Now traffic reports on the music stations become just an interruption that gives the listener an opportunity to hit the button and move on to the next station.

I actually listen to certain stations because they have traffic reports and then, usually, go back to where I was before. Sometimes I forget and then I end up listening to the traffic station and the non traffic station has lost me anyway.

The Mobile Newsscooter is next!

disapproves.

I live in rural Iowa. What is this "traffic" of which you speak?

Apparently the writer has never heard of WBZ in Boston. Traffic every ten minutes, and given how much Boston roads suck, that's necessary....

/not happy
DNRTFA

FTFA: Music stations competing for listeners have been cutting back on disc jockey banter...

Stopped when I read this.

IF they were cutting down on fat morons laughing at their own ancient unfunny jokes, they aren't doing it to compete for listeners. They're doing it to cram more crappy local ads on the airwaves.

/podcasts > radio.
//every now and then
/I turn it on again
///but it's plain to see that the radio still sucks.

The thing about those "GPS" systems, is they're not fully as accurate as having an "eye in the sky" Atlanta people who listen to AM 750 WSB have probably the biggest advantage of all radio stations. Most reliable source of traffic information out there.

reminds me of Air America

FTA---"Clear Channel..."

Fark Clear Channel.

//that is all

John Buck 41: FTA---"Clear Channel..."

Fark Clear Channel.

//that is all

Damn republican and their LIES about traffic! I BET RUSH LIMBAUGH MADE THAT SEMI CRASH *foam*

the your world is changing - get used to it

He now takes a few steps from his bedroom to his study to start his split shifts, from 5 to 9 a.m. then 3 to 7 p.m. He puts on a headset, turns on the stopwatch application on his iPhone, and pulls up a half-dozen Web pages to gather traffic information.

I also work from home and take a few steps from my bedroom to my study, so I'm getting a kick out of these...

Wait, he uses the stopwatch on his iphone? WTF....if he is recording audio wouldn't there be like, um, a timer or something? Does he do these live?

I haven't done much in radio in the last fifteen years, but from what I remember you just filled 30 or 60 or 90 seconds and set it up to run....

/wish I could do live radio from home
//although working from home is freakin sweet
///in sweatpants and haven't showered since, um....hrmmm.

Not surprising news sadly. I know everyone's always talked about how radio would die when FM/TV/Cable and now the internet has come around, but there is truly a paradigm shift going on now in radio.

Honestly, in five to ten years, I imagine radio stations will have all switched to digital and broadcast content directly to your car over a wifi 3/4/5G signal. Normal transmitters will probably remain, but I'm VERY interested to see where radio goes.

And remember kids, not all corporate radio is created evil. Most of them wait until after your child is born/get engaged to fire you.

Lumber Jack Off:

epic fail.

The Good Logins are Gone: I live in rural Iowa. What is this "traffic" of which you speak?

It's a side-effect of an interesting place to live.

Obama's Subtle Coup: Lumber Jack Off:

epic fail.

how so? in the beginning of the movie he's a traffic reporter. in a helicopter.

They really don't need to be up in the air in metro areas since there are traffic cameras everywhere. Just check out your department of transportation website, that is what they are looking at. A lot of the freeways also have sensors indicating how much traffic is currently on the road.

/Used to write traffic reports for a big evil media company.
//Decided to go to college instead.

Makes sense. I don't see why they're bothering even on the AM stations. Why dick around waiting for traffic reports that may or may not cover the freeways you're traveling when you can pull up Google Maps and find out NOW?

Hell even a lot of GPS units have built in traffic reception so they can automatically route you around any major snarls.

Reporters can be hundreds of miles away away from the scene and detail the latest traffic jams to three or four radio stations in the same hour, sometimes using aliases

sweet. another thing to outsource. "Good day. This is Robert Ramamurthy reporting to you the traffic in the great city of LA. I would like to be telling you that you will be wanting to avoid ..."

retro128: Makes sense. I don't see why they're bothering even on the AM stations. Why dick around waiting for traffic reports that may or may not cover the freeways you're traveling when you can pull up Google Maps and find out NOW?

Hell even a lot of GPS units have built in traffic reception so they can automatically route you around any major snarls.

A lot of GPS companies also charge you for that traffic reporting, and detour information. AM Radio and even FM radio give it to you for free

ok honestly wtf difference does it make whether there's an accident on the interstate? the way this town is set up you have to go that way anyway.

"Uh-huh, well it sounds like we've got a leaky copter Dave."

Yup, I flew around Denver in a Cessna 182 for 6 years...including the television helicopters there used to be 7 aircraft covering traffic, now there are only two, and they are in the air for half the time they used to be. Obviously my job was a lot easier when I was looking out the window of an airplane instead of sitting in a newsroom looking at cameras around town. I miss flying a lot.

Simple solution: implement the TA function of RDS, as they have done in Europe and local traffic reports will break in when you are listening to any channel.

FriarReb98: Apparently the writer has never heard of WBZ in Boston. Traffic every ten minutes, and given how much Boston roads suck, that's necessary....

'BZ is also home to one of the most demonically creative production managers on planet earth, Mike Coleman

examples Here:

Link (new window)

and Here:

Link (new window)

(Audio, SFW)

Back before 9-11 the best traffic listening in NYC was the scanner listening to the helicopters talking to Shadow Control and each other. They had their own private shows going to amuse each other along with sharing traffic reports before they went on the air. Damn terrorists ruined all that.

/Blablazo

Radio traffic reports are some of the most useless drivel to evar be squeezed out onto the public airways. These "reporters" should be locked in a room with Dahmer for a month and let nature take her course.

I'm surprised it has taken this long to send these useless piles of hot air to the scrapheap of history. Howsabout you a-holes start reporting on the steam engine as long as you are there. I'll be waiting, in the meantime enjoy those steady pay-cuts.

Earl of Chives: Radio traffic reports are some of the most useless drivel to evar be squeezed out onto the public airways. These "reporters" should be locked in a room with Dahmer for a month and let nature take her course.

I'm surprised it has taken this long to send these useless piles of hot air to the scrapheap of history. Howsabout you a-holes start reporting on the steam engine as long as you are there. I'll be waiting, in the meantime enjoy those steady pay-cuts.



You couldn't do my job if I gave you a two year head start...now head back into the kitchen and grab that refill for my tea.

mr_a: The Mobile Newsscooter is next!

came expecting Les...leaving happy.

/give this man some WALLS damnit!

erveek: FTFA: Music stations competing for listeners have been cutting back on disc jockey banter...

Stopped when I read this.

IF they were cutting down on fat morons laughing at their own ancient unfunny jokes, they aren't doing it to compete for listeners. They're doing it to cram more crappy local ads on the airwaves.

/podcasts > radio.
//every now and then
/I turn it on again
///but it's plain to see that the radio still sucks.

Funny, I used to listen to the radio just to hear those fat morons making unfunny jokes, rather than listen to the same top 20 pop songs.

/don and mike ftw!
//fark you, WJFK, cause DC really needs a 3rd all sports radio network.

Otto's_Jacket: You couldn't do my job if I gave you a two year head start...now head back into the kitchen and grab that refill for my tea.

Any breaking news on the steam-engine beat?

Earl of Chives: Otto's_Jacket: You couldn't do my job if I gave you a two year head start...now head back into the kitchen and grab that refill for my tea.

Any breaking news on the steam-engine beat?


lol wut

ukexpat: Simple solution: implement the TA function of RDS

And then you will have TARDS?

FTFA: The region's top-rated pop station, KISS-FM, recently dropped afternoon traffic reports after AMP-FM, a new Top 40 station received higher ratings without traffic updates.

Jeebus, people, do ya' think it might have something to do with the music, or maybe the revolving door of "personalities," or quite possibly the fact that you've sucked the soul out of the poor schlubs who remain? Maybe they just did better because they're new?
I want to beat those pin-stripe and loafer-wearing dog-farks to death with a mic stand.

Quantum Apostrophe: The Good Logins are Gone: I live in rural Iowa. What is this "traffic" of which you speak?

It's a side-effect of an interesting place to live.

Lolling heartily...

I always know when Bay Area traffic reports are being done from LA because the "reporter" says THE 101, THE 580, THE 80. It also amuses me to hear Dusty Roads on XXX fm/am then switch stations and hear the same guy give the same report as Joe Mustang.

Clear Channel hates local content. Yet another reason to support to your friendly neighborhood independent radio stations.

Earl of Chives: Otto's_Jacket: You couldn't do my job if I gave you a two year head start...now head back into the kitchen and grab that refill for my tea.

Any breaking news on the steam-engine beat?

radio's not going anywhere buddy...it's just undergoing a fundamental shift in how it's done. And stories like this suck, because radio (especially traffic reporting) is an industry that you have to absolutely unconditionally love to get into, because there's about a shiatton of crap you have to go through to even get to be a traffic reporter.

I know it's fark or whatever, but there's something to said for having a little compassion for people that are losing their jobs that didn't pay that much to begin with. You make ten bucks an hour, but you're doing your dream job...that's worth some mad respect to me.

they took our choppers!

Phoenix_M: I always know when Bay Area traffic reports are being done from LA because the "reporter" says THE 101, THE 580, THE 80. It also amuses me to hear Dusty Roads on XXX fm/am then switch stations and hear the same guy give the same report as Joe Mustang.


Another great way to down size - I'm currently on 6 different stations. Making sure I say the right outcue is half the battle.

Good.

I don't think I ever seen a traffic helicopter in Albuquerque, unless there is a fatal crash that backs up traffic for hours; and only after those hours does the news even show up.

The main station for traffic reports often suggests alternate routes that obviously didn't come from a local resident, and there's at least one station that sometimes plays traffic reports from a tape of the day before.

I will only listen to radio of there is some kind of disaster in progress. Short of that happening I have Pandora and my iPhone Ipod songs I listen to....Except for the weekend smooth jazz station The Seabreeze...I like to listen to that.

/Think I will go and put it on now... Link (The Seabreeze smooth jazz)

Rickerkioz: Earl of Chives: Otto's_Jacket: You couldn't do my job if I gave you a two year head start...now head back into the kitchen and grab that refill for my tea.

Any breaking news on the steam-engine beat?

radio's not going anywhere buddy...it's just undergoing a fundamental shift in how it's done. And stories like this suck, because radio (especially traffic reporting) is an industry that you have to absolutely unconditionally love to get into, because there's about a shiatton of crap you have to go through to even get to be a traffic reporter.

I know it's fark or whatever, but there's something to said for having a little compassion for people that are losing their jobs that didn't pay that much to begin with. You make ten bucks an hour, but you're doing your dream job...that's worth some mad respect to me.


Thanks for that man.

bixpchiphead
"'BZ is also home to one of the most demonically creative production managers on planet earth, Mike Coleman"

The Boston driver bit was one of the funniest things I've heard in while. I remember it well from 'BZ. It's good to have it saved now.

FriarReb98: "Apparently the writer has never heard of WBZ in Boston. Traffic every ten minutes, and given how much Boston roads suck, that's necessary...."

They still can't keep up with the changing conditions on 93 coming in from the North. But at least they know where the roads are. I tried the traffic on XM. it's unusable. The don't understand that Rt 3 in Quincy is different from Rt 3 in Lowell.

I used to work for Metro, and while we did have highway traffic cams, road sensors and such, we got MUCH more accurate and useful info from the guys in the planes. As in 'If you want to avoid the jam at X intersection, get off the highway at Main St (or whatever).' or "An accident just occurred on Hwy 1 at Spring Street, blocking one inch of the right lane. Rubbernecker delays are just beginning and will get worse."

The GPS Traffic warnings only work if you're in a city that provides feeds for your specific device. My Garmin's bells and whistles don't work where I live.

Rickerkioz:

radio's not going anywhere buddy...it's just undergoing a fundamental shift in how it's done. And stories like this suck, because radio (especially traffic reporting) is an industry that you have to absolutely unconditionally love to get into, because there's about a shiatton of crap you have to go through to even get to be a traffic reporter.

I know it's fark or whatever, but there's something to said for having a little compassion for people that are losing their jobs that didn't pay that much to begin with. You make ten bucks an hour, but you're doing your dream job...that's worth some mad respect to me.

I have no beef with radio, I agree it will be here for a long time. What I think is going away is the traffic reporting nonsense. It's silly and wasteful in my opinion. The 'copters and scanners and clownish reporters should have been sold off years ago and a real news reporter hired. So there is an accident? Now what? I'm on the road I'm on for a motherfing reason. Traffic reporters don't help one iota. Maybe in Denver people can go into immediate re-route mode and act on your "news". Here in Chicago it is worthless and I get pleasure in seeing reality catch up to my opinion that what you do is stupid. Jobs change. I'm sure some steam engine mechanics loved their work too, doesn't mean we should keep them around.

The only "traffic reporting" I can use is current travel times and the 'bots handle that just fine.

I too listen for the traffic. And they took the airplane away from our local traffic reporter (Craig Sinclair) and the accuracy went downhill in a big way, even though it's clear he's trying his best with what he has available.

Typical of Clear Channel, one guy does the reports on several stations. I'm amazed that he uses the right call letters and sponsors as he reports for station after station throughout rush hour.

Earl of Chives:

I have no beef with radio, I agree it will be here for a long time. What I think is going away is the traffic reporting nonsense. It's silly and wasteful in my opinion. The 'copters and scanners and clownish reporters should have been sold off years ago and a real news reporter hired. So there is an accident? Now what? I'm on the road I'm on for a motherfing reason. Traffic reporters don't help one iota. Maybe in Denver people can go into immediate re-route mode and act on your "news". Here in Chicago it is worthless and I get pleasure in seeing reality catch up to my opinion that what you do is stupid. Jobs change. I'm sure some steam engine mechanics loved their work too, doesn't mean we should keep them around.

I suppose I just don't understand the vitriol you were spewing from your mouth about traffic reporters....locking them up with Jeffrey Dahmer and letting nature take its course? Seriously?

The main point I was trying to make is radio is going to change, people LIKE personality...Mike Nolan, the guy FTFA is a freaking LEGEND in SoCal, and while I understood and agreed when he had to give up his plane, it was a sad day for me. The industry is changing and just because YOU find the traffic reports useless doesn't mean they are.

But, I'm thinking I may be feeding a troll because otherwise I'm conversing with someone who either needs to/or does see a therapist on a weekly basis for some sort of anger/emotional problem.


The only "traffic reporting" I can use is current travel times and the 'bots handle that just fine.

That's all well and dandy for you. And I'm sure many other farkers on here might even agree. However, for every one of you, there are twenty other people who DO use and count on the traffic reports.

did you know ratings actually go UP when traffic reports start coming in?

/Not a traffic reporter