[BC] Stupid cross-promo of competitors

[WFIFeng@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/26/2005 3:54:22 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
richwood at pobox.com writes:

> Everyone who subscribes to Arbitron knows you exist. You don't have 
>  to be a subscriber to appear in the book.

I am, of course, aware of *that*.

> Those advertisers would be 
>  unlikely to buy you locally. If you're an affiliate of a network, 
>  that network has your numbers and includes them in the totals they use to 
> sell.

I am also aware of that. (We'd be an obscure part of an aggregate of their 
stations.)

>  Those advertisers are unlikely to buy religious radio because of the 
>  endless restrictions and the demos, generally, don't fall in their 
>  desired range.

I wouldn't be so sure. McD's and Burger King, etc, tend to appeal to 
families, especially with little kids. (Why else would they have "Ronald McDonald" as 
their icon?) The Christian radio demographic is the "Soccer Mom" so many 
clamor for. It's been proven by some solid research. There are some Christian 
stations who are fortunate enough to be full-power FM's in major markets, where 
subscribing to the Arbs actually makes financial sense for them. It doesn't for 
us.

>  At WOR I stopped pitching "religious" stations. It's like tapdancing 
>  through a minefield. 

It is a unique market, with very specific tastes and standards. To an 
"outsider", yes, your "minefield" analogy is pretty accurate. We (Christians) have 
built-in mine detectors, so we know exactly where to go, and where not to, 
regarding what we air or not air.

>  word might be until it was too late. Unless a show is specifically 
>  religious, it's a waste of time to try and clear a show on a 
>  "religious" station. Real life is terribly frightening.

It is the nature of the Format. Quite literally, it boils down to a 
"religious worldview" vs a "non-religious worldview". Unless one is personally 
acquainted with Christ, it is quite impossible for them to even comprehend what it 
means to be a Christian, and why we "are the way we are".

I've been employed, full-time, in Christian radio for well over 16 years and 
I have learned quite a bit about it. There's no way I could ever explain the 
intricacies in ways that would make sense to "outsiders". (This is not an 
insult.) This is why attempts to run "Christian" stations by non-Christians 
eventually will fail. It would be like trying to run a Chinese-language station with 
a staff that has absolutely zero knowledge of Chinese language, customs, 
taboos, cultural issues, ideologies, history, etc. It's just too foreign and 
unfamiliar. You're going to keep hitting "land mines" and wondering why. 
Essentially, it's a whole 'nuther culture.

>  Those same stations have no problems with hate-riddled programming, 
>  so long as it's right wing hate. Or hate spewed by preachers who pay 
>  for the time.

This is a very badly-made broad-brush stroke. Not all stations that carry 
"religious programming" are, in fact, Christian. We've gone 'round this mulberry 
bush a million times, already.

>  What do they filter.

Porn, mostly.

>  How does an ISP know if they're filtering 
>  enough?

User feedback.

> Supposing someone wanted to research breast cancer? Does the 
>  filter know the difference between a life threatening condition and a 
>  porn site?

The *good* ones do, yes.

> It seems to me the filter would have to be so 
>  all-encompassing that it would be useless for any serious use.

Those that fell into this category found themselves soon lacking subscribers, 
and floating belly-up.

>  That would leave the "Touched by an Angel" web site as the only option.

Very funny. (Not!)

>  I wonder if the Boston Symphony would qualify as "Christian."

It may not qualify as "Christian", but if they ever chose to advertise with 
us, there's a good liklihood we'd accept. Since our signal falls quite short of 
Boston, that's not a likely scenario, anyway.

> Would 
>  you reject the Mormon Tabernacle Choir?

Yes... and we have. The BC Forum is not the place to explain it, though. 
(Perhaps in AF?)

>  The "unique characteristics" appear to be awesomely restrictive and 
>  fearful of the world.

Only to "outsiders". What you are perceiving as "fear" is simply a desire to 
avoid certain things.
Analogy: Dog droppings. Just because a person carefully avoids stepping in 
them, doesn't mean they "fear" them. It means they find them repulsive. 

Personal example: I despise seafood. It turns my stomach, even just the smell 
of it. Seafood is not "evil", and I do not "fear" it, but Iam repulsed by it 
and so I carefully avoid exposing myself to it. So it is with Christians vs 
certain things that the "General Market" finds totally acceptable. The things 
may not be "evil", but they may be very unacceptable to Christians.

> With all the sex and violence in the Bible I'm 
>  surprised it's allowed on "religious" radio.

Very funny.

Willie...