What about the future of the current traffic system, currently handled on radio by NFTA and Metro Networks. Citadel's recent decision to switch to Total Traffic eliminates the "eye in the sky", at least by plane.I would presume it's expensive (airplane, fuel, insurance, staff) in terms of business model.Does anyone think this CC's Total Traffic will be the new way we receive this local stuff?
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Traffic....Street, not drugs
- Thread starter x13thfloorrand
- Start date
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Sir Roxalot
Guest
Early Returns...
It's hard to tell until we hear the product. Airplane or helicopter has always been more of a gimmick than an efficient way to track traffic. The Dept. of Transportation cameras now are positioned to do a better job of tracking backups on the major highways. Accident reports can spotlight tie-ups outside the "usual places" pretty well. It all depends on what information sources, and how many spotters are available to the new system.
It's hard to tell until we hear the product. Airplane or helicopter has always been more of a gimmick than an efficient way to track traffic. The Dept. of Transportation cameras now are positioned to do a better job of tracking backups on the major highways. Accident reports can spotlight tie-ups outside the "usual places" pretty well. It all depends on what information sources, and how many spotters are available to the new system.
I don't know about the Buffalo traffic patterns but where I live the tie up are fairly predictable. The only thing they report on are accidents and most of them have been cleared long before the traffic reporters stop talking about them. Then there is the situation where everyone hears the report and goes a different way and then it becomes easier to go past the accident.I don't have much use for traffic reports and this comes from someone who has done them...in the air, on the ground and in the studio listening to the scanner.
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Sir Roxalot
Guest
People who have to spend an extra 6 minutes driving home think they have a traffic problem in WNY. Most of the problems are either accidents or construction. The rest of the slowdowns take place at "the usual suspects".Usually, a timely reminder will send people to an alternate route and make the drive easier for everybody.
The talk about traffic reporters takes me back to the early days of WNYS-FM where we had Bill Tod phone in to the morning show with a hair dryer on in the background....what he essentially did was repeat what WBEN's traffic guy said, but with the hairdryer on in the background it actually sounded like a helicopter!The first time he did it, he said he was reporting from the WNYS traffic copter. I guess somebody had a problem with it (the GM got a call from the competition and caved easliy), so the next week he noted he was reporting from the WNYS hair dryer! Funny bit...you had to be there.Bottom line for me is that a city the size of Buffalo doesn't need airborne traffic..you can report the tie-ups easily from the "jam-cams" strategically located on the major throughfares.
All about the benjamins
Bottom line for me is that a city the size of Buffalo doesn't need airborne traffic..you can report the tie-ups easily from the "jam-cams" strategically located on the major throughfares.Whens the last time you havent heard a traffic report w/out sponsors. [/quote]
Bottom line for me is that a city the size of Buffalo doesn't need airborne traffic..you can report the tie-ups easily from the "jam-cams" strategically located on the major throughfares.Whens the last time you havent heard a traffic report w/out sponsors. [/quote]
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MikeRadknowski
Guest
Re: Traffic Detours
For a few seconds I thought we might be talking about "Low Spark" or "Glad."
Buffalo traffic may be a joke to some and it's most definitely nothing like what drivers in NY, LA, Dallas or Atlanta face on a daily basis, but it's important, especially when one or all of the main arteries are clogged. It's particularly important during "construction season," which begins right around now. Good points about the revenue derived from traffic reports and the fact that Clear Channel has out-muscled Metro Traffic (CBS-Infinity). NFTA Traffic seems to be relegated to Channel 7 and a few other minor outlets.If traffic wasn't important, we wouldn't be seeing the traffic war that's going on between CBS and Clear Channel. Fact is, it is important, it generates revenue and listeners need it. WBEN probably gets a good chunk of its cume in AM and PM drive by way of its traffic reports.Years ago, I remember WGR Newsradio 55 out-muscling WBEN for bragging rights to traffic and it paid off at the time.
For a few seconds I thought we might be talking about "Low Spark" or "Glad."
Buffalo traffic may be a joke to some and it's most definitely nothing like what drivers in NY, LA, Dallas or Atlanta face on a daily basis, but it's important, especially when one or all of the main arteries are clogged. It's particularly important during "construction season," which begins right around now. Good points about the revenue derived from traffic reports and the fact that Clear Channel has out-muscled Metro Traffic (CBS-Infinity). NFTA Traffic seems to be relegated to Channel 7 and a few other minor outlets.If traffic wasn't important, we wouldn't be seeing the traffic war that's going on between CBS and Clear Channel. Fact is, it is important, it generates revenue and listeners need it. WBEN probably gets a good chunk of its cume in AM and PM drive by way of its traffic reports.Years ago, I remember WGR Newsradio 55 out-muscling WBEN for bragging rights to traffic and it paid off at the time.theatre of the mind
I have been a traffic reporter... and do not play one on TV. Many people that listen take it for granted, or attach the 'theatre' to it... asking questions like " Do you have some helicopter sound effects, like you're really talking from your house or Tim Hortons or something??? "I'm just the messanger...Yes, bottom line, traffic makes money, it's self-inventing, it's news, but not in the sense of homicides and such. I see it coming as a more active response system. Something like OnStar, where an alert is sent off that an accident happened in your area, maybe on your road.
I have been a traffic reporter... and do not play one on TV. Many people that listen take it for granted, or attach the 'theatre' to it... asking questions like " Do you have some helicopter sound effects, like you're really talking from your house or Tim Hortons or something??? "I'm just the messanger...Yes, bottom line, traffic makes money, it's self-inventing, it's news, but not in the sense of homicides and such. I see it coming as a more active response system. Something like OnStar, where an alert is sent off that an accident happened in your area, maybe on your road.
A
anderson
Guest
An interesting topic so far. The traffic plane pretty much hits the expected slowdowns and adds little more than some fill to the reports until something big happens - then it becomes a valuable tool to us. I do find the "Traffic War" in Rochester to be amusing..especially when it comes to accuracy. From time to time, a non-existing issue gets tossed over our 2-way frequency just to see who's paying attention, and darned if it doesn't usually turn up on someone else's airwaves. Bill Tod is my new hero! To think I spent over 6 years freezing/sweating in a small Cessna when I could have been running a hairdryer instead!
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