The Elephant in the room is a time bomb: Des DeCean
4 November 2017 · News · Technology News
Des DeCean, former Director of Technology for the Austereo radio network follows up our earlier report with this article with more thoughts on better maintenance and updating of studio and transmissio...
You've reached our premium or archival content
To access this page, and more great content just like it, you need to become a paid subscriber.
If you already have an account, please login.
Otherwise, registration is quick and you'll have access instantly after payment.
Tags: maintenance | technical | transmission faults
The difference is that, in the 20th century, broadcasting was run by BROADCASTERS who believed in "quality". In the 21st century it's run by salesmen and accountants who believe in "the bottom line".
Great article, Des. It's awesome to hear your wisdom! I agree with the comment from Ceejay that broadcasting was previously run with a little more TLC by people with their hearts in broadcasting. But technology has also produced the false sense of security, as you mentioned, and requires us to all risk-assess beyond the horizon. A classic example was the SA Statewide Blackout on 29.9.16 from about 3.45pm. One major network was off the air in Adelaide for a considerable time due to the the most basic redundancy failure - TX backup power switchover. Their competitors helped them get back on air, because with traffic gridlocked it would have been hours before a tech could get there. We all need to remind ourselves to risk-assess. Don't assume. Whether the Ash Wednesday bushfires (for which I'm told Des was in a perilous situation in a transmitter at Adelaide's Mt Lofty) or cyclones or floods, we need a working backup plan, and wise heads in management to a supply the funds. Going off the air is bad enough, but going off the air when the community is turning to you for information is an own-goal that many have seen and nobody wants.
Thank you Des, so eloquently put and always relevant despite the medium or technology, physical and electronic stress testing at all times, teaching on-air and operational personnel to be on the watch and report back.