MCOM 316 Chapter 4 – Programming
The program department: functions, organization,
The program director: characteristics and education requirements
Radio: the music director, announcer and reporter
Formats – Country, Jazz, Middle-of-the-Road, Nostalgia, Oldies, Urban
Contemporary, Information, All News, All Talk, Religion, Ethnic, Eclectic
Program Sources: Local programming, syndication, and network
Strategies: Market size, community composition, the competition,
audience and technical considerations, finances
Dayparts: morning drive time, mid-day, afternoon drive time, evening and
overnight, know the format wheel
Determining the play list: trade magazines, tip sheets, newsletters, sales,
and “hooks”
Research: auditorium testing, databases, focus groups, telephone calls,
checking perceptions
TV: program sources, network, program syndicators, local production
Program syndicators: off network, first run, and pilots
Calculating revenue: spot inventory for 30 seconds, commissions,
amortization, barter, barter-plus-cash-arrangements
Local production: building an audience despite flipping, audience habits,
available audience, penetration and saturation
Scheduling strategies: head to head, counter, strip, checker board, and block
Network programming: early morning, morning, afternoon, early fringe,
early evening, prime access, network prime time, late fringe, late night and
overnight
The independent station, the super stations
Programming for children: FCC guidelines, content and advertisement
Programming in the community: local news, station editorials, PSAs