Re: First Came The Norwood Lateral...Now Introducing The Norwood FM “Pea-Shooter”...At What Price?
> > Since no one in Connersville raised a fuss, it would seem
> > that all the discussion about "keeping radio local" is
> moot.
> > Obviously, the "community" could care less.
> >
> The discussion is moot because informing the people in any
> valuable sense is dead, and the voice of the community has
> been silenced by the reality of powerlessness. I am in no
> way hating the players, or the game. Those who hate either
> one aren't players in it, or are not winning when they do.
> I believe what was being stated, has little to do with
> whether or not a fuss was raised, a point is moot, or if the
> community cares, but rather the glaring inconsistency
> between the stated mission (per the FCC)and purpose of radio
> and the execution of that mission.
>
> Here are the bare facts:
>
> 1. The "system", be it corporate or governmental gives less
> than a damn about the people as a whole. It only cares about
> REVENUE cloaked in the garments of community concern and
> service. If you pay 18M for WIFE, or 45M for WYGY, you don't
> do it to serve the community. You do it to sell advertising,
> and MAKE MONEY. It's a concept that escapes (or is
> diminished by) most of us creative types on the content side
> of radio, and every owner who has held ardently to the
> concept of true community service in spite of what it takes
> to get the revenue has gone broke in the last few years (or
> will in the next few).
>
> 2. A station does not care about its ratings (popularity
> within the community)at the end of the day. It cares about
> its performance on the balance sheet. If it were not so, why
> do overperfoming stations (revenue vs ratings) stay the
> course, and underperformers flip format? Smooth Jazz is
> dying all over the country not because the format has poor
> ratings, but because they cant seem to sell it. (Those of
> you who know me are aware that I am a SJ advocate.)
>
> 3. The Radio One purchase and relocation is VERY GOOD for
> Cincinnati. FM Urban AC??? It's been needed for a long long
> time in this market, and will not only boost profitability
> for the company, but 'serve' an underserved part of the
> community in terms of format. It is this argument that makes
> point 4.
>
> 4. "The people" only have a true say when politician's jobs
> are at stake. It really didn't matter if the people of
> Connersville made a fuss or not. The regulators only answer
> to the people in an election year, or when their power
> structure is in jeapordy as a result of massive revolt
> potential. In every other case...follow the money trail.(See
> Dubai Port Deal)
> Caveat: Money also heavily influences what choices the
> people have regarding their politicians.
>
> So maybe it is not the point of local radio, live radio, or
> the stated purpose of radio that is moot, but rather the
> people who are.
>
> With that I say....Welcome to the world of Capitalism.
>
Regulators are not elected and the FCC is a bi-partisan committee with either 3 Republicans and 2 Democrats or 2 Democrats and 3 Republicans.
I hope you are not saying capitalism is a bad thing as its the reason why we are prosperous and even typing this right now on our high speed internet.
> > Since no one in Connersville raised a fuss, it would seem
> > that all the discussion about "keeping radio local" is
> moot.
> > Obviously, the "community" could care less.
> >
> The discussion is moot because informing the people in any
> valuable sense is dead, and the voice of the community has
> been silenced by the reality of powerlessness. I am in no
> way hating the players, or the game. Those who hate either
> one aren't players in it, or are not winning when they do.
> I believe what was being stated, has little to do with
> whether or not a fuss was raised, a point is moot, or if the
> community cares, but rather the glaring inconsistency
> between the stated mission (per the FCC)and purpose of radio
> and the execution of that mission.
>
> Here are the bare facts:
>
> 1. The "system", be it corporate or governmental gives less
> than a damn about the people as a whole. It only cares about
> REVENUE cloaked in the garments of community concern and
> service. If you pay 18M for WIFE, or 45M for WYGY, you don't
> do it to serve the community. You do it to sell advertising,
> and MAKE MONEY. It's a concept that escapes (or is
> diminished by) most of us creative types on the content side
> of radio, and every owner who has held ardently to the
> concept of true community service in spite of what it takes
> to get the revenue has gone broke in the last few years (or
> will in the next few).
>
> 2. A station does not care about its ratings (popularity
> within the community)at the end of the day. It cares about
> its performance on the balance sheet. If it were not so, why
> do overperfoming stations (revenue vs ratings) stay the
> course, and underperformers flip format? Smooth Jazz is
> dying all over the country not because the format has poor
> ratings, but because they cant seem to sell it. (Those of
> you who know me are aware that I am a SJ advocate.)
>
> 3. The Radio One purchase and relocation is VERY GOOD for
> Cincinnati. FM Urban AC??? It's been needed for a long long
> time in this market, and will not only boost profitability
> for the company, but 'serve' an underserved part of the
> community in terms of format. It is this argument that makes
> point 4.
>
> 4. "The people" only have a true say when politician's jobs
> are at stake. It really didn't matter if the people of
> Connersville made a fuss or not. The regulators only answer
> to the people in an election year, or when their power
> structure is in jeapordy as a result of massive revolt
> potential. In every other case...follow the money trail.(See
> Dubai Port Deal)
> Caveat: Money also heavily influences what choices the
> people have regarding their politicians.
>
> So maybe it is not the point of local radio, live radio, or
> the stated purpose of radio that is moot, but rather the
> people who are.
>
> With that I say....Welcome to the world of Capitalism.
>
Regulators are not elected and the FCC is a bi-partisan committee with either 3 Republicans and 2 Democrats or 2 Democrats and 3 Republicans.
I hope you are not saying capitalism is a bad thing as its the reason why we are prosperous and even typing this right now on our high speed internet.