• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Traffic reports for Eastern NC?

J

JoshB

I was on my way to New Bern today and notice that they were giving traffic reports on Hot 96.3 for the area. Has traffic congestion in the area increase to the point that they actually need them now? Are other stations doing this, I'm just curious?
 
Maaaaaaany years ago 93.3 did traffic reports. Like way back, when it was either Arrow or soft rock WDLX.

Greenville is getting to the point we need them. Maybe Jacksonville. New Bern isn't big enough yet.
 
Traffic in Eastern NC ... I think is a good idea. If you have ever been in Jacksonville on a 96 weekend, the place is flooded. In my mind, it's a good idea with the amount of growth in the area. Due to an increase in military personnel as a result of base closures, eastern NC is becoming a prime retirement area and, with size of the market -- which requires excessive commuting -- the time is now. You have to remember that eastern NC is the largest geographic market in the U.S. In Jacksonville, if you count the population of the base, it's larger than Wilmington. Greenville no doubt has had traffic issues for a number of years. True, New Bern is still a small town, but with the traffic issues in Greenville and Jacksonville I think these reports are most warranted.
 
Traffic reports are a figment of the imagination. There are NO traffic problems in North Carolina - we're the Good Roads State, remember? Traffic volume has not created the need, radio has! In so many cases, there is no alternate route around an accident, and if there is, most local people know it. Actually, lots of smaller and medium markets are doing traffic reports because they generate good revenue for stations and add a element of service.

I remember when traffic came to the Raleigh and Greensboro markets. In Raleigh, WPTF did them. In Greensboro, WSJS did them. Other stations signed up for the traffic networks to add that element of service and to weaken the franchise of the news stations.

SJS started doing traffic reports when they were building what is know today as Business 40 through town. The state actually paid the station to report on the construction. It took hold and has been on since. JR thanks you!
 
Traffic is INDEED a problem in the Wilmington Area

Wilmington Traffic On Demand

http://www.trafficondemand.net

Even the TV stations are picking it up here....sure its only two roads....and relative to Chicago traffic is a breeze...BUT public perception is traffic is TERRIBLE here and they want to hear about it....we spent a lot to find that out
 
Of course the originial idea of traffic reports (and its still true in large cities) is to give people alternatives to sitting in lines of sandstill traffic for hours! Traffic may be horrible in Wilmington, but there is not much you can do about it.
 
voicetrack said:
Traffic is INDEED a problem in the Wilmington Area

Wilmington Traffic On Demand

http://www.trafficondemand.net

Even the TV stations are picking it up here....sure its only two roads....and relative to Chicago traffic is a breeze...BUT public perception is traffic is TERRIBLE here and they want to hear about it....we spent a lot to find that out
Click to expand...

I didn't even know Wilmington had traffic reports. I know Fayetteville had reports too at one time, but don't know if they still do. Does anyone know who's providing the reports for the Hot FM or is it the station itself that provide the reports.
 
XTalker said:
Of course the originial idea of traffic reports (and its still true in large cities) is to give people alternatives to sitting in lines of sandstill traffic for hours! Traffic may be horrible in Wilmington, but there is not much you can do about it.
Click to expand...
leave the house/work earlier of later :)
 
People may choose to leave home later because of a traffic report, but the are not likely to leave work later! They would rather sit in traffic than in the office. :)
 
The Company in question doing the traffic reports on the Hot Fm is Carolina Traffic Watch. They can be seen on the web at www.carolinatrafficwatch.com The site is still under construction, I know this as I know the people who are doing it. I can tell you this much. I have listened to both the Wilmington and Jacksonville traffic reports. I think that they both do a good service to the community and that it’s one that is needed. Wilmington has had traffic problems for years. The East Carolina area although not a major metro in its self, is geographically the largest market in the US. With the amount of driving one has to do in this market I think that traffic reports are a good thing. It certainly doesn’t hurt
 
I go back to my original comment - radio has created the need for traffic reports! It is part of the sizzle. I never said stations shouldn't do them and while they don't hurt, I am not sure they help!

Go to Greensboro for a moment - when is the last time you heard a traffic report on KZL or Rock 92? They seem to do fine without them. Even news-talk WZTK has dropped traffic reports.

Now, they all do report big wrecks and major traffic tie-ups as part of their service to the listener, but no formal, formatted traffic reports!
 
I guess my answer/reaction to that is....

How do listeners know where to go for the information? If you don't do a report regularly....even if its to report things are ok....then there is no expectation of coverage.

And yes, without regular reports...you can't make any money either
 
Matt, my point is that R92 nor KZL have ever done traffic reports and seem to make pleanty of money and have lots of listeners. Truth is, most listeners don't really care about traffic reports unless they are sitting in a line of traffic!
 
There is only one blinking light in Hyde County. Do they need a traffic report to tell you how long the line of people looking at it is? They're all waving at each other anyway.
 
Nairda said:
There is only one blinking light in Hyde County. Do they need a traffic report to tell you how long the line of people looking at it is? They're all waving at each other anyway.
Click to expand...
Rose Bay has a stoplight now!

It's temporary, while the bridge is being replaced, but still. Driving through there recently I was shocked at Hyde's only stoplight :)
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom