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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">While I have my share of complaints and
wishes for change, I am kind of hoping this discussion is about
more than just "problems." It's easy to focus on problems, harder
perhaps to identify and think about what's going well. <br>
<br>
Non-problems: <br>
1. The financial picture looks better than it has since 2008.
The massive debt and uncertain cash flows threatened the station's
viability for several years; I remember Rich telling me about a
certain critical piece of equipment that was beyond its expected
lifespan, but if it failed, they had no money to replace it, and
no ability to borrow - so KZYX could have gone silent. That was a
huge strain on those who understood what it meant. Now there is
only $25K owed to (I think) NPR, with a fixed monthly payment, and
no bank or other debt.<br>
<br>
2. Backup power generator at Philo. Every year we used to go
silent when the power went out; now the generator comes on and
there's hardly a blip. This was a big deal to me, as it always
seemed like the power went out most often on Sunday mornings...<br>
<br>
3. New digital main board in Philo studio, replacing the
functional but obsolete analog board. This has a lot of technical
advantages and eliminates a few more pieces of equipment,
lessening the failure risks, as well as allowing vastly more
options for programming.<br>
<br>
4. No more ISDN line connections to remote studios, costing
hundreds of dollars a month (and sometimes more, when programmers
forgot to hang up after going off air). The new Bridge-It
connection not only makes the process of handing off to the remote
studios much easier and more reliable, it also makes other kinds
of remote live broadcasts possible - such as Town Hall or other
meetings - things they could never do before.<br>
<br>
5. Vastly improved Website, allowing direct programmer input,
direct entry for PSAs, and making it easier to find information.
John Coate did this himself; the previous Website cost $15,000 and
never really worked.<br>
<br>
6. Greatly expanded programming. KZYX now broadcasts 24/7 (in
2004 when I started programming, we went off air around midnight,
and one of my duties was to restart the transmitter just before
7:00 AM). There are many more hours of news and public-affairs
programs than there were just a few years ago. There have been
many changes to programming, and every single one of them upset
somebody, but it seems to me that we now have a much better
selection than we did 6 years ago.<br>
<br>
There is a lot of room for improvement, nobody argues otherwise,
least of all me! I just think we should consider how much has
been accomplished under extremely difficult circumstances over the
past few years, even as we consider the things we still find
wanting. Management has an extremely difficult job to do, with
zero chance of pleasing everybody in this diverse and opinionated
County.<br>
</div>
<br>
Sincerely, <br>
Tim Bray<br>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
<a href="http://oakandthorn.wordpress.com">Oak & Thorn</a><br>
Facebook: Oak and Thorn</div>
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