[BC] A thought about formats

[Robert Bowe]

Program Directors are hired to program, My gig is to keep the 
non-ionizing radiation flowing, and to keep the sonic quality/quantity 
regardless the format.

Each format is a 'witches brew' of programming, sales, personalities, 
and engineering.  I may not agree with all of the programming choices 
but I don't need a PD monkeying with the transmitter as much as a PD 
needs an engineer telling them what to play.

The spot load and spot quality both need to be addressed.  Since rates 
haven't changed much over the past decade and who really wants to up the 
rates unilaterally - not to mention the spots they give away (I remember 
one place where they were running at 100%+ spot load and income was 
under budget!)

Sales Management I'd like the paycheck but not the gig.

-- 

Robert Bowe, CSRE
Director of Engineering
MBC Grand Broadcasting
Grand Junction, CO

Barry Mishkind wrote:
>         Having the "right" format is never an easy task.
>         Opinions differ.  All of us have had our stations
>         attacked at one point or another because we
>         don't play "the new music" of local bands as
>         much as they'd like.
> 
>         As individuals, we each have our own opinion
>         of what is the best format ... the one that will
>         hold our interest.  That STILL does not mean
>         that our format is good or bad. It is just our
>         format, subject to the mass market's
>         reaction by listening (or not).
> 

>         Overall TV ratings show that the proliferation of
>         media has affected their "totals."  It is the same
>         with Radio. Satellite radio, ipods, mp3 players,
>         WiFi, etc have had an effect. And this will continue.
> 
>         I think broadcasters have to remember that they
>         are broadcasters, and niche formats generally cannot
>         ever be as successful as formats that attract
>         a wide range of people.  Cume still outranks
>         TSL in the long run, doesn't it?
> 
>         Yes, some of us have more experience in
>         programming, and can see some of the
>         "errors" being made. But that doesn't
>         mean we ought to say nasty things about
>         a station or corporation just because they
>         don't play the "Trash Alley Kids" or somesuch.
> 

>         From my personal viewpoint as a listener,
>         I'd have to say the area stations really
>         should consider for enhancing their
>         impact on listeners is their handling of spots.
> 
>         ... and those of you who are in the business
>         need to readjust your attitude too!  Aside from
>         those who work at non-comms and live off
>         the public payroll, YOUR SALARY comes from
>         spots.
> 
>         I've seen too many posts here from people
>         *crowing* how much they love their TIVO
>         or other tools to "skip" spots. Spots are
>         bad, in other words.
> 
>         It would seem few readers of this list are in
>         the sales department. And the truth is that
>         in many stations, the operations people consider
>         sales to be as big a "pain" as the sales people
>         consider the air staff.
> 
>         Yes, radio IS a business. Without sales (or
>         pledge drives) it would not do many of
>         the things it does that people seem to want.
> 
>         Perhaps, instead of hammering on and on about
>         how existing companies are greedy or don't get it,
>         our thought processes might focus on
>         realistic ways to make things better - and on
>         the stations that have accomplished such goals.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________________________________
> Barry Mishkind     -       Tucson, AZ    -   520-296-3797
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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