There's been a disturbance in the force

[grantchester]

... as dozens of traffic reporters cried out, then were silenced forever. And hundreds more took pay cuts ranging up to 15%.

 

[board monkey]

ahhhh but we have felt this disturbance for quite some time now. Just never knew where it would reveal its self next.

 

[little1]

... as dozens of traffic reporters cried out, then were silenced forever. And hundreds more took pay cuts ranging up to 15%.

Some people forget that while this is entertainment, it's also a business. And maybe DE can share current figures, I can tell you that my information (slightly stale) is that most stations are down 30-40-50% (or more). If stations are hurting that bad, it only makes sense that the traffic services are also way down.

If you ran a business and your billing was down 50% would you continue to operate the way you had before, or would you cut where you had to to survive?

 

[grantchester]

Thanks for the comforting words, lil'one.
The way you explain it takes the sting away.
It's not lost health insurance, reposessed cars, disposession, dislocation, depression or any sort of pain.
It's just business.

 

[little1]

Thanks for the comforting words, lil'one.
The way you explain it takes the sting away.
It's not lost health insurance, reposessed cars, disposession, dislocation, depression or any sort of pain.
It's just business.

It's a radio message board. If you want comforting talk, go talk to your priest/pastor/minister, a psychatrist, or your local bartender.

And I'm impressed. People were fired yesterday, and they're getting their cars repo'd today? Good gosh, how screwed up were their finances? How about saving a little money to get them through rough patchs?

Look, I'm sorry if YOU lost a job. But the economy as a whole (not JUST radio in other words) sucks right now; The GM plant is idling shifts, American Airlines is cutting flights, and a whole lot of other companies are cutting underperforming stores or scaling back expansion plans, etc. Don't take my word for it, go read the DMN's business section.

Sorry if I crashed your pity party, just pointing out that it sucks EVERYWHERE right now...

 

[EbolaMonkey]

just pointing out that it sucks EVERYWHERE right now.

Yes it does. But radio has been in this decline for about 10 years. Many more layoffs than hires. Staff mergers. You know the drill. Don't let the current macroeconomic climate become a straw man excuse for radio's piss-poor track record. A track record that predates our current crisis.

 

[crbigband]

I came to Dallas from Houston in 1996 to work for Shadow when they opened up a shop here. I left Shadow in 1997 and about a year or o later they were gobbled up by Metro - and I'm unaware of any other traffic service than Metro. So I surmise that those of you on this blog are referring to job layoffs at Metro.

Regardless, here's my story for what it's worth.

I got a job at a company called Traffic Central in Houston in 1987. Back then, it was Metro and TC oth had bou an equal numer of stations. In those days, both companies employed 3 to 4 mobile reporters, fixed wing and chopper reporters and a spotter on the Transco Tower. Then there were the studio staffs, which included 4 or more anchors a producer and dispatcher.

The philosophy back then was, if you really wanted to work in radio (I did) traffic services were a good place to start. Eventually you'd get in good with a PD at a radio station whose traffic you were doing and you get a job with that station as a DJ.

Many I worked with in Houston did tht, includig me. The view was that traffic services employed people who were either on their way up - or their way down - in broadcasting careers.

But somewhere in the '90's that changed. Only it shouldn't have. Now, Metro is the 800 pound gorilla that has gobbled up the others and with technology and cameras everywhere they can - and have - slashed their workforce to the barebones. As they are the only viable traffic service in most markets there is no longer accountability for accuracy. Just be sure you get the right commercial in the right report.

I am truly sorry you lost your job. I lost my radio gig earlier this month and am now waiting for unemployment to kick in.

For what it's worth, take comfort in this: Those that fired you, citing the economy or whatever excuse they used, are not safe themselves. Managers with no staff to manage will be taking paycuts while doing their job and yours, at some point and likely will lose their jobs too.

Technology marches on...

Cary Richards

 

[scrtr84]

And I'm impressed. People were fired yesterday, and they're getting their cars repo'd today? Good gosh, how screwed up were their finances? How about saving a little money to get them through rough patchs?

You answered your own question, with your next paragraph regarding the current state of the economy. People who were saving money, are now having to spend it because of massive job cuts. The economy isn't predictable, you know.

 

[deadacated1]

[/quote]
You answered your own question, with your next paragraph regarding the current state of the economy. People who were saving money, are now having to spend it because of massive job cuts. The economy isn't predictable, you know.
[/quote]

Hence the advice of most finacial advisors that you have a 6-12 month cash cushion (liquid assets) to tide you over in case you lose a job. With unemployment, 12 months of a safety net should get you through about 18 months of unemployment.

 

[MikeShannon914]

Hence the advice of most finacial advisors that you have a 6-12 month cash cushion (liquid assets) to tide you over in case you lose a job

I, like most folks, have a 6-12 DAY cash cushion! My reserves place me somewhere between credit card and Lone Star Card.

Westwood One published their plan of action: http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/ma...a/westwood-announces-cost-reduction-measures/

Basic gist: Technology will replace traffic reporters, and road sensors will replace air units. Employees will lose jobs or take a 15% paycut. Stockholders will be happy. Westwood One will then have the money to play NFL games over the radio for one more year. Gotta love priority lists.

 

[txchipk]

Hence the advice of most finacial advisors that you have a 6-12 month cash cushion (liquid assets) to tide you over in case you lose a job

I, like most folks, have a 6-12 DAY cash cushion! My reserves place me somewhere between credit card and Lone Star Card.

Westwood One published their plan of action: http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/ma...a/westwood-announces-cost-reduction-measures/

Basic gist: Technology will replace traffic reporters, and road sensors will replace air units. Employees will lose jobs or take a 15% paycut. Stockholders will be happy. Westwood One will then have the money to play NFL games over the radio for one more year. Gotta love priority lists.

Much like the Internet fundamentally changing the way people shop for books and airline tickets, it seems like for more and more people, it also has made getting traffic reports off a radio station somewhat like going to a travel agent these days. One can get real-time info from TxDOT and view their traffic cameras live online: http://dfwtraffic.dot.state.tx.us/Default.htm. It likely won't be much longer in the future, with everyone carrying around GPS systems (i.e. their cell phone device), you won't even need road sensors since how fast people are moving in cars can be calculated. I think, particularly folks with IPhones and similar devices, waiting for "traffic and weather together on the 8s" is so 1984. KJKK and KESN don't even have traffic reports... I would think as mobile Internet devices advance and become more popular, over time, KJKK and KESN won't be the only ones. People seem to like being able to get the info they want on demand.

 

[MikeShannon914]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! My mortgage DEPENDS on that 1984 thinking! (Or were you talking Orwell?) :-X

 

[scrtr84]

I don't buy the mobile devices theory. That's way too much of a driver distraction. It's a fact that just talking on your phone while driving, is as dangerous as drunk driving. We're seeing some areas placing bans on cell phone use while driving.

 

[board monkey]

I don't buy the mobile devices theory. That's way too much of a driver distraction. It's a fact that just talking on your phone while driving, is as dangerous as drunk driving. We're seeing some areas placing bans on cell phone use while driving.

I call BS on the whole "same as drunk driving" theory. That's a technique where the proponents of cell phone bans use words to "scare" you into NOT using your phone. Then they pass legislation off of fear.

 

[Stinkymess]

Back to the original intent of the topic. :

Hey it’s one thing to take a paycut vs. losing a job.
It would be easier to live with that if upper management would also promise to increase pay when revenues are up. Fat chance of that happening.
But in our case we had people let go, the rest were given paycuts across the board, and the upper echelon gave themselves a hearty slap on the back and a fistful of bonus money. That’s really taking one for the team isn’t it?
The company, yes just like in most industries, wants total loyalty from you, and repays your sacrifice with a slap in the face.
And we’re supposed to be grateful just to have a job! The kid who delivered a pizza to me the other night makes more than I do now.

 

[scrtr84]

I don't buy the mobile devices theory. That's way too much of a driver distraction. It's a fact that just talking on your phone while driving, is as dangerous as drunk driving. We're seeing some areas placing bans on cell phone use while driving.

I call BS on the whole "same as drunk driving" theory. That's a technique where the proponents of cell phone bans use words to "scare" you into NOT using your phone. Then they pass legislation off of fear.

It ain't a theory, it's a scientific fact. It has been put to the test. But I guess you don't watch Mythbusters.

 

[board monkey]

I don't buy the mobile devices theory. That's way too much of a driver distraction. It's a fact that just talking on your phone while driving, is as dangerous as drunk driving. We're seeing some areas placing bans on cell phone use while driving.

I call BS on the whole "same as drunk driving" theory. That's a technique where the proponents of cell phone bans use words to "scare" you into NOT using your phone. Then they pass legislation off of fear.

It ain't a theory, it's a scientific fact. It has been put to the test. But I guess you don't watch Mythbusters.

I love Mythbusters. I just dont have the means for cable/satellite. So I'm rockin "peasant vision" with the digital converter box. 8) I floated a biscuit passed it the other day and it pixilated out the screen! : ;D

OK, enough of a thread jacking.

 

[aunti-terrestrial]

I don't buy the mobile devices theory. That's way too much of a driver distraction. It's a fact that just talking on your phone while driving, is as dangerous as drunk driving. We're seeing some areas placing bans on cell phone use while driving.

I call BS on the whole "same as drunk driving" theory. That's a technique where the proponents of cell phone bans use words to "scare" you into NOT using your phone. Then they pass legislation off of fear.

It ain't a theory, it's a scientific fact. It has been put to the test. But I guess you don't watch Mythbusters.

While highly entertaining, Mythbusters is often based on crapshoot science. The two hosts readily admit that, most of the time, the ultimate goal is not so much to prove or disprove myths with definitive authority, but to get maximum cool explosions and good TV out of their experiments. I'd be more inclined to believe Bill Nye The Science Guy than a couple of movie special effects guys. I'm not saying they're not smart guys, but their science isn't gospel.

On the topic, my GPS talks to me so I don't have to look at it while I'm driving. It's really bossy, too. Also, Stinkymess is right. I'm sorry for everybody who lost their jobs.

 

[scrtr84]

I cited Mythbusters primarily because of the popularity of the show. But other tests have been performed, which confirm talking on a cell while driving is in fact as dangerous as drunk driving.

 

[TheRover]

... as dozens of traffic reporters cried out, then were silenced forever. And hundreds more took pay cuts ranging up to 15%.

Some people forget that while this is entertainment, it's also a business. And maybe DE can share current figures, I can tell you that my information (slightly stale) is that most stations are down 30-40-50% (or more). If stations are hurting that bad, it only makes sense that the traffic services are also way down.

If you ran a business and your billing was down 50% would you continue to operate the way you had before, or would you cut where you had to to survive?

And so, the Terrestrail Radio Business Model could not support quality in depth music playlists.... They went to "Subscription" Radio....

Same for Quality in depth News Reporting.....

And so.... will it shock yo to find out that quality in depth traffic reports cannot be supported by the Terrestrail Radio Business Model, and go the way of subcriber services.

So what does that leave with terrestrially Little 1..... ? ? ?

Nothing I'd be interested in......

But what do I know.....

I'm not one of the great unwaashed masses that "Broadcasting" is trying to "entertain"..... Forget about being "informed".....

That's what Newspapers are for....

Ooooops..... Lookes like that model is failing too.......

Sorry, but they won't get enough gifts from the DPD to keep that "entertainment" going either....