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Pirates..
- Thread starter raccoonradio
- Start date
N
nocomradio
Guest
dumber than a box of hair said:
As well he should have. That was just plain stupid. Those are the guys who buy a TX from e-bay, plug it in to their iPod and let fly over the air. No filter, no thought about anything else, and obviously no worry about any consequences.
Out of curiosity, could a legit Franken FM work/fit in Boston, or is it too late due to the LPTV DTV switch in 2015? 
C
cd637299
Guest
danikayser84 said:Out of curiosity, could a legit Franken FM work/fit in Boston, or is it too late due to the LPTV DTV switch in 2015?
I cannot answer that....but if 87.7's will shut down in '15, why is Cleveland starting one up NOW? <shrug>
cd
"heradiokid"with your analogy how do you explain Radio One's exit from Boston? There is a perfect example of a Minority owned and operated nationwide corporation that after a short run with WBOT and WILD decided Boston was not a market where they could succeed. They instead decided to sell their properties here and focus on cites with larger black populations. Any look at the census figures here will point out the problem. The thing is no small group deserve a station in a large market. That was never any one's intention that one group of folks should be served over another. It was fantastic that WILD-AM did so for many years because the owners wanted too. But it wasn't required and nor should it ever be. They willingly sold it. The former audiences of WFNX or WBCN feel the same way but again but they have no right to demand it. CBS, ClearChannel, GreaterMedia and Entercom all have Urban stations all over the country. And all four of them would put one here in a heartbeat if they thought the market could justify one. They all have minorities in their companies at the programming levels and all spend thousands on market research. Entercom last tried the closest thing we have had to an urban station with Star937. Now obviously this was not an a real Urban station just like Jamn is not a real Hip Hop station but again that is because for a ClassB FM to succeed here with the such a small black population you also need an awful lot more of the suburban folks along for the ride. So it's not a conspiracy its just basic math and you can't expect anyone with a licence that's worth roughly 30-60 million dollars (Boston ClassB) to take a loss for too long. If Radio One saw this too I don't think you can expect anyone to see it differently no matter what their skin color is. As to the FCC part of their job is to enforce the rules and regulations and protect the folks who do have licenses as well as to keep them in line. If any group can power up when they don't feel they are being served you will have nothing but the nightmare we are experiencing today.
theradiokid said:
Thanks for the best laugh of the day. The mere concept of a lawbreaker suing the agency calling them out on their lawbreaking is enough to make one giggle endlessly.
T
theradiokid
Guest
What I think some here on this board forget is that the airwaves are owned by the public -- not the FCC, nor Clear Channel, nor Greater Media, but the public. You, me -- the public.
So if the African American population wants a radio station to serve them, they have the right (not the privelage, but the right) to demand it. The same with the disenfrancized WBCN and WFNX listeners.
If the big companies won't listen to us, the public who own the airwaves (because they're too busy listening to their investors), and the FCC blaitantly refuses to give broadcast licenses to the average citizen as it does now, then, you, I, or anyone else have the right to start our own radio stations, since, we, the public, own the airwaves, even if those signals are illegal. It may be illegal, but it is for the greater good in the name of serving the public.
It's the equivalent of owning a car. Now, admittedly, as a blind person, I don't know much about cars, but I'm willing to guess that anyone who owns a car would like to drive it themselves. However, imagine the FCC comes along and says: "Hey, that car you own -- we're going to give it to some rich person to drive, and he's going to drive his friends around in it (the listeners of the mass appeal formats), and you have no say. Oh, and if you try to obtain your car back from us (apply for a license of your own, we won't give it to you unless you can give us more money than the rich guy. And, if you steal it back (start a pirate station, we will smash your car and send you to jail, even though you own the car (the airwaves.) Oh, sorry you feel left out, but that's the way it is." Be truthful -- if this kind of thing were to happen in any other instance but broadcasting, everyone would be in an outrage. But since most of the radio managers and investors and broadcasters and the FCC are happy with this so-called "legal" status quoe, it doesn't matter; things won't change.
As for Radio One, my only guess is that, while the formats they were running were serving the community, they couldn't get enough National Add buys to go along with the local spots they were selling. I know Radio One tries to get National Advertisers like MCDonalds and such to advertise along with their local cliants. With not enough money coming from the local guys, Radio One probably decided to sell out.
Also: "Get rid of the auction system, and replace it with what?"
Before FMs were put up for auction, unless I'm mistaken, I believe all one need do was apply for an FM signal, and it would be granted, assuming that you did so within a filing window, and that you weren't put into an MX with other applicants of the signal. Let's go back to that. Enough of this highest bidder bu**s**t!
So if the African American population wants a radio station to serve them, they have the right (not the privelage, but the right) to demand it. The same with the disenfrancized WBCN and WFNX listeners.
If the big companies won't listen to us, the public who own the airwaves (because they're too busy listening to their investors), and the FCC blaitantly refuses to give broadcast licenses to the average citizen as it does now, then, you, I, or anyone else have the right to start our own radio stations, since, we, the public, own the airwaves, even if those signals are illegal. It may be illegal, but it is for the greater good in the name of serving the public.
It's the equivalent of owning a car. Now, admittedly, as a blind person, I don't know much about cars, but I'm willing to guess that anyone who owns a car would like to drive it themselves. However, imagine the FCC comes along and says: "Hey, that car you own -- we're going to give it to some rich person to drive, and he's going to drive his friends around in it (the listeners of the mass appeal formats), and you have no say. Oh, and if you try to obtain your car back from us (apply for a license of your own, we won't give it to you unless you can give us more money than the rich guy. And, if you steal it back (start a pirate station, we will smash your car and send you to jail, even though you own the car (the airwaves.) Oh, sorry you feel left out, but that's the way it is." Be truthful -- if this kind of thing were to happen in any other instance but broadcasting, everyone would be in an outrage. But since most of the radio managers and investors and broadcasters and the FCC are happy with this so-called "legal" status quoe, it doesn't matter; things won't change.
As for Radio One, my only guess is that, while the formats they were running were serving the community, they couldn't get enough National Add buys to go along with the local spots they were selling. I know Radio One tries to get National Advertisers like MCDonalds and such to advertise along with their local cliants. With not enough money coming from the local guys, Radio One probably decided to sell out.
Also: "Get rid of the auction system, and replace it with what?"
Before FMs were put up for auction, unless I'm mistaken, I believe all one need do was apply for an FM signal, and it would be granted, assuming that you did so within a filing window, and that you weren't put into an MX with other applicants of the signal. Let's go back to that. Enough of this highest bidder bu**s**t!
T
theradiokid
Guest
As for an Urban station in Boston, maybe other people have, but I don't remember saying anything that the format has to be on a Class B FM. Are there any Class As that cover the inner city were the African American population live that might be comparable to the "Touch 106 signal? Also, I'm sure someone could take WILD away from the Chinese government. Does the WBNW signal reach well into Boston at night? (I know it does during the day; I've heard it while visiting there.) Salem isn't doing all that much with 950. Why don't they sell it to the "Touch" people? In fact, why don't they just donate it to the "Touch" people, and then put out a glowing press release stating that they were partially responsible for giving "Touch" a legal signal? The more I think of this idea, the more I like it!
Your idealistic view of the broadcast industry is flawed. In a perfect world, there would be enough spectrum available so everybody could have a radio station, and every format imaginable could be available to anyone who wished for it.
That's not the case.
Spectrum is limited, as dictated by the laws of physics. If the trustees of the spectrum are to serve the interests of the public, doesn't it make sense that the licensees should do their best to serve as much of the population as possible?
The public may "own" the airwaves (which is pretty debatable) but the public has also entrusted the government to manage and regulate the RF spectrum in this country. There are also international treaties between countries that govern the airwaves. Saying that starting up a pirate station illegally to "serve the greater good, so it's okay" is like saying that starting your own country somewhere in Massachusetts is okay, because you own the land, right?
It's not that simple.
That's not the case.
Spectrum is limited, as dictated by the laws of physics. If the trustees of the spectrum are to serve the interests of the public, doesn't it make sense that the licensees should do their best to serve as much of the population as possible?
The public may "own" the airwaves (which is pretty debatable) but the public has also entrusted the government to manage and regulate the RF spectrum in this country. There are also international treaties between countries that govern the airwaves. Saying that starting up a pirate station illegally to "serve the greater good, so it's okay" is like saying that starting your own country somewhere in Massachusetts is okay, because you own the land, right?
It's not that simple.
reelyreal...keepin' it real!
theradiokid said:
In all honesty kid, you'll learn if you want to continue doing this. I'm still learning and will continue to learn. I'm never a finished product and will continue to adapt to the changes that come with radio. You can do that.
reely is spot on the money and tried to help you out without yelling and/or resorting to sarcastic remarks like some others on here. I will keep my honest thoughts on pirates to myself, but while I wouldn't put the pirates in the same boats with the slimy, greedy bankers, ra.pists and killers of the world, they are breaking the law. They should and WILL be fined. How much those fines account for? I'm not the FCC.
And while we're on the subject, I'm not a fan of everything that the FCC does, but until you have been in the industry for a while, you'll learn that it's not going to be an Opie and Anthony world just because you like to illegally like to broadcast on spectrum that's not yours. You have to follow the content and license rules that everyone else does. Has the FCC overstepped its bounds? Several times. But...and I want you to listen to this and listen closely...this goes for everyone else...A LAW THAT IS UNJUST IS STILL A LAW AND JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS UNFAIR, DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT IS NOT TO BE OBEYED...I think that you and every other entitled person decided that they wanted Government and the Courts to tell you want you can and cannot do with your lives...In the radio world, you radiokid, wanted the Courts to tell you what content to broadcast and how to do it...this is on you radiokid and it's up to you to change it...but it won't happen overnight and could cost you your street team job. So, study up, and stop being a stupid, little duckling.
I learned, and I'm still learning, which is fine. I enjoy sparring with people on here, and on other message boards (regarding other subjects). At the end of the day, it's a business (didn't say that it wasn't), but it's how you approach it in the industry which will sustain you. And kid, if you came into my office with your idealistic ideas, I might not not hire you, but I'll just ignore your bunk.
The only way this situation will ever change is if many thousands of African Americans began to move to the area Aside from that, don't hold your breath...
Aside from that, don't hold your breath...NHRadio said:It pains me to say this,
Oh, go ahead and say it
danikayser84 said:The only way this situation will ever change is if many thousands of African Americans began to move to the area
That's right...But keep in mind...Blacks (I don't call 'em African Americans, not do they call me Caucasian Americans), not only have Jam'n, but they also listen to other genres. If anything, blacks, like whites are finding new ways to discover new music as well beyond radio. Blacks, Latinos, and other non-whites listen to other things as well.
I was visiting a friend who at the time, lived above this colored family, and on the surface, you would think that those people would be listening to just the usual gang-banging music, but outside as I was headed to my car, I noticed a BBQ. The family had a portable, pool for their precocious six-year old daughter. And you know what was on the boombox? You guessed it. Miley Cyrus.
T
theradiokid
Guest
But indeed, Salem is doing nothing with 950. It's esentially a second 590, with similar programming. It's only hurting them to keep it. So I think maybe they should just give it up, already, and donate it to "Touch 106." I'm sure that, with the 950 signal the way it is, if they recieved or could buy it, the folks over at "Touch" would gladly stop broadcasting an illegal signal; all they want is a legal one.
How is that a rediculous idea?
Instead of just shutting down a valuable service, it would encourage "Touch" to give up their illegal signal, would bring service to Boston's African American Community, and would iliminate Salem's own competition to themselves.
To me, that's not silly; that's common sence. It's killing 3 birds with one stone.
While radio is a business, there are ways to serve minority audiences (yes, even in Boston) without canibalizing your business. But to read this board, you'd think such a thing was impossible to do.
How is that a rediculous idea?
Instead of just shutting down a valuable service, it would encourage "Touch" to give up their illegal signal, would bring service to Boston's African American Community, and would iliminate Salem's own competition to themselves.
To me, that's not silly; that's common sence. It's killing 3 birds with one stone.
While radio is a business, there are ways to serve minority audiences (yes, even in Boston) without canibalizing your business. But to read this board, you'd think such a thing was impossible to do.
theradiokid said:
There is no programming overlap between WEZE and WROL. I'm pretty sure the company that owns the stations gets to decide whether or not their actions are hurting them.
The Spanish and Portuguese populations would beg to differ about being served. They're being served by the Eastern MA radio scene. Minorities are being served, just not the african american and black population. They had 2 stations targeting them, you'll have to talk to the minority-owned Radio One as to why those stations no longer exist.
If a broadcasting company dedicated to serving the black population couldn't make it work, what shot would anyone else have?
Canada has the regulatory system you seem to be looking for. The CRTC tells you how to operate, what your hourly clock should look like, how many commercials you can air, how much news you air, what your format is, how much Canadian-created content you have to air every day, and what language you can broadcast in.
With all of that said, I think it's strange that there isn't a black-targeted station in Eastern MA.
My word, you remind me of another poster who just doesn't listen..."its hurting them to keep it"?
How do you know this? It sure as hell isn't your broadcasting experience. Salem's management is a lot of things, but stupid isn't one of them. If a signal isn't making a profit, it's flipped or sold.
Why do you keep repeating the same thing? If you have 2 cars, should you donate one to a poor person because the roadways are for public use?
If you want to be a Socialist, fine...and you get an A for passion...but Radio is a...well, you know. You don't have to like it. Just accept it.
How do you know this? It sure as hell isn't your broadcasting experience. Salem's management is a lot of things, but stupid isn't one of them. If a signal isn't making a profit, it's flipped or sold.
Why do you keep repeating the same thing? If you have 2 cars, should you donate one to a poor person because the roadways are for public use?
If you want to be a Socialist, fine...and you get an A for passion...but Radio is a...well, you know. You don't have to like it. Just accept it.
theradiokid said:
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