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Advertising

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2018 12:31 pm
by drumandbasshead010
Maybe this belongs in the "Internet Radio" forum - I'm not sure. Mods - feel free to move if necessary.

When listening to certain pirates that have become internet stations (or appear to have, in the example I'm going to use), I notice that some of them still carry adds targeted at a certain area. Is it right morally for them to take money from advertisers when very few people from that area are likely to hear the add, particularly when we're talking about a station that isn't targeting any particular area?
For example, in the case of Kool London, they've still got an add for a car dealership based in London in spite of not being FM anymore. Judging by people's listening habits even now, it's likely that the majority of Kool's listeners will just move to another FM station as opposed to listening online. Kool is and always has been a top station, but is it right that they should be carrying adds that it's likely very few listeners will care about, given that they are an online-only station and therefore have a world-wide audience? I know the argument could be made that it's up to the advertiser to have their research done and then put their foot down based on that, but should there not be a certain responsibility on the radio station?

Re: Advertising

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2018 2:17 pm
by Casual
Generally (not speaking specifically about Kool here), most pirate operators, especially in this era, are pretty "flexible" when it comes to morals (in relation to the question of is it morally right to take money to advertise services from certain areas when they are no longer broadcasting to that area/have gone net only), so if there's an opportunity to generate money they would usually go for it with minimal questions asked, especially if the advertisers are happy to pay. Also I would say it's down to the advertiser to make the decision as to continue to pay for/run an ad on a station which is clearly not broadcasting to their service area (why should it/would it be the station's responsibility to inform the advertisers that they are no longer broadcasting to that certain target area when the advertisers can make that decision themselves accordingly?).

When it comes to morals I've seen/known of a few stations over the years who had "alternative" ways of generating cash (not just from DJ's paying subs/running ads) so running ads for a business from a certain area whilst no longer broadcasting to that area is just the tip of the iceberg! Bottom line is usually morals are hard to come by when it comes to running a pirate station in this day & age! We'd all like to think that they are there, but the reality is they're not!

Re: Advertising

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2018 4:00 pm
by drumandbasshead010
Casual wrote: Sun Aug 05, 2018 2:17 pm Generally (not speaking specifically about Kool here), most pirate operators, especially in this era, are pretty "flexible" when it comes to morals (in relation to the question of is it morally right to take money to advertise services from certain areas when they are no longer broadcasting to that area/have gone net only), so if there's an opportunity to generate money they would usually go for it with minimal questions asked, especially if the advertisers are happy to pay. Also I would say it's down to the advertiser to make the decision as to continue to pay for/run an ad on a station which is clearly not broadcasting to their service area (why should it/would it be the station's responsibility to inform the advertisers that they are no longer broadcasting to that certain target area when the advertisers can make that decision themselves accordingly?).

When it comes to morals I've seen/known of a few stations over the years who had "alternative" ways of generating cash (not just from DJ's paying subs/running ads) so running ads for a business from a certain area whilst no longer broadcasting to that area is just the tip of the iceberg! Bottom line is usually morals are hard to come by when it comes to running a pirate station in this day & age! We'd all like to think that they are there, but the reality is they're not!
And well we all know that pirates have used far worse ways to generate revenue, I don't have any problem with pirates advertising generally whatsoever.

Re: Advertising

Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 9:53 am
by Sparki
Kool are no longer on the FM now? or is it sporadic or are they still pretending to be an internet only station?. I dont think it really matters because technology has changed, people can listen on their phones plugged into the car stereo or listen on the bus or whatever so those who live in the targeted areas Im sure would still hear the ads.

I remember an old pirate my ends in Kent in the 00s used to play ads for a local barbers, worked well cos if you mentioned the station you'd get a few quid off your haircut and the place was rammed. Now the station has come back again but online only which is a shame but dont sound like they run any ads at all as it just isnt worth it I spose.