Poll question "explained"

Recently, SowegaLive asked the question "Should the local newspaper be required to pay rights fees to sell Bearcat advertising packages?" After a week of polling, 60 readers voted, of which 41 readers (or 68%) voted "Yes, they should be required to pay like other media outlets." Nineteen respondents (32%) voted "No, no one should be required to pay rights fees." A brief explanation might clarify the purpose and reasoning behind the poll question.

According to a recent survey of area broadcasters in neighboring Cairo and Thomasville, local radio stations in those towns are not required to bid or pay a rights fee to broadcast local high school sports in the respective towns where those broadcasters operate.It should also be noted that those broadcasters have never been required to pay a rights fee to broadcast the sporting events of their local high schools. Further investigation revealed that no other high school in Region 1-AAAA required competitive bidding for rights fees, and in some instances, there are no radio broadcasts or coverage for certain teams in Region 1-AAAA. It would appear that the Bainbridge High School sports bidding requirement is certainly unique to Region 1-AAAA, and possibly unique to all of Georgia High School Sports.

Given the current direction of DCBOE to require broadcast rights fees based upon the reasoning that Bearcat Sports is a "product", one could easily surmise that any medium selling advertising based on Bearcat "product" should be required to pay a fair price as well. It is obvious that other print mediums have for years sold advertising in special Bearcat Editions, schedules, and in other print opportunities associated with Bearcat Sports. Based on the ads and corresponding ad rates of local print mediums, it is a fair deduction that print mediums sell more Bearcat "product" in total dollars, than radio broadcasters sell, and print mediums are not required to pay a "fee" or bid to sell Bearcat "product". It should also be noted that countless retailers sell Bearcat paraphenalia and are not required to pay a fee for Bearcat "product".

If the sports programs are dependent on rights fees to purchase uniforms and equipment for the players, there seems to be many years of lost revenue from several venues, including but not limited to, print advertisers, broadcasters, retailers, etc.. Why would DCBOE expect only broadcasters to bid on rights fees for use of Bearcat "product" but not require bidding or rights fees for any other medium that sells advertising tied to Bearcat Sports?

Now that the reason behind the poll question has been addressed, LIVE 101.9 is proud to have supported the Bearcats every year in the bidding process and would note that LIVE 101.9 has paid more for Bearcat "product" in our 4.5 year existence, than all other advertising mediums combined in the same time period. Theres something to be said for putting your money where your mouth is.

We will continue to demonstrate our support, not just for Bearcat Sports, but for all the Bearcats.

'Nuff said - GO BEARCATS!.