No, we're not on the radio right now

Neither Joe nor I can remember when we started doing the Technology Corner segment. We know it was more than 10 years ago because I can find documents from 1996 and some of my references mention 1994. Prior to that, it was less formal -- 15 minutes here, half an hour there.

At the time, I was working a part-time job in the news department -- a job that I accepted in 1982, thinking that I'd do it for a year or two. It was 16 years later when I quit the part-time news job because I didn't like being asked to broadcast news reports for Toledo when I'd been in the city only twice in my life) but continued doing Technology Corner.

I'd met Joe one evening (probably a Sunday) in the 1980s when I walked into the studio on the 15th floor of the Buckeye Federal Building (42 East Gay Street). Joe was working a weekend DJ shift and I was working a weekend news shift.

We moved with WTVN to the new studios at 1301 Dublin Road (and I was the first person to broadcast from there on a Saturday morning.) I've watched events such as PC Expo peak in 1999 or 2000 and then crater. I've seen Comdex grow to fill Las Vegas and then be cancelled for lack of interest (or sponsors) in 2004.

We started doing Technology Corner when WTVN was downtown and continued the program when the station moved to Dublin Road (late 1980s?) and then to Fifth Avenue (2005). When Technology Corner started, WTVN was midway through its metamorphosis from being a music station (middle of the road) to an all talk station.

The corny, trite "change is the only constant" is corny and trite because it's true and everyone knows that it's true. It's difficult to criticize a company such as Clear Channel because it chooses the opportunity to make money with its Sunday morning lineup. After all, the purpose of being in business is to make money.

Companies such as Clear Channel aren't in the business of providing information or entertainment to listeners; that's a by-product. They're really in the business of providing ears (or, in the case of television stations, eyes) to advertisers who will pay for those ears (or eyes). If the sales department finds an advertiser who will pay for a block of time, the station will sell that block of time. It's a business decision.

In the overall scheme of things, an argument can be made that this is not a good business model, but that's the way things are in today's economy. So from me there's no argument and no complaint.

If we can find a way to return Technology Corner to the air, we'll do that. Otherwise, you'll find the usual blather here on the website each week.

The National Cable Show understands the challenge

The National Cable Show was held this month and commentator David Gregg says companies that demonstrated their wares at the show understand that users can easily be intimidated by the technology. When I caught up with David, he was standing in the Gaming Pavilion.

REAL AUDIO

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Annoying legal disclaimer

My attorney says I really need to say this: The TechByter website is for informational purposes only. I assume no responsibility for its accuracy, although I do my best. The information is subject to change without notice. Any actions you take based on information from the radio program, the podcast, or from this website are entirely at your own risk. Products and services are mentioned for informational purposes only and their various trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. TechByter cannot provide technical support for products or services mentioned.