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Time Checks

F

Ferreri

Guest
Years ago someone said being a time/temp jock is very un-pro. Possibly yes, if used as a crutch, however, it would be nice to hear a time check after 10 AM. In my case, each day I do a 3 mile power walk with a walkman. Really be nice to know the time when I'm out there.
 
Many years ago when I was doing mornings in Phoenix, the owner (not the PD, not even the GM, but the owner forbade me from giving time checks on the morning show. He said that everyone has clock radios in their bedrooms, clocks in their kitchens, and clocks in their cars, so why do jocks need to give the time at all? The crazy bastard made a good point, but my PD wisely over-rode him on that one.
 
All you have to do now is look at your cell phone. The time is accurate to the national bureau of standards cesium clock in Boulder CO.

People are getting used to less and less from the radio. This is just another nail in the coffin. Radio stations have always had to have accurate clocks so they could join news or network programming on time.
 
True, however, if radio supplied local information possibly people wouldn't go elsewhere. There is much talk about satellite radio. Wouldn't it make sense to do on radio what satellite can not do...like be local and a part of the community. We've lost much since de-reg. There are no more New Port Richey radio stations. (Just using that as an example) There were great "proving grounds" for aspiring personalities to pay dues and learn the craft. Today there are people on high powered major market stations who may not have been able to land a weekend gig "back in the day". It is like a ballplayer who learns the game at the major league level without playing any minor league ball. Sadly, there are few new Tedd Webb's, Jack Harris', or Mason Dixon's coming up through the ranks. Is there another Scott Robbins on the horizon for this market? Very doubtful.
 
Ya know? time checks ued to be a money maker for the station..Frank remembers:

It's 2:35 at the Great 138..a GREAT time to buy a Chick Smith Ford!"

It's 12:25 on the WDAE clock at Frishes Big Boy on Gulf to Bay in Clearwater

4:51 ON THE WTYM TIME MACHINE..THAT'S GOODY GOODY PECAN PIE TIME!

1:10 on the Dot..on 1550 WYOU's Country Gentleman Gordon Solie's watch..live remotes every saturday at Licata's Flaming Sword restaurant..downtown Tampa everybody!

Oh yeah..

8:15..that's a good time for a triple Jim Beam and Coke at Charlies Mecca Bar..one block from the Hunter Blood Donor Center..Kennedy Blvd...Tampa. Always 4 PBR draughts for a dollar!
 
Jeff....right on the money! Who can forget

7:53..time to buy a Chick Smith Ford in SPARK LING downtown Clearwater
 
A personal favorite gem...

Sponsorship of the Legal ID, a Time Check, and trade for the owner of the station all in one :10 second spot.

"It's 1 o'clock at 106.3 WHBS, Holiday-Port Richey. Time to buy a new Ford at Karl Flammer Ford, US 19, Tarpon Springs.

It should be no surprise that there was a Karl Flammer Ford sticker on the back of Uncle Fudd's family van.

This should be a thread all on it's own.

"Products and Services the owner of the station received for trading spots."

I kinda remember that we ran a spot for the realty office that he rented office space from on US 19 in Holiday, and for a dental office where his children received care...

Ahh, those were the days !!!

Today, you just trade away 800 stations for 20 plus billion in cash !!! (plus the cash you'll get from the sale of 448 small market stations.)

:)
 
Woah! Jeff Laurence mentioning WTYM's "Time Machine" brings back memories! Just my quick 2-cents worth: nothing wrong with time checks ANYTIME...radio is supposed to be a mobile medium...nice to hear a time check in the car, etc and especially in the morning, when families are getting ready for work, school, etc. If radio would give the local information people need, even little things like time & temp, TSL's and such would probably increase.

Thank goodness I live in a land where local content is essential, and that includes time and temp, local news, and (heaven forbid) even the "dreaded" funeral announcements. If all radio offers is music, well, people can get that from a CD.

Take care gang.
 
In spite of all of the available technologies that offer a clock at every turn, it is STILL as useful to HEAR a timecheck as it was 40 years ago.

Why?

Because, as odd as it might sound, when you are getting ready for work in the morining, trying to get out the door---or even on your way home from work, perhaps needing to get to the drycleaner before they close, it IS helpful to hear the time blurted out periodically and not have to make that slightest effort to purposely check a clock.

I know it sounds silly, but that teeny little convenience is and has always been one of those dependable little advantages that local radio has always had to offer.

Plus, who can forget how tightly Imus (when he was king) would hit a post saying "9:37, 23 'til 10 on W NNNNNNNNN B C (post)!
 
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