The Party is Over!

[BossJock1947]

All this speculation about CBS selling their properties in Sacramento is just that SPECULATION.

Nobody in their right mind will pay huge amounts for terrestrial radio because in the next 5 years Walmart and most stores will be selling $50 dollar portable internet radios that can pick up hundreds of stations via WIFI. Most cars will be equipped with them too.

If you're in radio now, better get out in the next few years. Turn the lights out the party is over.

 

[jvparent]

Bring out your dead...AM-stereo radios, that is.

I guess Nostradamus lives and works in the radio industry...for he has just predicted the death of our business. Good thing YOU got out in time, isn't it? Because NOT being in the industry certainly gives you insight into what's going on.

Or, am I wrong?

 

[ContactLenz]

Here we go again...the "death" of radio.

Funny, they said that with the advent of TV...

then it was because of Albums...

then tapes, then portable tape players...

later CD's, and portable CD players...

then Digital audio tape (remember that "great" invention?!)

then the computer, then computer's that could play music...

then the internet, the a portable internet...

then the ipod...

then satellite radio that was portable...

then HD radio, that is portable and mows your lawn!

Until one of these carriers/provider figure out how to do it for cheap/next to nothing, is accessible to everyone, and is omnipresent, radio will not be going away.

Can radio be done better? Yes

Has radio slipped? Yes

Have some in radio (owners & operators and talent) become lazy and complacent? Yes

But have some good ones been successful against all the new technology? Yes

Radio is like the cockroach...it will survive because of its simplicity and numbers

Radio can be like a friend...when local it can offer intimacy and connection with one or a bunch of listeners.

Radio is not perfect and far from it, but like our democracy, warts and all, it is still the best of all the other alternatives.

I have worked (and still do) all forms of media, and I can tell you radio is still the best and most effective when done with passion and purpose.

 

[BurnedOutOnTheBoards]

Until one of these carriers/provider figure out how to do it for cheap/next to nothing, is accessible to everyone, and is omnipresent, radio will not be going away.

Can radio be done better? Yes

Has radio slipped? Yes

Have some in radio (owners & operators and talent) become lazy and complacent? Yes

But have some good ones been successful against all the new technology? Yes

Radio is like the cockroach...it will survive because of its simplicity and numbers

Radio can be like a friend...when local it can offer intimacy and connection with one or a bunch of listeners.

Radio is not perfect and far from it, but like our democracy, warts and all, it is still the best of all the other alternatives.

I have worked (and still do) all forms of media, and I can tell you radio is still the best and most effective when done with passion and purpose.

Interloper..........

Amen!

Radio reached its greatest popularity and influence when the economy was in the dumpster, during the 1930’s and 1940’s....in many, many ways like the overall economy is now, with even greater problems ahead.

Unlike the various new technologies mentioned and a few in the works, terrestrial radio has its infrastructures already built, and the receiving technologies already purchased and installed….

….and, if more broadcasters would realize that the missing ingredients are localism and “passion & purpose”, along with a more realistic business model that doesn’t swamp the listener with more ads than entertainment/news content, radio could restore its profit potential.

It just won’t be a profit-printing machine anymore.

 

[BossJock1947]

Bring out your dead...AM-stereo radios, that is.

I guess Nostradamus lives and works in the radio industry...for he has just predicted the death of our business. Good thing YOU got out in time, isn't it? Because NOT being in the industry certainly gives you insight into what's going on.

Or, am I wrong?

Wrong.

 

[BossJock1947]

Here we go again...the "death" of radio.

Funny, they said that with the advent of TV...

then it was because of Albums...

then tapes, then portable tape players...

later CD's, and portable CD players...

then Digital audio tape (remember that "great" invention?!)

then the computer, then computer's that could play music...

then the internet, the a portable internet...

then the ipod...

then satellite radio that was portable...

then HD radio, that is portable and mows your lawn!

Until one of these carriers/provider figure out how to do it for cheap/next to nothing, is accessible to everyone, and is omnipresent, radio will not be going away.

Can radio be done better? Yes

Has radio slipped? Yes

Have some in radio (owners & operators and talent) become lazy and complacent? Yes

But have some good ones been successful against all the new technology? Yes

Radio is like the cockroach...it will survive because of its simplicity and numbers

Radio can be like a friend...when local it can offer intimacy and connection with one or a bunch of listeners.

Radio is not perfect and far from it, but like our democracy, warts and all, it is still the best of all the other alternatives.

I have worked (and still do) all forms of media, and I can tell you radio is still the best and most effective when done with passion and purpose.

I never said it was the DEATH of radio. I said the party is over meaning, radio like the evening news and network tv will lose audience steadily for the next several years like you've never seen it before.

Radio will be on the Internet but it will be very difficult for the average jock to find work. The Limbaughs and the Sterns will still be around and a few other high profile personalities but for the rest, enjoy your 300 person cume.

 

[godblessamerica]

Death of radio? Probably not,... there will always be traffic jams, bad weather, and unfortunately other disasters.

 

[djj]

Death of radio? Probably not,... there will always be traffic jams, bad weather, and unfortunately other disasters.

Let us hope, in this upcoming transition (there'll be no death of radio, it'll
just in critical condition for awhile), we have no repeats of this:

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/01/25/18351710.php

--jay

 

[BurnedOutOnTheBoards]

djj,

I remember that incident, where 6 {SIX!!!} Clear Channel stations didn't break in with an EAS on a toxic spill.....

I also remember when I was at KFBK in 2005......I was news anchor and another guy was running the board during the Mark Williams show......

There was a special white landline phone in the newsroom exclusively for EAS issues, and, my luck, I'm the only one in the newsroom when it rings. I pick it up, and a breathless voice asks me, "Why aren't you sending the EAS?"

Now, that phone was located where I could simply look up and see through the glass into KFBK Control....I looked directly at the EAS receiver - no alert light going off, nothing. I said, "Hang on," ran into KSTE Control -no lights, no alert received....and reported that. I said, "Hey...send it again right now!"

A few minutes later, an EAS Alert arrives, with no audio, just about :60 of static. I check the internet sources, no details. There was a computer screen set up to alert the newsroom staff with text of EAS messages….nothing on it since early morning. Meanwhile, the KFBK board op, running a live talk show with live phones coming on air, runs the EAS with the static-only audio….I had alerted him there was a real EAS alert coming, and he assumed the EAS would be properly formatted for broadcast. It took nearly twenty minutes for the officials to deliver even online text of what was a very serious issue: an Amber Alert of a local toddler’s kidnapping.

A few days later, CHP officials, KFBK personnel, Clear Channel engineering staff, and others had one of those meetings…..at first, the board op and I were grilled as to why we didn’t air an EAS they didn’t send, until I suggested they check existing logs {I made damn sure I had copies of everything} and see they failed to get the info to the station and the alert wasn't received as they claimed, but arrived much later……the meeting then kinda morphed into theory – how things SHOULD work – but no answers, no responsibility taken…in short, a typical radio management meeting.

The point: at every station I've worked at, commercial & non-commercial, frequent screwups with EAS occurred, even when the station personnel are trained and ready to use the equipment properly. I’ve run at least 30 actual EAS Alerts…and hundreds of tests….over the years with no problem. But I’ve also seen experienced, trained personnel battle a sometimes complicated, frequently fouled up system.

Considering how easy it is to produce a clear, audible and understandable high bitrate mp3 and e-mail it anywhere in seconds, complete with text, and considering how many EAS alerts arrive with completely unlistenable or no audio, you would think a computer system would be established…but, then again, you’d need trained personnel on duty, which seems to run completely counter to radio’s profit structure. I mean….to actually pay overnight staff to make sure regulations are followed and the listening public served!

 

[DaveBayArea]

I never said it was the DEATH of radio. I said the party is over meaning, radio like the evening news and network tv will lose audience steadily for the next several years like you've never seen it before.

Radio will be on the Internet but it will be very difficult for the average jock to find work. The Limbaughs and the Sterns will still be around and a few other high profile personalities but for the rest, enjoy your 300 person cume.

A bit extreme, IMHO - but there is some truth to this. My prediction is that we'll see some further eroding of station value to the point where owners no longer have to service a huge debt and will be willing to take some chances with different, exciting programming. Some of it will succeed and be profitable. There are some recent examples:

92.7 in San Francisco - with what is arguably the worst class-A signal imaginable, running a dance format that you would think would fail immediately. But they've made San Francisco their community. They do live events, and they have a good following in a very desirable demo.

The old KSAC - yup - they failed to make money - but I was still quite impressed with their ratings and I have a feeling they could have done way better with good management and some more local talk shows. Again - with a dismal signal.

KPIG - consistently doing very well where it's local (Monterey bay) and a good portion of the market is outside their city-grade coverage area.

Radio has the unique opportunity to be your friend down the block. The person who hosts the party where they're playing great music on the stereo. Or the one keeping us informed. I agree that the days of the money machine are over. But I disagree about the 300 cume part. A radio station can still serve the public interest, and broadcasters who do that will be the successful "next generation" stations.

To me, the party has just begun.

Dave B.

 

[BossJock1947]

I never said it was the DEATH of radio. I said the party is over meaning, radio like the evening news and network tv will lose audience steadily for the next several years like you've never seen it before.

Radio will be on the Internet but it will be very difficult for the average jock to find work. The Limbaughs and the Sterns will still be around and a few other high profile personalities but for the rest, enjoy your 300 person cume.

A bit extreme, IMHO - but there is some truth to this. My prediction is that we'll see some further eroding of station value to the point where owners no longer have to service a huge debt and will be willing to take some chances with different, exciting programming. Some of it will succeed and be profitable. There are some recent examples:

92.7 in San Francisco - with what is arguably the worst class-A signal imaginable, running a dance format that you would think would fail immediately. But they've made San Francisco their community. They do live events, and they have a good following in a very desirable demo.

The old KSAC - yup - they failed to make money - but I was still quite impressed with their ratings and I have a feeling they could have done way better with good management and some more local talk shows. Again - with a dismal signal.

KPIG - consistently doing very well where it's local (Monterey bay) and a good portion of the market is outside their city-grade coverage area.

Radio has the unique opportunity to be your friend down the block. The person who hosts the party where they're playing great music on the stereo. Or the one keeping us informed. I agree that the days of the money machine are over. But I disagree about the 300 cume part. A radio station can still serve the public interest, and broadcasters who do that will be the successful "next generation" stations.

To me, the party has just begun.

Dave B.

Too bad all these big time companies had to buy the BS and spend millions on HD. What a joke!!!!

Like i said radio is going to the internet. Why fiddle with HD?

Ever hear listeners talk about HD? Not too many.

If your not streaming on the internet yet, you're screwing up!

 

[punkdj]

the ppm is gonna change everything. i think people's faith in radio will be somewhat restored.
the first reports have already come in, in SF and believe me .,.... things are wayyyyy different. ( # 1 for 30 years station KGO is in 18th place right now. ) so once they get the ppm in sac expect major changes.

 

[John Walker]

Last I checked my car radio did not stream the interent

 

[Stage5Clinger]

The key word that you said, John, was yet. Give it 5 years and most of us will have the internet in our cars. It's the next step. That said, I don't believe radio will disappear, but like newpapers, it's audience will continue to decline because of technology. All research in that direction points to that. Smaller markets than ours are always going to have radio though, poor folks and isolated folks will too.

 

[BurnedOutOnTheBoards]

Clinger's right.....streaming is the way and it will be happening in cars sooner than later.....I stream KFBK simply because, from my home in Carmichael, I get a much clearer signal streaming than on any of my radios.

And, since some of the basic problems of HD have not been solved {extremely limited reception areas and greater energy use for stations}, and in this mp3 world, people seem willing to sacrifice audio quality for speed & flexibility, I don't see HD as a big market factor anytime soon. When better quality streaming happens, that will affect far more listeners....

punkdj's point about PPM is interesting.....if any ratings system can be taken seriously. The old book system is so scientifically flawed as to be laughable, but it was all we had.....I do believe there will be a major shakeup with the new methodology.

 

[DJBigOne]

EAS stuff...

djj,

I remember that incident, where 6 {SIX!!!} Clear Channel stations didn't break in with an EAS on a toxic spill.....

I also remember when I was at KFBK in 2005......I was news anchor and another guy was running the board during the Mark Williams show......

There was a special white landline phone in the newsroom exclusively for EAS issues, and, my luck, I'm the only one in the newsroom when it rings. I pick it up, and a breathless voice asks me, "Why aren't you sending the EAS?"

The whole point of EAS is that it be automatic. Then if an alert comes in when you are on automation, the alert will still go out. Most of my experience has been with the SAGE ENDEC. The audio from the main studio should be looped through it, then to the STL/Transmitter. As long as you are receiving monthly tests, etc., then it should work for alerts. It sounds like the source of the alert messed this one up. You would be surprised how many radio stations, and cable systems, are not running operable EAS systems.

 

[BurnedOutOnTheBoards]

Don't know of too many board ops who leave EAS in auto fire mode during a live, local talk show...especially when there is a history of incomplete/fouled-up EAS audio problems.

When I was a board op, I wanted to monitor the alert's audio first, since way too many times the audio content sent with the EAS was unintelligible or missing...something I've heard on-air dozens of times on various stations....which is not just annoying to listeners {and when your talk show host has a hair trigger, these interruptions don't go over well, to say the least}, it really lessens the impact of an EAS when the board op runs three or four screwed-up alerts before any actual info is broadcast {as was the case in my story}.

I understand the auto-fire mode is critical for the way-too-many unattended automated frequencies out there, but that was not the case during my tale of woe......plus, BK's a major player in Sacramento's EAS...when we fired, it set off the chain throughout the region, which compounded the problems when the audio was missing or screwed up.

 

[hammerpants]

I stream stations through my cell in the car all the time... patch it in to the car's audio system and it sounds OK.

Just the begining of having a thousand stations at your fingertips.

 

[radiovictim]

I truly don't understand how trends in the enjoyment of entertainment can be so different between radio and television. While everyone is running out to get the biggest and best flat panel HDTV on the market, they're willing to sacrifice the audio quality of music. ???

It can't be because of commercials, since television has them, too. I agree that the progamming in this market is stale... but it's not intolerable with the aid of an index finger and some preset buttons. What's going on? Any radio/pysch majors out there?

 

[John Walker]

It may be because some people are concerned about convenience and portability, and because they have crappy speakers/systems in their cars or homes. But then again, taste is relative, some people actually like American idol!

I hate MP3's, iPods etc, maybe I'm an audio snob but they sound terrible to me. I downloaded Radiohead's In Rainbows when they offered it for whatever price you wanted to pay and burned it to a CD. When the physical CD came out a month or so later, I bought it, and when I popped it into my car's system, it was a revelation....The fidelity, the separation of instruments, everything. At least for me, internet radio will not be something I listen to until the day comes the quality is equal to the pure CD.

Radio, I can handle better, but I hate compression. There are no dynamics, no quiet and soft passages, and the bass is artificial sounding and overdone. Again, when I listen to a CD of something I've heard on the radio it sounds so much better. I'd look into HD radio but am not ready to pay 300 bucks for one