terrible board-oping on 1290 AM

[odomski]

I was on my way to the Blue Rocks game today, and I turned on 1290 AM to hear their pre-game show. At one point, the announcer broke away for a commercial break, but the board op didn't turn down the feed from the stadium...and you could hear the commercials playing over side conversations the announcers were having among themselves. This happened throughout the entire 2-minute spot break. Luckily, none of the announcers dropped an "F-Bomb!" This was horrible and shameful board-oping by the 1290 AM employee. It's evident the board op didn't have a studio monitor turned up to hear the station's air signal.Also, the Blue Rocks coverage didn't seem to have very many commercials. During the pre-game show, I heard more promos for their Fox Sports Radio programming. It seems the spot load they have is almost next to none.John Sadak was the play-by-play guy today on the Blue Rocks coverage, and he did a fine job. Perhaps John has taken over or will be taking over for Steve Lenox. John's radio past includes a brief stint at WILM as weekend sports anchor. That abruptly ended during one Thanksgiving holiday weekend, when the guy simply didn't show up for work...never called out sick, etc. He never set foot in that place again. I believe this happened in 1998 or 1999. I can't remember the year, but I was working at WILM when the aforementioned Sadak abruptly "quit" the station.

 

[WTUX]

The Blue Rocks spot load and the lack of ratings for the station go hand-in-hand.The few sponsors they had as WJBR-AM were on during the music and the Rocks games. Probably a spot package with x-number during the games and x-out, as is often the package. But the station had ratings and that helped the overall picture.The really bad season the Rocks had last year did not help matters. Now they are back fighting for first, but on a station with no measureable audience. I'm not sure about the WDOV situation, but it can't be much better. Revenue is going to be a major problem for Blue Rocks radio coverage this year.The board op situation, I'm afraid, is another major problem. Finding good board ops is a real headache. The good ones are few in number. Most can't pay attention, are talking on the phone or wandering around the building while the game is on, do not listen to baseball play-by-play in general since few of the current b/o generation have not grown up with baseball on radio, so they don't have the pattern down to know when to listen for an upcoming break, etc.But their situation is still better than that one horrid season WAMS also carried the Rocks. They got it from a really bad phone line and ran the games WITHOUT a board up. Local spot openings were just dead air. No ids ran. Obviously NOT professional radio!

 

[fred flintstone]

All Access Today:

Delaware Part-timeLooking to break into the business? Clear Channel Radio in Delaware has an entry level opening for board operators for studio and remote programming. If you are ready to work those nights & weekends, but make the stations sound great, we want to hear from you. Send cover letter and resume to Bob Walton, Operations Manager, 3001 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, DE 19808 or email to [email protected]

 

[OldNumber7]

Why do they even need board ops? Can't the spots be triggered automatically, or played at the game site with a laptop? Having a board op is a pretty expensive (and inefficient) way to do minor league baseball.

 

[WTUX]

Since the game airs on 2 stations, at least one station needs a board op for the local spots. They can, of course, be triggered by a cue tone, but this may not be fool proof since the games are not on the bird.