Re: Jackass,Viacom&CBS

[umar@nerodia.wcrb.com]

On Sat, 2 Jun 2001, Dan Billings wrote:

> Rob wrote:
> > The marketplace is a poor regulator. Does the AM band contain more, or
> > less, interference since "deregulation"?
> 
> I would attribute this problem to poor regulation by the government.

Yes, precisely. The prior rules should have been maintained and the prior
standards enforced.

> > Are advertisers
> > getting better, or worse, treatment at the hands of broadcasters since
> > "deregulation"?
> 
> I think a lot of advertisers like the idea of being able to buy a package of
> stations from one company instead of being forced to deal with a different
> sales rep from every station.

They resent being told they must buy stations they would not otherwise
consider in order to get the stations they want.

They also resent being buried in a long stopset of seven or more spots,
and the erosion of minimum separation policies.

It can be argued that both these developments are the result of the
deregulation of station ownership.
> 
> > Has average time spent listening increased, or decreased,
> > since "deregulation"?
> 
> I think this trend is a result of more choices in entertainment media, not
> deregulation.

Maybe. But more likely it's due to radio stations being traded like cards
in a Monopoly game instead of being run as long-term business
opprtunities. When you're programming twenty, or a hundred, stations at
the same time you can't give the listeners to any of them the attention
they deserve.

> Rob wrote:
> > No; it is the broadcasters who are irresponsible, particularly when it
> > comes to news coverage.
> 
> So you would require every station to carry news?

No; I'd give back to members of local communities their former rights to
challenge the renewals of stations that they don't feel are fulfilling
their public service obligations.



Rob Landry
umar@nerodia.wcrb.com