Re: Nail in streaming's coffin

[SteveOrdinetz <steveord@wavewizard.com>]

Keith Berman wrote:
>StreamAudio's press release doesn't say how they can do it, it only says "it
>has in place the technology to replace or blackout AFTRA Recorded
>commercials for it's radio station partners.
>When I worked at one of the ill-fated "Z-Rock" ABC/SMN satellite affiliates,
>we locally produced commercials and loaded them into our computers, so when
>master control in Texas went to commercial, they'd send a command over the
>satellite feed that triggered our own system to cut in -- we were also told
>of the length of each break ahead of time so we could schedule
>appropriately.  I don't see how that could work for Internet streaming with
>only the click of a mouse though -- they'd have to set up a new system that
>the DJs (or board-ops) would have to activate whenever they went to
>commercial as well as time each break so it wouldn't overlap the terrestrial
>signal. 


To me, that would be the easy part...just insert the digital equivalent of
the old 25 Hz tone to trigger the cutaway, and something else to trigger
the return.  (or use  25 Hz tones for that matter) As I said before, this
would be more difficult with odd-length stopsets (ones that include 30s,
:15s, etc), and affiliates would have to become anal about making :60s
EXACTLY :60, etc.  Can be done..when WJYY simulcast on WNHQ we'd split some
stopsets, and if everthing was timed correctly it was almost imperceptable
(and this was with a "tight" format--CHR, it would be easier with a format
less dependent on a tight board).  What would be more difficult, would be
spots imbedded in special programming.  Most stations automate that these
days...no more board ops to run Casey.  I suppose a standard protocol could
be established, and the same tones (or whatever) could occur within the
shows, too.