How come this station stopped streaming years ago and never recovered? This is like one of the few Seattle stations not streaming. What's the deal?
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Why doesn't Star 101.5 stream?
- Thread starter icycool7227
- Start date
Technically = doable and already set up.
Financially = with a parade of interesting management issues over the last three years, no one (except the station programming team) has been able to grow a pair to sign the budget item for music licensing fees. When the station starts to take some action anyway, another layer in the palace jumps in and says "wait...WE have this under control" (followed by months of inaction).
Their AM stations have been streaming for a long time because the licensing $ issues are much different there (though, FYI, talk stations still have to pay minimal licensing for "bumper" music use).
Financially = with a parade of interesting management issues over the last three years, no one (except the station programming team) has been able to grow a pair to sign the budget item for music licensing fees. When the station starts to take some action anyway, another layer in the palace jumps in and says "wait...WE have this under control" (followed by months of inaction).
Their AM stations have been streaming for a long time because the licensing $ issues are much different there (though, FYI, talk stations still have to pay minimal licensing for "bumper" music use).
Nothing new here...but depends on the content. I mention that because streaming stat's do not necessarily correlate to ARB's. KZOK has tremendous stat's because they build the morning show around their web site ... KPTK has great stat's because listeners are loyal to the content (and here is link to my point about not necessarily matching ARB). Subsidizing listeners for their convenience is not necessarily worth the expense (suggesting Fisher may be right to wait) ... but at the same time it's not that difficult to aggregate ENOUGH streaming audience to engage an advertiser or two who wants constant exposure and who would find the rate of approximately offsetting licensing a "great advertising deal".
And probably to no one's surprise, streaming tends to be biggest 9a+ as people settle in at desk and kick on the "favorites". Again, an example where the data not correlating with ARB as in many cases streaming doesn't kick in until AM drive is over (due to personal habits not content). Highly possible that changes when wi-fi in cars means people ignore the radio and choose stream instead (esp. if some stations keep up the "blank out the stopset on the net" game plan!!)
And probably to no one's surprise, streaming tends to be biggest 9a+ as people settle in at desk and kick on the "favorites". Again, an example where the data not correlating with ARB as in many cases streaming doesn't kick in until AM drive is over (due to personal habits not content). Highly possible that changes when wi-fi in cars means people ignore the radio and choose stream instead (esp. if some stations keep up the "blank out the stopset on the net" game plan!!)
I do believe KPLZ DID stream at one time. Though they stopped. Not so good a move because I feel that streaming radio will eventually emerge victorious over satellite and HD radio in the analog radio replacement war just in sheer selection and the ability to personally customize playlists (they're coming up with all kinds of new interactive stuff these days which I think can be a better and far more quicker aid in programming than relying on outdated ratings systems that can take months, if not years to become responsive to.)
Besides, I stiil think they stream somewhere for those inside Fisher and/or the industry. A lot of stations do that. They just don't publicize it because of all these damned old RIAA/ASCAP/BMI buzzards flappin' around. I still get super secret links to these from time to time (some with passwords). But I can't tell you from who or give out the links...
KPLZ doesn't need HD, if a station can bypass the hype to focus all it's energy and resources into making it's main signal the most important priority, then more power to it...
Besides, I stiil think they stream somewhere for those inside Fisher and/or the industry. A lot of stations do that. They just don't publicize it because of all these damned old RIAA/ASCAP/BMI buzzards flappin' around. I still get super secret links to these from time to time (some with passwords). But I can't tell you from who or give out the links...
KPLZ doesn't need HD, if a station can bypass the hype to focus all it's energy and resources into making it's main signal the most important priority, then more power to it...
Add in the CRB too. You can't give out those links because you'd get in trouble right? It does stink that Star isn't streaming because I really liked their 90s at 9 and not many stations feature that kind of programming anymore if any. I see Kent And Alan are still on for mornings. How many years have they been on?
Bongwater said:
Still no stream in sight. Yes it did stream at one time. I listened to it too. It's been years since my trip to Seattle and miss this station heavily.
S
SeattleRadioPro
Guest
icycool7227 said:
Wow! Didn't know we had such a national treasure in Star 101.5!
Don't expect the streaming situation to change anytime soon. Already-strapped-for-cash Fisher Communications won't be ponying up the bandwidth costs and CARB fees to restore streaming. And with the prospect of higher rights fees - once again many radio groups around the country are also considering pulling the plug.
Maybe you could call KPLZ and get their listen-line number.
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