"Eric F. Richards" wrote in message
...

It doesn't matter if they all are piled on top of each other,
interfering with each other, and programmed 12 at a time out of a
single building playing the same boring pap.

They are all in accordance with the FCC's technical rules. They do not
interfere in areas where, per the FCC's tables, the signals are usable. In
fact, signals are protected to far greater extremes in the USA than in any
other country in the world that has commercial radio in it.

For example, Mexico allows stations in the same city to be only 20 kHz apart
on AM, and only separated by one channel on FM. And they allow far higher
powers, yet allocate other stations on the same or adjacent channels far
closer together.

As to the content, radio programs what will get audiences large enough for
advertisers to be interested (with the exception of brokered and religious
staitons, which program whatever is paid for generally). That reduces the
chances of having a reggae station in Minneapolis or a Jazz station in
Cleveland. Since the US has realtively unregionalized taste, the same
formats are going to be available in every city in the country.


Eduardo's response, and my response to it, were based on Mr. Lawson's
comment about a small station in the Cincy market. I suspect he
wasn't referring to a 100 Watt flea-power station but rather a strong
local *indepenent* station. In that sense, it is small.

A small station is one with low power and limited coverage. Period. It is
not a term ever used to describe a big station with local ownership.

1450 stations based on perhaps 6 formats, all playing the same
computerized lists, with "DJ"'s (in name only) handling a dozen
different stations with a canned set of remarks.

Actually, it is currently 1180 stations for Clear Channel, with nobody else
having over 400, and the 10th largest company not even havingg 70.

Voice tracking has been used since the late 60's, and is not that common
today compared with the 70's and 80's.

And the other large owners do exactly the same thing. It's those with
the shallow pockets who can't afford to run 100 lights-out operations
from one building who are "forced" to give real programming.

The most you can have "in one building" are 8 in the US. Compare thaat to
groups with up to 14 in Mexico, where radio is economically far better off
than in the US.

Three are very few "lights off" operations except in small markets, where
automation has allowed stations to remain on 24/7 where they used to sign
off overnight.

where he referred to a WSJ article about the *listener
dissatisfaction* with IBOC. No listeners, no ad revenues, no matter
what the crappy model shows. WSJ picked up on that. The "experts"
didn't.

The article is a classic "jump the gun" publication. there are very few HD
radios out there, and until a few months ago, the only ones were targeted at
station engineers who were installing HD. The timetable for HD is to get
more HD-2 channels on in the top 50 markets this year, and roll out
advertising and new radios around the holidays and at CES 2007. This is a
multi-year project.

Eveyone I know who has listend to HD or an HD 2 channel loves it.

Some station is fulfilling a niche market and making a good steady
profit, but wants to stretch a little. Eduardo's "services" are
brought in, and he tells them, nonono, you don't have listeners 22
miles away, but you do 21 miles away -- this chart proves it.

You don't get it. One, I work for one company in the US and no one else. I
am not "brought in" for anything.

Second, markets are defined by a combination of the OMB and Arbitron's own
clients. Advertisers budget by market, and the market budget is spent on
local staitons, whether there are any non-locals being heard there or not.
To do any other thing is too much pain for no gain by the advertising
agency, so they do not do it.

Individual radio stations do not define markets.

And
you'll never make any *real* money in your niche; you have to sell the
same bland pap as the other 15 stations that can be heard on your boom
box but don't really exist here, but the listeners 22 miles away hear
perfectly. Switch to the pap and you'll be rich, Rich, RICH!!! Here's
my bill -- cash, small bills, nonsequential only.

I have no idea what you are talking about here. Stations program for local
markets. This is because on air advertising is only one of the services they
provide. the most importent part of the services is the client servicing,
including commercial preparation, client consultation, remotes, in-store
promotions, marketing events, concerts, street appearnaces and dozens of
other things. None of this can be done for listeners outside the metro as
the costs vs. benefits do not have a favorable balance. And, mostly, because
the advertisers DON't WANT OUT OF MARKET STATIONS:

At the expense of listeners, the ultimate source of revenue. The
listeners have other choices now, and will go away.

No, the source of revenue is advertisers for radio. To get them, the station
must provide ears. More ears, more revenue. Better programming, more ears.