Wow, what an interesting string! It's just great to know that in parts of our state, there are radio operators who don't allow "small" anything (signal, market etc.) to be used as an excuse to short-change the listener and not represent the local community well. Sadly, this is the exception and not the rule. I thank you all who are the owner/operators in this string for trying to make a differerence despite lots of challenge.
As I have frequently mentioned in the North Florida Board, I make numerous trips via I-95 between Jax and the Miami area. For a long time, radio was just as boring as the scenary but both now seem to be changing. But I hope one change doesn't forever change the other.
One of the major beefs I have had for some time is that most of the bigger operators use a "cookie-cutter" approach to format and even in the what format they offer and even more important, what they don't offer the listener. After having had way too much coffee, let's just say I was looking for a little relief and I couldn't wait for the next reststop. I exited at mile marker 191 and I realized just how much our state has changed. It wasn't too long ago that there wasn;t much there. Now, there is a thriving Melbourne suburb called "Vierra" which isn't even on an old Florida map I have at home. There were shopping plazas, office parks, restaurants, hotels and even traffic! A place I stopped at had 98.5 on and I realized it was a Greatest Hits format and that perked my interest even more. I gave them a listen throughout the drive south. Apparenlty, they are "small" as the signal fizzled in Indian River County. They sounded great and I loved the local appeal. I give them kudos for not going through the motions.
But soon my delight almost turned to dread. After witnessing the incredible growth in Brevard, I can only hope small operators can stay alive. There was a time the drive even along I-95 had a lot of desolate areas and that's no longer the case. We've all heard this before but when it comes to radio, I never believed big is better. I'm a programming fanatic and no station is perfect. But how refreshing it was to hear this outfit at 98.5 sounding as creative as they could with a lot of local appeal. I hope our state never gets so big that the mom and pop operators just all go away.
I don't expect a lot but how I wish my town (Jax) could have a small, independent operator who could put the listener first and offer something different. Geographically, I feel as though I'm in radio prison. One day, I hope someone will "break in" and save us. Maybe small operators will be needed if station sell-off happens. I'm praying it does and again I celebrate your efforts!
