.
Anyway, I went to grad school in Chicago and have spent a lot of time there since (obviously not listening to Bears play-by-play), and I do know the roads pretty well. I know what you mean about it being almost another language. They go by names, not numbers for the expressways (never say "freeway") -- e.g., the Kennedy, the Edens, the Bishop Ford, the Drive, etc. -- and then throw in even more "Latin" like the Circle and Hubbard's Cave (an underpass, BTW). I even know where those places are, but it all goes by so friggin fast!
I spent a few months doing fill-in work for Metro back in the early part of this decade. Great group of people and I am sad to see them shutting down the local office.
In 1995 and 1996 I did traffic for 84WHAS in Louisville. Back then we flew in a Bell 47 and could get views that traffic cameras just cannot see. Being able to give a live description of what you are seeing and why someone is going to be stuck in traffic on the Watterson for a LONG time was, in my perception, invaluable. The end for me came when they offered me the full-time gig, two shifts a day for a tad over $20K. I mean the 47 in the Bell 47 means the year it was designed. And there is nothing like an autorotation to make your WEEK!
One more comment on live traffic. In 1973, a major tornado decimated the east end of Louisville. The traffic copter guy back then not only did the reports but also piloted the craft. Dick Gilbert followed the tornado as it cut through town, giving descriptions of what he saw and information to help people get out of the way. I am sure dozens of people owe their health if not their lives to this man. I am absolutely sure the same cannot be said for stationary traffic cameras and someone reporting from an office somewhere in another state.
In 1995 and 1996 I did traffic for 84WHAS in Louisville. Back then we flew in a Bell 47 and could get views that traffic cameras just cannot see. Being able to give a live description of what you are seeing and why someone is going to be stuck in traffic on the Watterson for a LONG time was, in my perception, invaluable. The end for me came when they offered me the full-time gig, two shifts a day for a tad over $20K. I mean the 47 in the Bell 47 means the year it was designed. And there is nothing like an autorotation to make your WEEK!
One more comment on live traffic. In 1973, a major tornado decimated the east end of Louisville. The traffic copter guy back then not only did the reports but also piloted the craft. Dick Gilbert followed the tornado as it cut through town, giving descriptions of what he saw and information to help people get out of the way. I am sure dozens of people owe their health if not their lives to this man. I am absolutely sure the same cannot be said for stationary traffic cameras and someone reporting from an office somewhere in another state.
I have never been a fan of traffic reports on the radio. I always thought it was a waste of valuable airtime. No need to say that everything is running OK on all the major freeways. I remember when they added traffic on Z-93 in Dayton in the mid 90s. What a waste of time...and it didn't last very long if I remember correctly. :
But now where will all the out-of-work dj's go? Wait....I know...Port Columbus! Making announcements over the PA!
"Stay close, I've got info about flights from great airlines such as Delta, US Air and an exciting gate change to tell you about concerning all you folks who are on that charter flight to Bermuda. Just moments away from your #1 choice for air travel...Port Columbus!"
"Stay close, I've got info about flights from great airlines such as Delta, US Air and an exciting gate change to tell you about concerning all you folks who are on that charter flight to Bermuda. Just moments away from your #1 choice for air travel...Port Columbus!"
alans613 said:I have never been a fan of traffic reports on the radio. I always thought it was a waste of valuable airtime. No need to say that everything is running OK on all the major freeways. I remember when they added traffic on Z-93 in Dayton in the mid 90s. What a waste of time...and it didn't last very long if I remember correctly. :
Granted, it's not as necessary in markets where farm implements and stray dogs make up the lion's share of the traffic, but in larger metro areas like Columbus it serves a purpose. Survey after survey after survey shows that the second most valuable bit of information listeners want on the radio is traffic. Weather is number one, news is number 3. If you don't believe it, be in the studio when something is blocking the freeway and the jock hasn't mentioned it. Another truth: The main reason people listen to morning radio is for information. Entertainment is #2. You don't have to like that, you just have to live with it.
My heart goes out to Tim Rea and the rest of the Metro staff in Columbus. Having been through the experience in the first wave of company closings I can tell you that not much of this has been handled in a professional manner and that Tim and his staff stayed with it knowing for almost a year they were going to get shut down is a testiment to their professionalism.
Traffic is going another direction. Aircraft are very useful but very expensive. Companies like Metro and Clear Channel are simply looking to make a profit off of the service, not perfect the information to any great degree.
Traffic is going another direction. Aircraft are very useful but very expensive. Companies like Metro and Clear Channel are simply looking to make a profit off of the service, not perfect the information to any great degree.
alans613 said:I have never been a fan of traffic reports on the radio. I always thought it was a waste of valuable airtime. No need to say that everything is running OK on all the major freeways. I remember when they added traffic on Z-93 in Dayton in the mid 90s. What a waste of time...and it didn't last very long if I remember correctly. :
You might be interested to know that what people want the most from an informationally oriented radio station are: traffic reports.
Waste of valuable airtime? Save one person from a 30 minute traffic jam and they're your listener for life.
Snafu said:
We are waiting in Florida Markets too for it to happen to us, but as it states above...not very professional on the way upper management. How can we even think of transferring when we can't plan ahead. After over 20 years of doing this, I"m done. Where's David Saperstein when ya need him????? Wonder how much I can charge for making up a pronounciation guide??? Hmmmmmmmmmmm!
im Surprised that its taking the Ohio Market Metro Offices to close up since Metro in Indy got shut down back in March for the reports to come out of Chicago for Indy. I always loved the first few weeks of the chicago reporters on the Indy Stations saying of a big news story was 2 weeks old at the time as it happened just last week at that time LOL
C
Chuck Douglas
Guest
I don't want to be thin skinned about this, but some of these posts about traffic reporting and reporters are a bit insulting.
I feel for the Metro folks. John Hill is a good guy and he should land somewhere soon. Same for Tim Rea. I don't know if Terry Dismore and/or Dan Swander were still there when the doors locked but if so, I feel for them too and I wish them well.
As for traffic reports being a waste of airtime...I'll believe that when EVERY rush hour driver is listening to a cd or XM/Sirrius.
As for the "working at the airport" remark...kinda harsh in this economy in my mind.
Finally, as to any blief that reporting companies (particularly CC) don't really care about the traffic product, I wish you could see what goes on to get reports on SEVEN radio stations, as scheduled, with accuracy. Craig and Pam work their tails off everyday gathering and distributing traffic information. I do my small part. We all take our obligation to the listeners very seriously.
I'm done now. Thanks for playing.
I feel for the Metro folks. John Hill is a good guy and he should land somewhere soon. Same for Tim Rea. I don't know if Terry Dismore and/or Dan Swander were still there when the doors locked but if so, I feel for them too and I wish them well.
As for traffic reports being a waste of airtime...I'll believe that when EVERY rush hour driver is listening to a cd or XM/Sirrius.
As for the "working at the airport" remark...kinda harsh in this economy in my mind.
Finally, as to any blief that reporting companies (particularly CC) don't really care about the traffic product, I wish you could see what goes on to get reports on SEVEN radio stations, as scheduled, with accuracy. Craig and Pam work their tails off everyday gathering and distributing traffic information. I do my small part. We all take our obligation to the listeners very seriously.
I'm done now. Thanks for playing.
A market Columbus's size would seem to gain the most from traffic reports. It's large enough that there will be significant snarls to help commuters avoid, yet small enough that most reports can cover ALL the trouble spots. If any of the experts see a hole in that logic, please explain.
I am sad to see the people at Metro lose their gigs. That is always sad to hear about. YES, Columbus stations do need traffic reports because it is a larger metro, but what I was alluding to was that for years and years Z-93 in Dayton had no use for traffic reports and had huge numbers. They brought in live airborne traffic when the station started to crumble in the mid-90s. I still think traffic is a huge waste of time...Usually when a traffic report comes on I zone them out. However, most would disagree with that statement. I do think traffic reports need to be made when there is a major traffic tie-up, but to say all the freeways are running fine is just a waste of valuable airtime. I hope that clears things up.
N
News Guy
Guest
Personally I like hearing that the freeways are flowing just fine. It tells me I won't have a problem getting to work and if I do this station is constantly monitoring things for me.
D
del_griffith
Guest
Except all too often I hear things are jammed up and they are moving just fine or things are just fine and they are jammed up.
As to Chuck, we all know Craig and Pam work hard to get what they can. But when they lost the plane, they also lost the ability to check something out with a birdseye view.
As to Chuck, we all know Craig and Pam work hard to get what they can. But when they lost the plane, they also lost the ability to check something out with a birdseye view.
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