Is this AT10 or my affiliate?

[BrettVW]

At the end of the hour, AT10/my affiliate has changed the way they do it.

Just a few minutes ago at the end of Hour 2, Casey was outroing "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston. The second he finished saying the song title, my affiliates regular Top of the Hour ID played (they don't have special 6 second Casey ID's, so it was never played in the jingle bed before)

After this....the Top of the Hour jingle played with the 6 second instrumental bed (usually it would play before at the end of the hour), and then was immediatly followed by Casey beginning Hour 3.

Did they change and put this as the jingle that starts off each hour, so the affiliates that choose not to run the optional segments can still air it?

[MEF]

It was AT10 that changed the ending hour jingle. Its now the beginning hour jingle.

Thus, at the end of hours 1 and 2, Casey will just say the countdown continues, no jingle. At the start of hours 2 and 3 you hear the jingle that allows station to ID itself if it wishes.

AT20 was done the same way. Since the last segment of Hour 1 and 2 is optional, the station ID jingle won't be cut off, if the station decides to skip the optional segments.

[BrettVW]

Heard it on AT20 today...but the way my local affiliate does the top of the hour ID, you couldn't even tell.

I did notice though that the optional segment in Hour 3 doesn't have a closing jingle anymore.

[Topay]

I think the optional segment was one of the dumbest ideas ever created. Why not just put the extra song in the show? I'm sure it won't hurt the affiliates to sacrifice a few commercials. Heck, if Clear Channel can cut down on commercials, any station can.

[Deleted]

Double edged sword....the national spots cause less advertising time for said program over the course of the show. The idea was to allow additonal add time for stations who would otherwise pitch a fit I guess. But as you I am sure have figured out, the overwhelming majority of the stations are playing the optional segment. But I really think one of two things will happenb over time, 1.) it will go away or 2.) stations will take the extra ad time and drop the optional segment in one or more hours. Like perhaps for morning airings, take the extra ad time in the later hours of the show.

[Topay]

Paul said:

Double edged sword....the national spots cause less advertising time for said program over the course of the show. The idea was to allow additonal add time for stations who would otherwise pitch a fit I guess. But as you I am sure have figured out, the overwhelming majority of the stations are playing the optional segment. But I really think one of two things will happenb over time, 1.) it will go away or 2.) stations will take the extra ad time and drop the optional segment in one or more hours. Like perhaps for morning airings, take the extra ad time in the later hours of the show.

Thanks for the explanation. That puts things a little into perspective. I've listened to AT20 and AT10 on several of the online stations and also my local stations, and I always hear that optional segment.

I still think they need to work on its placement, especially in the 3rd Hour, because it's getting irritating hearing Casey say "coming up...the #1 song in the USA..." and then waiting through a commercial set only to hear "9 years ago this week back in 1996" instead of the #2 song/tops of the other charts.

[BrettVW]

As long as the optional segment is there, Clear Channel stations will most likely play it. It was designed mainly for these stations anyway, which are all on a "less is more" kick when it comes to commercials. They are all promising 50 or more minutes of music per hour. Therefore, you need the extra 4 minute segment on Casey.

[Scott Lakefield]

topay said:

I still think they need to work on its placement, especially in the 3rd Hour, because it's getting irritating hearing Casey say "coming up...the #1 song in the USA..." and then waiting through a commercial set only to hear "9 years ago this week back in 1996" instead of the #2 song/tops of the other charts.

Exactly. At first, there was no tease before the optional segment for something coming up in the segment following the optional segment. This to me sounded better.

By the way, the optional segment in hour three had been placed as segment 2 originally...to avoid that #1 tease situation you described.

[BrettVW]

Any idea why they changed that Scott? It makes zero sense. Personally, if I was a Casey affiliate, I would be bad and reprogram Hour 3 so it ran earlier.....

[Scott Lakefield]

BrettVW said:

Any idea why they changed that Scott? It makes zero sense. Personally, if I was a Casey affiliate, I would be bad and reprogram Hour 3 so it ran earlier.....

No idea, Brett...but I'd do the same thing that you suggested if I were a programmer.

[Deleted]

only if you cared gentlemen, which is not like the majority of them out there.