Can anyone tell me why when I watch the WSLS news at 11, there is only 3 minutes of local news - if not less? WDBJ manages at least 5-7 minutes, not to mention the various spots done later in the broadcast. Its a bit more, uh, interested in the Roanoke region than SLS. Then again - SLS puts such emphasis on its VIPIR (that Vipir, not Viper - no matter how you pronounce the i) radar and weather team, Im amazed they even attempt news at all.
No offence to Mr. LaMarr, who I personally like. Oh - and that twit who does sports and has to keep apologizing for all his stupid comments. Yeah - speaking your mind without thinking first is OBVIOUSLY the most brilliant move in the world.
That only works for me, thank you.
But anyway - this post is about the lack of true local news. Or time devoted to local news.
WFIR has the powerhouse premier names in Talk Radio, yet has no local show save for the morning program - which is news and weather and traffic every 5 minutes. Helpful, but wheres the weekly show about hmm.. the Roanoke City Council, the Gubernatorial election, or even the local scandal involving the squirrel terrorists who keep messing up your deck with their little claws. Oh wait, sorry - thats truly not news.
I think its time someone showed an interest in this town, Our Town.
Wheres the live local coverage of the various parades downtown? The St. Patricks day parade should have been broadcast. The 4th of July celebration should be broadcast. Up in NY, the local cable mafia has a channel devoted to 24 hour a day news and event coverage. Mind you its not very good, because they only do a new news broadcast every 4 hours, then repeat it 3 times. And Im not saying Cox does a bad job with local coverage, and I dont want 24 hour coverage of Roanoke and the environs, but we need something. Something local, something people can talk about the next day. Or later that day. Now Im not suggesting FIR take Rush or Sean off the air and go local - I understand theres too much money to be made, having done some radio in the past myself. But there has to be an hour or two after Sean goes off the air at 6 that local talk can take over.
Then again - FIR hasnt had a website for a while now. "Under construction" my ass - must be a federal project. Thats the only thing I know that can be under construction that long and get nothing accomplished.
Oh - and thank heavens BOB-FM 101.5 has decided to get DJ's. It was nice hearing nothing but music and that "no smutty talk" guy, but one does tend to miss the soothing voice of the DJ. Kind of like the pilot on an airliner, he/she sets the mood. Now they just need a website too. For some reason they did not re-up their domain, and now its DOA.
Well, for now I shall have to appease my local addiction with "Dick and Dave in the morning" on Q99. I just wish I could carry that through the day.
2 comments:
WFIR tried a local show before in the morning but they replaced it with the current format. They play four hours of Sean Hannity with the last hour between 6 and 7 being a replay (jeeez), whey they should be playing Michael Savage live from 6-9. The WFIR website has been under construction for like five years now. At the rate their going we are likely to have a Stadium by the time they get that up and running.
Great blog. I don't remember where I first saw it but it certainly wasn't the Roanoke Times. I check in almost every day, so keep it up.
Thank yew.... Much appreciated. And believe me, I TOTALLY understand the whole "National Syndication brings in more money than local programming" thing. But with the Valleys population spurt, traffic problems, and all the rest - I think we need one. Not to mention that one of the damn news channels needs a Helicopter, if for no other reason then allowing us to laugh at the really stupid accidents we only hear about.
Post a Comment