Wednesday Blogs & Programming Notes

57° - overcast at 10:52am

Welcome to Wednesday. From my blogosphere:

This morning Dave Martin reminds the class that there's only nine days until the fall semester begins. Well...the fall book. And this morning he offers nine ways to get your talent performing at their best. A better report card. And it starts with calling in sick. Read here. And thank you Dave!

Dave Lange. Dave blogs today on "TSL Realities for PPM and Diaries". Part 3 of his series on The realities from PPM that apply to everyone. Dave offers some excellent suggestions on increasing TSL. Read here.

Defending our turf. Fred Jacobs writes here this morning on how radio continues to be strong despite the "over-hype" of new media; and suggests that "radio needs to start doing a little "hyping" of its own".

"Radio still has an incredibly powerful story to tell."

Tom Taylor. In his newsletter this morning - Tom writes about the reaction he's getting over a new Radio Shack spot running on network radio. The copy: "Turn off the radio commercials and come to Sirius."

Consultant Kevin Robinson is quoted: “I heard this spot on a client station and nearly choked on my eggs."

One station operator justifies carrying the ads: "Sirius is a perfectly legal product. Radio Shack wants to spend money, so why should that money be refused? Oh, because people might not listen to our station any more? They could change their minds for any of a number of other reasons."

Fair enough. I guess he wouldn't refuse a buy from a crosstown terrestrial competitor either.

And while we're on the subject: why does a lot of radio carry advertising for products and services that are the subject of many consumer complaints? Yes, rhetorical.

There's spots I hear that resemble the get-rich schemes often posted on Craig's List. Or ones that prey on consumers with poor credit. These are primarily national ads.

Quoting Dennis Miller: "Now, I don't want to get off on a rant here..but..."

I've been at stations that have run 'em. And I've always dreaded the occasional listener phone complaint about getting ripped off. In the category of "things that shouldn't happen."

Yes - its a buyer beware world - but shouldn't we be an advocate for the listener? Before the fact?

Just asking. Yes, I know decisions to run such are usually out of the hands of PDs; but worthy of discussion. Stepping off my milk crate now.

And yes, I feel better.