Hey Paul,
What automation software are you running in Laramie that you can go live from Alaska with no assistance from anyone in Laramie? Thanks.
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More Layoffs At WNYC
- Thread starter TheBigA
- Start date
What automation software are you running in Laramie that you can go live from Alaska with no assistance from anyone in Laramie? Thanks.
playout one pro.. live mic feature.. think of it like.. a comrex or tieline built right into the automation and all i need is a web browser, microphone and the press of a few buttons
Does anyone know what the actual staff size is at NY Public Radio? That's never mentioned in these types of articles. I get the feeling they always had quite a large staff by local media standards. I wonder how many are left.
When I no longer feel that I can regularly afford a McDonald's (or similar) meal due to the price, and find that our gardener who charged $60 a month to do the patio 6 years ago now charges $200, that is neither sensationalistic nor exaggerated.
While the cost of living, along with illegal and unverified border crossings, are definitely hot buttons on far-right talk stations and shows, it truly is a subject of concern for everyone in the category of "not eligible for benefits and not earning over $400 k a year".
My family feels it enough that we are looking at a variety of other places to live, including the Riviera Maya, Monterrey in Mexico, and both Buenos Aires and Mendoza in Argentina. Even Medellín in Colombia is a possibility as the city and its people are wonderful.
An older friend who lives in one of the nearby Del Webb retirement communities goes to a weekly "political discussion" club gathering of very senior seniors. He says that the subject of moving out of the U.S. due to the cost of living is second only to that of leaving California due to the even greater comparison of costs between this state and many others. He says that there is even a "workgroup´" looking at finding possible destinations where a group of five to ten families could all move "together" to get discounts or advantages on new home or condo purchases... even to the point of looking at how many people in a group would be needed to find a concierge doctor for just them!
So I don't think that Cost of Living is an exaggerated subject when I see everything I buy or use is 40% to 50% higher over the last half decade. What surprises me is that the media does not examine this more objectively; this is where you and I do agree (even if for different root causes). Because, in this state at least, nearly half of all people get some form of government benefit beyond Social Security and media is driven by bulk numbers, the media does not deal with situations where that half of the population continues to get assistance.
Yes, this is barely a "radio" subject but I see the focus being affected by a majority who depend on government benefits and thus don't want any changes at all. This has always been part of why I believe that, even in "supermajority" California, liberal or progressive talk radio has never been successful.
Depends on the media you use. Some are very objective, and some exaggerate. I can't think of a single thing I buy that has increased by 40-50%. I bought a property last year, and property values increased by 20% during the last 5 years. Because of high interest rates, I was able to negotiate down by 10% from asking price. So I ended up getting a good deal because of inflation. Same thing with food. I eat out a lot. Prices at some places have increased, but that's if you compare to during the pandemic, when fewer people ate out. I'd say the maximum increase I've seen is between 10-20%. But a lot of places have held steady. People have to shop prices, and don't buy if it's too expensive. Gas prices have been pretty good, although it depends where you are. Gas prices were around $3 in 2021, and I paid less than that yesterday. So as I said, it depends. But if people are telling themselves that everything they buy is 40-50% higher, I can see how it will effect charitable giving.
Back to the topic of public radio, the consistent area where public stations are hurting is in sponsorships. Public radio podcasts aren't governed by FCC rules, so they can use pre-roll commercials. For the past two years, podcast advertising has been down. That obviously has hurt WNYC because they cut 6 podcasts from their lineup. The combination has been a drop in sponsorships combined with salary increases mandated by union contracts. That's a tough combination, and why I say a lot of commercial operations aren't signing those kinds of talent contracts anymore. They end up getting squeezed when there's a drop in revenue.
People are feeling the pinch, regardless of claims that it's all just imaginary. And they are 'donated' out.
Even politicians -- who have access to corporate donations -- are begging for dollars on my FB newsfeed and YT pre-roll spots now. Much more than previous elections. I see more of those online than actual political ads. So, when I see a news item talking of public radio stations hurting for funding, I'm not surprised. I'm also not surprised to hear that programs on religious radio stations are seeing their revenue fall.
I know the local NPR station actually saw revenues go up some, but the costs went up further than the revenues did.
And inflation is still going up -- 2+% from last August to this August. It's a thing, and when a lot of your necessities go up accordingly, that combined inflation on all the different services and items adds up. If you're a radio station, that probably includes power, maintenance, etc.
Even politicians -- who have access to corporate donations -- are begging for dollars on my FB newsfeed and YT pre-roll spots now. Much more than previous elections. I see more of those online than actual political ads. So, when I see a news item talking of public radio stations hurting for funding, I'm not surprised. I'm also not surprised to hear that programs on religious radio stations are seeing their revenue fall.
I know the local NPR station actually saw revenues go up some, but the costs went up further than the revenues did.
And inflation is still going up -- 2+% from last August to this August. It's a thing, and when a lot of your necessities go up accordingly, that combined inflation on all the different services and items adds up. If you're a radio station, that probably includes power, maintenance, etc.
Our home, which is structurally identical to at least 25 others in this subsection of a 3,000 home total development... so I can always see recent sales of the same model. Since 2018, price is up between 80% and 90% depending on the season (when it is 120° out, prices are lower). Gardener, cleaning service, pest control, generator service, A/C maintenance and pool service up an average of 50% for the six. Home security, the one that is up the least, is still 25% more than 6 years ago.
Gas here is down from the mid-$6 average last year, but is still in the mid-5's for premium. The McDonalds assortment the three of us usually get is up over 60% since 2018.
While property tax is locked by legislation, things that are not "property" tax can be added via the election process and initiatives. I now pay about $2,000 a year for iPads for every student and another $2,000 or so for other less dramatic sounding add-ons.
Each of my video services has gone from less-than-$10 a month introductory prices to the $17 to $18 range. I cancelled Hulu this last week after it hit over $19 when taxes and the like are included. My HOA was just over $300 when we moved in in 2016, and now it is $540, justified by minimum wage increases as well as insurance, water (up more than double), electricity (rural cooperative is up over 50%) and everything from seasonal flower planting to street maintenance.
I randomly cherry-picked items, for sure. But I can go from the UPS charges I pay many times a week for publications I buy for WorldRadioHistory to car, home and liability insurance to the steak & lobster I have delivered from the Longhorn. Heck, I got a nice increase on my Social Security monthly amount for 2024, but the increase in what I am charged back for health care means I get less in my bank account than I did two years ago... and those 2024 dollars are "worth" less than they were two years back!
Here I think that we are seeing the market's offerings grow faster than the market's consumption. During the pandemic's worst years, we got all the bigger name streaming services. This year, all have increased their cost and we decided to cancel several as well as doing a "we'll just have to cancel unless we get a better deal". But I ran out of "what's the discount for paying the year in advance" and similar ruses so next year we will end up reducing the number of services we pay for.
In other words, I am looking for things I can just stop using. Or use less of. Discretionary dollars are being squeezed. So businesses that advertise are finding people can't be "moved up" to better services or products because consumers are more interested in how to cut costs than getting a better and more costly option. And many radio accounts here are focusing on retaining existing clients and not on seeking new ones or selling added products and services.
In other worlds, merchants and service providers are selling their least profitable goods and services and battling to keep the same customers rather than expanding their base of selling the top of the line high margin items. For radio, that means tighter ad budgets and a greater focus on value and reputation rather than pitching expanded services or high end goods... and that is a downward spiral of lessened margins and lower profits.
Sounds like a real struggle.
McDonalds is one of the biggest corporations that surely does tons of the kind of market research you love so much. It must have told them that's the amount people are willing to pay.
There are entire threads on this subject on this site where you have weighed in supporting this sort of thing.
If you're talking about the corporate world it's all about cost cutting. Cut, cut, cut. But you'd be a fool to believe their margins are less, not more. Look at the markets. The companies and the Wall Street players are getting rich at the expense of everyone else, even you.
Gee, that's not a cliche' statement or anything. Give me a break.
A big chunk of that is state tax. Your state is trying to get you to stop driving gas cars.
Maybe you don't have this where you are, but most McDonalds offer a $5 meal: McDouble, Nuggets, Fries, and a small drink. $5 together.
As I said, the issue with WNYC is mainly from commercial sponsorships. They collect membership by recurring charges on credit cards. So unless someone cancels, the money continues to be collected. The same thing causing commercial radio revenues to drop is affecting public radio sponsorships.
And that California gets its own blend of gas that costs around 10 cents a gallon more than gas in other states.
Post-pandemic inflation and cost of living increase is a global problem. Inflation has been much higher in Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia than in the USA:
Your snarkiness is observed. Had you gone through 7 back "procedures" in the last 18 months, you would have most things done for you.
They price at a point that is both profitable and accessible by customers.
I have not supported rampant price increases for video services. What I do think is that there will be a wave of consolidation over the next 24 months as most will not see profit and subscriber growth.
Kelly already addressed this. You will find nice controlled economies in China, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela. I am sure you will be welcome there with your anti-free enterprise attitude.
It was more expensive than any other state 30 years ago. Initially, the idea was to have gas taxes and high vehicle taxes pay our roads. Now, they are going to lose gas tax revenue and have higher road expenses due to very much heavier electric vehicles and no income to cover the maintenance of highways.
And if that is not what you want, plan on spending $25 or so for three people.
And as people look at their credit card statements, they are canceling their subscriptions. Same is a widely reported issue with charities that depend on a monthly charge.
That's not what WNYC is reporting. They say memberships have held steady. The drop is in sponsorships, particularly for podcasts. Which is why they're canceling 6 of them and laying off staff.
July CDP Index: Modest rally in key areas results in soft landing for FY24
Membership revenue is up, driven by high-dollar gifts and consistent increases in sustainers and Passport users.
current.org
Unfortunately, there are few new memberships. In the case of WQXR, how much is the inferior 105.9 signal to blame?
Or the classical format itself?? My take is they are budgeting for both.
Unless someone donates them a better signal, I don't see them having the money to improve there.
Didn't the state income tax increase to make up for the difference? Also the gas tax repeal was put to a statewide vote in 2018 with Proposition 6 and failed.
WQXR being classical, can get away with dropping news. Of the locally operated classical non-comms I have spoken with indicate the classical music listener considers their station an "oasis" and news and traffic are like the outside world encroaching. A fast 12-18 hour weather forecast and current temperature is okay.
That being said, I realize every market is different.
That being said, I realize every market is different.
That's how free-market capitalism works. The big fast-food chains all kept jacking up their prices, at 2 to 3 times the rate of inflation, until consumers got fed up and started eating out less often, and their sales and profits dropped. Then they finally lowered some prices and introduced limited-time offers to lure people back in.
Fast food inflation: Which chains are hiking their prices the most? - Philomath News
FinanceBuzz collected pricing data from a dozen popular fast food restaurants over the past decade and calculated how much prices have risen compared to the national inflation rate.
philomathnews.com
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