Re: Upton Bell Firing Article

[FMradio1@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/22/98 11:09:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
terry_wood@prodigy.net writes:

<< This is a sorry state to come to, and the only way to correct it is to
 review the communications act again and go back to a certain amount of
 ownership in a market, like no more then 2 AMs, 2FMs and 1 TV per market.
 This will put local back into the relm of radio once again. >>

I don't think turning back the clock on deregulation will be the answer to the
problem of decreased localism.  Compared to ten or twenty years ago,
sattellite and digital technology has advanced to the point that automation is
a much cheaper alternative to local talent.  Is it better?  Most times it's
not, but it is cheaper.  Hiring a full time airstaff and newsstaff, paying
each member a livable wage, plus shelling out money for benefits and
unemployment compensation is an extremly cost prohibitive venture for most
stations, especially when full-time automated programming is available for the
cost of  ONE or TWO on-air personalites, sometimes even less.  As a business
person, not a broadcast person, which way makes the most economic sense?   

Look at the local mom and pop ownerships around New England.   Most of the
stations owned by these groups are satellite, automated, or leased-time for a
good portion, if not all of the broadcast day.  Why?  It's cheaper.  The mom
and pops SHOULD try to be more localized to go after the big corporate owned
stations, but most of them aren't, because it's cost prohibitive.  Allowing
companies to only own a few stations isn't going to make the problem go away. 

Don't forget that digital satellite broadcasting is just a year or two away,
which will offer CD quality music and talk programming commercial-free.  There
will be many listening options for people.  With that kind of competition
around the bend, live and local radio may become a think of the past.  Does it
suck?  Yes.  But I don't see how the industry can "turn back the clock."

Mike Thomas, WXLO & Premiere Radio Networks  

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End of boston-radio-interest-digest V2 #162
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