[BC] I don't want to go away

[Phil Alexander]

On 21 Jan 2006 at 22:21, Rich Wood wrote:

> I appreciate the compliment, I think. 

OK, maybe I was just a bit harsh. Probably something I ate. <g>
However, some of the IBUZ was worse than the real thing. SOME
discussion about what CAN be done would be interesting, and
you understand the content side better than many of us more
technical types.

> If none of us, even the 
> cheerleaders, can have an impact why are we bothering to discuss it. 

That question has puzzled me for about 5 years, yet it seems to be
a topic of interest. I suppose it is a little like every new generation
thinking they invented sex. Every time someone begins to discover IBOC
there is a post with little understanding of the 10 years that have
gone before, then there are explanations, recriminations, bashing
etc. It would be nice if people tried to understand IBOC and its
problems (they are many -as you know) as well as what is and what is
not doable at the present time WRT the FCC docket. That might make
a more intelligent discourse.

> Let's go back to EAS. Nothing would please the dark side more than 
> for us to move on and let them cash the checks until we wake up and 
> find we can't find our signals.

We will always find them in the areas where they produce 80% of the
revenue. I happen to think that is not good radio, but those who
contribute to the lobbyists, sit on the NAB Board, sit on the NRSC,
own major shares of the major markets, etc. didn't live in the era 
when radio was something beyond a balance sheet business. That time 
when Public Interest, Convenience and Necessity actually meant 
something.

Those days are gone, never to return, but there is something called
enlightened management. It is the business survival that Peter Drucker
said was the first responsibility of business. It has to do with NOT
killing the goose and NOT eating the seed corn.

> If I hadn't received so many phone calls and emails from programmers 
> and managers/owners of non-Dominion stations honestly worried about 
> what's happening I probably would have made a comment and gone on to 
> something else. I've even kept in touch with old major market 
> programmer friends who are subjects of the Dominion and can't speak 
> out. They're worried about the future of the industry. Many are 
> considering other lines of work for fear of losing their jobs. If it 
> doesn't work it's the programmers who'll be fired. This isn't 
> showbiz. It's Wurlitzer.

Programmers may have become too good at seeing the macro trends in
their audiences, and others have clearly become too good at following.
The result is less innovation, less real personality and more JACK in
the market, but I only transmit the signals, I don't create them so
what do I know.

> Sometimes it's just easier and less tiring to allow yourself to be 
> assimilated. I'm considering the option.

No, don't be assimilated, the mechanical contrivances don't suit
programmer that well. OTOH be creative. In the long run that is
our only defense against assimilation.


Phil Alexander, CSRE, AMD
Broadcast Engineering Services and Technology 
(a Div. of Advanced Parts Corporation) 
Ph. (317) 335-2065   FAX (317) 335-9037






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