WABC launches "Worldwide News Network"

[TheBigA]

Broadcasters are supposed to survey the public on their concerns and produce programming that addresses those concerns, but that's not quite the same thing as addressing their views.

The question is: How do you address "views?" The way WABC does it is to focus on one narrow point of view. Does that really serve the public interest? The FCC says it wants to use the public interest mandate in the way it regulates TV. But when asked about radio, they're fine with the way it is. So WABC-TV is having its license reviewed because of certain network programs it airs. WABC-AM is being left alone. That seems unfair to me.

The local stations are licensed by the FCC. National networks, such as ABC and WWNN are not.

 

[KilowattKat]

Yesterday's election results with Socialist Democrats endorsed by Mandami, winning in a landslide, is more proof that conservative talk radio has no influence over elections. Cats likes to think he can influence politics and "Make New York great again" with WABC. Wrong! The audience for conservative talk is limited to preaching to the choir.. It was fun listening to WABC/WWNN forced in having to report it.

 

[TheBigA]

Yesterday's election results with Socialist Democrats endorsed by Mandami, winning in a landslide, is more proof that conservative talk radio has no influence over elections.

The proof is in the ratings. WABC gets a 4 share of PUMM. That's a fraction of the fraction of people who voted for the president. Promoting a negative image of New York at a time when the residents are supportive of their mayor is simply bad journalism. I think people can recognize that. The candidates promoted by WABC lost in the mayoral race and returned to radio.

However there is a view in the government that if you control the mainstream media, either through ownership or regulation, you can control the minds of the people. As you point out, the government is wrong, and the people won't be swayed by the media. At least not in NYC.

 

[umfan]

but you choose to deliberately misrepresent the data.

Par for the course with that poster.

Cats puts on live and local content and invests in the station. That would seem to be cause for praise.

 

[umfan]

The proof is in the ratings. WABC gets a 4 share of PUMM. That's a fraction of the fraction of people who voted for the president. Promoting a negative image of New York at a time when the residents are supportive of their mayor is simply bad journalism. I think people can recognize that. The candidates promoted by WABC lost in the mayoral race and returned to radio.

However there is a view in the government that if you control the mainstream media, either through ownership or regulation, you can control the minds of the people. As you point out, the government is wrong, and the people won't be swayed by the media. At least not in NYC.

WNYC has similar ratings. Does the same negative take apply to their level of listenership?

 

[TheBigA]

WNYC has similar ratings. Does the same negative take apply to their level of listenership?

WNYC is a general interest radio station. They even air game shows and cover lots of other topics.

They also don't promote a negative image of NY

Cats puts on live and local content and invests in the station. That would seem to be cause for praise.

I have no problem with him. All radio owners are allowed to use their stations however they want. Unfortunately the government is only investigating stations that do things the president doesn't like.

 

[wadio]

Any opinions on the Worldwide News Network sounder? I suppose it's OK but to me it's bland and uninspiring. The ABC and former CBS News sounders were unique and always attention-getting at the beginning of a newscast. Not so much with this one. I've heard it a number of times but each time it just doesn't ring a bell.

 

[TheBigA]

Any opinions on the Worldwide News Network sounder?

I'm trying to decide if it's done with real instruments. It doesn't help that it overpowers the anchor.

 

[davideduardo]

The media tends to represent the views of the people. That's what the FCC expects broadcasters to do. Ascertain the views of the public on core issues, and produce programming that addresses their views on those issues. So Cats is able to get a 4 share with WABC by addressing the views of one group. The other 96% disagree with the views being broadcast by the station.

As has already been stated, the other 96% does not by default disagree with WABC. Even if we limit the potential audience to conservatives or even centrists, most of those people who are under 50 or 60 do not listen to AM radio ever. And among those in the older demographics many are not fans of talk radio no matter what the content.

At most, all that can be said is that the other 96% choose not to listen to that station. And we have to remember that 4% is a share and that the cume of a station like that is closer to 10% because not everyone is listening every day all day long.

 

[davideduardo]

Broadcasters are supposed to survey the public on their concerns and produce programming that addresses those concerns, but that's not quite the same thing as addressing their views.

Even when broadcasters do what is called “community ascertainment“ they do not have to take that into account for every moment of every day’s programming . All they have to do is pay some attention, usually in non-peak, listening times, to those issues.

And that “community ascertainment” is not a survey of the public, but, instead, a survey of community leaders to find out what the significant issues and problems in the station’s service area might be. Even then, the station does not have to address every single issue they discover and can limit themselves only through those they find appropriate for their audience or for their ability to cover.

There is no requirement to survey the audience on any subject. And as far as I can recall, there never has been. Any surveys done by individual radio stations are for the purpose of making programming decisions and are confidential and not released to the public.