Re: FCC (was: Re: clear channel buys amfm)

[Rob Landry <umar@nerodia.wcrb.com>]

On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 Dib9@aol.com wrote:

> The Wal-Marting of America has eliminated many of the local small
> businesses that have supported local radio stations.  To survive today,
> a station must get good ratings to get buys from national and regional
> agencies that buy by the numbers. 

That argument could be made in Boston, but not in many smaller markets
(e.g. Cape Cod) largely ignored by the big agencies.

>  Automation and satellite programming had taken root in small stations
> across America a long time before the ownership limits were eliminated. 

Automation should not be equated with satellite programming. Hard disk
audio systems are only the same sort of labor-saving devices that cart
machines and compressor/limiters were a generation ago. Putting audio on
hard disk can make local programming more competitive. When WCRB was
strapped for cash four or five years ago, the management of the day
considered using a satellite service such as WFMT's for weekends and
overnights, but in the end they opted to install Boston's first
music-on-hard-disk system and to keep programming WCRB locally.

Ironically, the labor-saving hard disk technology worked so well that last
year the new WCRB management decided to launch its own satellite service
which now serves 14 markets, including Fort Myers, Florida, where WCCL
earlier this year became the first American station in a long time to
switch from rock to classical. 


Rob Landry
umar@nerodia.wcrb.com