I don't work in radio, so I hope some of you insiders can help me out. I listen to a lot of KPOJ, and the PSA's drive me bats. Some I've been hearing every day for years.

Questions:
Why can't they just play the paid advertisements more often?

Why can't they play a greater variety of PSA's?

Why don't they use the time for more promo's or production bits instead?

I read Clear Channel has 5 stations in the area. Do they use KPOJ as a dumping ground for PSA's so they can play fewer on their other stations?

Thanks in advance.

The reason so many PSA's may be running is that when the time that is for sale goes unsold then that time must be filled. Its because KEX runs many syndicated programs like Coast-to-coast AM. There are fixed times when commercial breaks can be sold. If they are not sold, something must be played to take up the time. That unsold time is filled with PSAs. Public Service Announcements are regularly sent to stations. The fact that you hear a narrow selection of subject matter may mean that whoever is placing them in the computer system for airing is not really attending to what should be a diverse array of subject matter. I am uncertain if the PSAs are inserted by the syndicated program or are played by KEX or it could be a combination. Prior to the 1996 deregulation, radio stations had to keep a close eye on what they ran as PSA material because it had to be reported to the FCC. That no longer is the case.

If I am wrong, I am sure that another member of this board will correct my inaccuracies.

Is there any way to use / leverage PSA's for advocacy?

That's essentially what they are now anyway. Maybe people would pay some amount for unsold time? A lot of advocacy is not all that time dependent. It's also a nice way to try radio on for size too, given it's not too focused.

Seems to me, that might generate revenue where there is none now. It wouldn't be much, but some of something is better than some of nothing, right?

Also, this is the kind of thing that scales nicely. Clusters, doing this kind of thing could leverage their size for some modest profit. Who knows? It might make up for that bad quarter, or at least fill in some of the valleys.

Since there is less oversight on these things, why not offer that service, with some rules to differentiate it from full on, dedicated air time?

Could spice up what is otherwise a pretty dull element of the station as well.

PSAs for live air talent would be nice.

Some stations set aside some of the time to localize the station during these satellite fed programs. Thought its another subject but it gives reason to those who believe that Progressive radio AAR though liked by its audience isn't delivering enough business to the local station.

I agree with this. The PSA percentage is pretty high on that station. At times, local accounts do buy --just not regularly. ...err at least I don't hear them regularly, though I do hear more of them now, than compared to a year ago.

Maybe the lefties would buy the advocacy slots! That is what I was thinking, when I posted earlier.

CC's Less is More restricts how many minutes of commercials and promos that can run in an hour. I'd suggest if you own a business or know someone who does...encourage them to buy time on KPOJ. That will reduce the number of PSA's being played. KPOJ listeners have the same consumer needs as any other station. I don't listen to KXL or KPAM so if an advertiser wants to get their message out to me they should buy on KPOJ or KEX (4-7).

Could the lack of PSA variety have something to do with the fact that the production director, the guy probably in charge of PSA rotation, was among the latest firings?
Of course not...

"encourage them to buy time on KPOJ."
Maybe, instead, the sales folks at KPOJ need to get out and sell more. A businessman isn't going to advertise on any station unless it can be shown that they will get a return. Either they don't perceive any value in advertising their product on the station or have experience that shows they don't. It is the responsibility of the KPOJ sales force to prove or convince them otherwise.

www.rileylive.com

Go there for some truly great PSA