What it's like programming a station in Rural Alaska

[SomeRadioGuy]

I'm crazy & weird enough to love my job.. in part because I get to really serve my listeners and do some of the most local things you can think of. The programming may not always be interesting or my cup of tea, but If I put it on the air, it matters to my listeners.. and that's who KSKO is here to serve.

A native corporation in our region is holding their annual meeting today AND there is live radio coverage of a sled dog race at the same time.

I had intended to carry the meeting on a tape delayed basis as there are certain things we can't air, so the corporation was going to send me recordings. But unbeknownst to me, the Fairbanks station we carry a late morning show from is carrying part of the meeting now

So instead of carrying the meeting straight through via tape delay, we'll air whatever of the annual meeting that the Fairbanks station may run until noon, then I jump in at 12noon for half an hour of music, weather, local news/messages and then sled dog race coverage 1230 to 3pm.

Thankfully, our automation, ImediaTouch makes pivoting on a few seconds notice to be pretty easy... and I have the ability to pre-empt normal programming for whatever I see fit, even if it means ditching an hour of NPR in the afternoon

I kinda like having to be creative and fit things in, move puzzle pieces around and get creative... it's kinda fun, in some twisted way.

 

[Deleted member 108832]

I am taken aback by the scheduled sled dog racing event on your station. Perhaps I am just ignorant, but to me it amounts to the equivalent of broadcasting a pig race down here in Texas. I just never realized there would be a demand for such a broadcast. I get that the Iditarod is a huge event up there, but how does that particular broadcast go, @SomeRadioGuy ? The play by play guy gives the call, the color commentator chimes in with his analysis, all the while sounds of "mush, mush" echo in the background?

 

[davideduardo]

I am taken aback by the scheduled sled dog racing event on your station. Perhaps I am just ignorant, but to me it amounts to the equivalent of broadcasting a pig race down here in Texas. I just never realized there would be a demand for such a broadcast. I get that the Iditarod is a huge event up there, but how does that particular broadcast go, @SomeRadioGuy ? The play by play guy gives the call, the color commentator chimes in with his analysis, all the while sounds of "mush, mush" echo in the background?

Remember that sled races come from a method of transportation that, for over a century, was the only way of communication and transport in much of rural Alaska. Just as the rodeo is based on the deep history of cattle ranching and cowboys in Texas, I think that Paul will confirm that dog sled races are deeply rooted in the "soul of Alaska".

Here is a fascinating article about it:

Dog Sledding & Dog Sled Making | Learning Center | New Hampshire Folklife

Using dogs to pull sleds over snow and ice began in Alaska and Siberia where wintertime lasts most of the year.

www.nh.gov

Part of the history says, "In 1925, sled dogs proved their value as a means of transportation when an epidemic of diphtheria threatened the population of Nome, Alaska. The 40 degree below zero weather made air flight impossible. In a heroic team effort, called the "Great Race of Mercy to Nome," twenty mushers and more than 100 dogs ran a grueling relay from Nenana to Nome to deliver a 20lb package of antitoxin serum. The teams covered some 674 miles in less than five and a half days. The Iditarod sled dog race, still run today, commemorates this historic rescue."

 

[Deleted member 108832]

Fantastic read there, and thanks for providing it. My concern, much like us broadcasting a NASCAR event OTA, is without the visual aspect of the race, how does it make for good radio? I loathe broadcasting Sprint Cup races over the radio, because without seeing the action with your own eyes as it takes place, something gets very much lost in the attempted description of events as they are passed on to the listener. For me, it's pretty easy to listen to a baseball or football game being called, while being able to picture in my mind, the events being described by the announcers. Much like with Nascar, it seems that would be far more difficult to do with only an aural broadcast of a dog race.

 

[TheBigA]

Much like with Nascar, it seems that would be far more difficult to do with only an aural broadcast of a dog race.

That puts the challenge on the skilled broadcasters who call the race, right? You may not know, but the PGA has a radio deal as well. Imagine listening to golf coverage on the radio. But it's done.

PGA TOUR Radio | SiriusXM

24/7 Golf Talk & Play-by-Play

www.siriusxm.com

My hat's off to the folks who broadcast dog races in Alaska. There are rat races in downtown New York City, and I don't mean with those who wear suits down on Wall Street. I mean with real live rats. Yow!

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I am taken aback by the scheduled sled dog racing event on your station. Perhaps I am just ignorant, but to me it amounts to the equivalent of broadcasting a pig race down here in Texas. I just never realized there would be a demand for such a broadcast. I get that the Iditarod is a huge event up there, but how does that particular broadcast go, @SomeRadioGuy ? The play by play guy gives the call, the color commentator chimes in with his analysis, all the while sounds of "mush, mush" echo in the background?

dog mushing is to alaska like high school football is to small town alabama or georgia on a friday night

they talk about dogs times to certain check points, .. its kinda like play by play for bball or ftball, jus tfor dogs

 

[exdjted]

Fantastic read there, and thanks for providing it. My concern, much like us broadcasting a NASCAR event OTA, is without the visual aspect of the race, how does it make for good radio? I loathe broadcasting Sprint Cup races over the radio, because without seeing the action with your own eyes as it takes place, something gets very much lost in the attempted description of events as they are passed on to the listener. For me, it's pretty easy to listen to a baseball or football game being called, while being able to picture in my mind, the events being described by the announcers. Much like with Nascar, it seems that would be far more difficult to do with only an aural broadcast of a dog race.

Think how hard it was for early baseball games to be aired when the announcers were sitting in a studio using bats on wood and ticker tape reports being sent from the stadium, never even seeing in person what they were broadcasting as "live" play-by-play to the audience. I'd love to hear Paul do play-by-play of the dog race. Let me know the next time something like this comes up so I can listen to the stream.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Think how hard it was for early baseball games to be aired when the announcers were sitting in a studio using bats on wood and ticker tape reports being sent from the stadium, never even seeing in person what they were broadcasting as "live" play-by-play to the audience. I'd love to hear Paul do play-by-play of the dog race. Let me know the next time something like this comes up so I can listen to the stream.

@exdjted tune in between 1230 and 330pm ak time sunday (4 hours behind eastern) at www.kskopublicradio.com for the 3rd/final day of the open north american sled dog race....

starting and ending times are a bit fluid/flexible.

 

[Daryl Lynn L.A.]

That puts the challenge on the skilled broadcasters who call the race, right? You may not know, but the PGA has a radio deal as well. Imagine listening to golf coverage on the radio. But it's done.

PGA TOUR Radio | SiriusXM

24/7 Golf Talk & Play-by-Play

www.siriusxm.com

My hat's off to the folks who broadcast dog races in Alaska. There are rat races in downtown New York City, and I don't mean with those who wear suits down on Wall Street. I mean with real live rats. Yow!

Agreed. Broadcasting the Iditarod in Alaska, a very famous test of endurance and skills, is the equivalent of broadcasting a major sporting event in the lower 48, such as the Indy 500. It's an important occasion.

I was in Juneau twice, and both times, I attended the lecture and slide show of Libby Riddles, who won the Iditarod back in the 80's. She told the story of how she raised and trained her own dogs and became an expert at sledding. The practices are grueling, and the weather is very challenging. She wrote a book about it also, and I think she worked as an analyst for ESPN. It's a serious event which requires talent, skill, and teamwork. -- Daryl

 

[Daryl Lynn L.A.]

I'm crazy & weird enough to love my job.. in part because I get to really serve my listeners and do some of the most local things you can think of. The programming may not always be interesting or my cup of tea, but If I put it on the air, it matters to my listeners.. and that's who KSKO is here to serve.

A native corporation in our region is holding their annual meeting today AND there is live radio coverage of a sled dog race at the same time.

I had intended to carry the meeting on a tape delayed basis as there are certain things we can't air, so the corporation was going to send me recordings. But unbeknownst to me, the Fairbanks station we carry a late morning show from is carrying part of the meeting now

So instead of carrying the meeting straight through via tape delay, we'll air whatever of the annual meeting that the Fairbanks station may run until noon, then I jump in at 12noon for half an hour of music, weather, local news/messages and then sled dog race coverage 1230 to 3pm.

Thankfully, our automation, ImediaTouch makes pivoting on a few seconds notice to be pretty easy... and I have the ability to pre-empt normal programming for whatever I see fit, even if it means ditching an hour of NPR in the afternoon

I kinda like having to be creative and fit things in, move puzzle pieces around and get creative... it's kinda fun, in some twisted way.


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I listened to your show, and I think it's very good ! I like your music selection and your announcing ! It must be a fascinating career. I like the graphics on your website, which look like traditional Pacific Northwest art. -- Daryl

 

[radiofan2023]

I listened to your show, and I think it's very good ! I like your music selection and your announcing ! It must be a fascinating career. I like the graphics on your website, which look like traditional Pacific Northwest art. -- Daryl

The station swag you can buy is great too, I really love the coffee cup I got a few years ago. It has a stoneware base and it’s really great.