more lousy traffic

[foxx5100]

they do have an impact

traffic reoprts do have an impact on ratings because they are part of a program where people may specifically listen to one particular station just for those reports. Myself and a few other commuters listen to WSYR/WHAM mornings and WSYR afternoons because we commute from Syracuse to Rochester up to 3 times a week. While I have not received anything to fill out from a ratings service, I would enter those calls just because of the reports that are so helpful to me. So your point that they do not reflect is moot. And there is no outrage here. My first post related to the fact that the same 2 or 3 posters constantly find fault with one radio company in particular, when in fact, they appear to be the biggest radio comapny in the US. And myself and many others appreciate the fact that they provide the service that others stations long abandoned.

 

[Element9]

I agree. I love Clear Channel because they're the biggest and the best. Plus, they lie the least. Even when they f**k up, intentionally, accidentally or because their man/woman-power is spread too thinly, listeners need to understand that a mediocre, crappy product is better than no product at all.

 

[TheBigA]

Whine whine whine. It's all THEIR fault. They don't spend enough of their money so I can get free information.

In this entire thread, I only read of one person who actually took the initiative to CALL one of these traffic centers and report congestion. Why is it always someone else's job or someone else's fault to tell me stuff? Consider the car bomb in Times Square. There's a situation where there is no shortage of police or manpower, and the report was filed by a t-shirt vendor. If we depended on the people in this thread, there'd be a hole in the middle of the crossroads of the world. The one thing the government has learned is you can't have police everywhere 24/7. So instead of calling in to report a backup, people would rather just sit in their cars and blame the radio. That's not going to get anything done. It won't get police to the scene if the back-up is caused by an accident, and it won't get on the air.

 

[Element9]

I'm thinkin' real radio guys don't pay a gardener, they roll up their sleeves and get dirt under their fingernails.

 

[TheBigA]

I'm thinkin' real radio guys don't pay a gardener, they roll up their sleeves and get dirt under their fingernails.

That's cause they're out of work with nothing else to do. Ahem.

 

[Element9]

Ahem.

Havin' a little trouble swallowing that "Michigan?"

 

[SirRoxalot]

Hey, it's not "free information". It's paid for by sponsors. Sponsors expect the job to get done right. Yeah, mistakes happen, but I sure wouldn't be re-upping that sponsor contract if people can't rely on the traffic reports.

There are enough sources for information, from the traffic cameras to the State DOT site, to do a reasonable job on the major routes. If you want better reports, a police scanner and a local presence help. Even somebody who answers a local phone and passes along the information will improve performance. But, you have to be willing to put some resources into the job, and people have to be motivated to do that job well.

Radio is a perfect outlet for concise traffic because it reaches people in their cars, and they don't have to take their eyes off the road to get the info. "A thing worth doing is worth doing well." Bad traffic reports are worse than no traffic reports when it comes to both radio stations and sponsors. There are a couple of theories that used to be part of radio sales and programming: "Don't piss off the listener for no reason", and "Don't make the customer look bad".

 

[TheBigA]

Hey, it's not "free information". It's paid for by sponsors. Sponsors expect the job to get done right. Yeah, mistakes happen, but I sure wouldn't be re-upping that sponsor contract if people can't rely on the traffic reports.

It's one guy complaining that his particular trip home was not covered by a report. And it's free to the person complaining. You can pay for traffic reports that are based on the same information.

There are lots of sources, but no one, including the state police, can be everywhere, covering every back-up, at every time of day. And they have to cram all this info, including the :10 commercial, into a total of :30. So they're not going to get everything. It is easier to target specific routes, and ask "Is there a backup on Erie Blvd now?" than sit and wait for every possible trouble spot to be covered.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Go back to the original post. The guy was talking about a 45 minute backup on THE THRUWAY. The NY Thruway authority happens to have an excellent website with access to traffic cams available:

http://www.thruway.ny.gov/webcams/index.html

The NY DOT likewise does a pretty good job of monitoring traffic conditions:

http://www.511ny.org/traffic.aspx

All it takes is someone with enough experience, time, and familiarity with the area to do traffic RIGHT. Do you mean to tell me that Clear Channel Syracuse can't afford ONE person to do traffic for all their local stations? Ditto Clear Channel Jr. -er Citadel Syracuse.

Nobody expects a full court press on traffic, traffic planes, or a platoon of reporters scattered throughout the area. Some idea of what's happening on major routes is a reasonable expectation.

 

[TheBigA]

All it takes is someone with enough experience, time, and familiarity with the area to do traffic RIGHT.

You're making a judgement about an employee's competence based on the anecdotal message board posting of ONE PERSON. There have been four posts in this same thread defending the quality of this same employee's work. Based on that, I'd suggest to you that he is right more often than he is wrong.

Do you mean to tell me that Clear Channel Syracuse can't afford ONE person to do traffic for all their local stations?

I don't work for CC, nor have I ever. But based on what I know, the regional traffic office probably has more than 20 people working in it. And they have access to all the DOT cameras, police radios, and other information one needs in doing traffic reports. Typically, it isn't the person on-air who collects the data. There is a desk producer who collates that information and distributes it to the on-air people. As I've said in this thread, there are usually several people in the chain, from field reporters to desk producer to on air talent. And they seek out phone calls from listeners in their cars reporting on particular problems.

For someone who spends a lot of time defending on air talent, you aren't showing a lot of support for this person.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Everybody has a bad day once in a while, but if you screw up, own it and fix the problem. There have been numerous complaints on this thread about CC traffic, and I've both heard and seen their product myself. They're too often slow and inaccurate. My guess is that too few people are trying to monitor too many markets that they're not familiar with.

Hubbing traffic just seems silly to me. If they indeed have 20 people in their "traffic center", they'd be far more successful creating one additional position in each of the 20 markets that they cover and having a good local traffic person compiling and/or voicing the reports. It ain't rocket science, but it does require significant local knowledge.

Times being what they are, I'd expect that two part-time positions would be created at each group - one for AM drive, and one for PM drive. The sales department ought to be able to make it a profit center.

 

[TheBigA]

My guess is that too few people are trying to monitor too many markets that they're not familiar with.

OK...what have you used as a basis of comparison? Are you comparing CC with 511? These free radio services are competing against the taxpayer supported 511.

Hubbing traffic just seems silly to me.

That's how the state works. If it's good enough for the taxpayers, then it should be good enough for private industry.

Where did you come up with the idea that they cover 20 markets?

Times being what they are, I'd expect that two part-time positions would be created at each group - one for AM drive, and one for PM drive. The sales department ought to be able to make it a profit center.

There are currently three private companies competing against each other offing radio traffic services. One is CC. You're welcome to open a fourth and show them how to do a better job. You clearly don't understand staffing or sales.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Well, now, if they're staffing a traffic center with 20 people - as you said in your previous post - and they're servicing less than 20 markets, my proposal would cost them LESS, and the information would be BETTER. Heck, just removing the management layer at a traffic center would save money.

Since 511 already exists, why not use the information that they generate? No sense in duplicating their service. A local "traffic person" could take the phone calls about slowdowns that haven't hit the system yet, and save the cost of an 800 number.

You're right, I apparently don't understand why a local group would give up avails in return for CC's - or any other - traffic "service". More than likely, an existing staffer could pick up those duties, and the money from traffic sponsors could go right into the pockets of the local stations, increasing revenue and reducing costs.

 

[oldskoolr8do]

And it goes on and on.....

More than likely, an existing staffer could pick up those duties, and the money from traffic sponsors could go right into the pockets of the local stations, increasing revenue and reducing costs.

Yes, because there are so many existing staffers sitting around with nothing to do. How much do you think sponsors are willing to pay for this service? In many cases they expect it as bonus.

Go back to the original post. The guy was talking about a 45 minute backup on THE THRUWAY.

Exactly! Have we determined that this was caused by an accident or are we talking about on-going construction? If it was the latter; find another route. Even if it was caused by something unforeseen and it was reported "correctly" what good would it do if you were between exits?

(edited to correct spelling)

 

[TheBigA]

Well, now, if they're staffing a traffic center with 20 people - as you said in your previous post

I said "PROBABLY." It may be more, it may be less. You're talking about one person serving 20 markets. I know that's not true.

Heck, just removing the management layer at a traffic center would save money.

Ah yes, let's get rid of management. That's your usual solution. Who handles scheduling? Who handles payroll? In some places, management works a shift. That might come as a surprise to you. We're not talking about saving money. We're talking about missing a backup on the Thruway.

Here's a anectodal situation for you. Today I was on the interstate and I found myself in a backup. Great opportunity to compare options. The state DOT runs an AM station where it gives traffic info. Guess what they were running? A tape that was two hours old talking about two accidents on two other interstates. My particular back-up, I found out, wasn't cause by an accident. That's why the DOT wasn't reporting it. It was just congestion. Too many cars merging at the same point. So much for your tax dollars at work. The point is that the state controls the cameras and other devices these broadcast traffic companies use. And THEY can't get it right.

 

[SirRoxalot]

I never said anything about "one person serving 20 markets". Quote that if you can find it. As far as getting rid of management is concerned, radio stations already have management. Clear Channel bought a separate traffic service so they could sell and/or barter reports to non-CC stations. My point is that local stations who either pay for that service, or give up avails, aren't doing themselves any favors. The raw information that they need to do a decent job is available.

 

[TheBigA]

I never said anything about "one person serving 20 markets". Quote that if you can find it.

OK so you said 20 people serving 20 markets. I'm still trying to figure out where you came up with a traffic center serving 20 markets. Where is that place? Making stuff up again?

Clear Channel bought a separate traffic service so they could sell and/or barter reports to non-CC stations.

I don't believe that was the goal. They bought it so they wouldn't have to carry someone else's outside traffic service. At the time, that's what they were doing. This way they kept the money in the company, which is what you're suggesting.

The raw information that they need to do a decent job is available.

It always has been. The real issue is whether or not a station wants to hire people with salary and benefits to deal with it. For over 30 years, in major markets, the answer has been no. Someone on another board posted the Seton Hall Alumni Magazine story about the history of Shadow Traffic. You should read it.

 

[SirRoxalot]

My point was - and still is - that if they've got 20 people in their "traffic center", they'd better be serving at least 20 markets. Otherwise, they're throwing money away. One person - or one position - in each market would do a better job because they would have better local knowledge and closer contact to what's on the ground. Your local sales people are going to sell the service anyway.

 

[TheBigA]

My point was - and still is - that if they've got 20 people in their "traffic center", they'd better be serving at least 20 markets. Otherwise, they're throwing money away. One person - or one position - in each market would do a better job because they would have better local knowledge and closer contact to what's on the ground. Your local sales people are going to sell the service anyway.

You don't know what you're talking about. One person per market can't do this job. At least not the way it's configured. Ask someone who works there. Better yet, take a PT job there. I bet you couldn't do what they do.

 

[SirRoxalot]

You don't know what you're talking about. One person per market can't do this job. At least not the way it's configured. Ask someone who works there. Better yet, take a PT job there. I bet you couldn't do what they do.

When was the last time YOU sat in front of a mic? I don't need a PT job, and I have WAY more experience doing traffic than you do. With the tools that are now available, it's absolutely doable with one person per radio group per market. I'm in a bigger market than Syracuse, and many stations have the on-air jock do traffic as "part of his duties". Most of them do a decent job - much better than the info I've seen on CC's traffic service.