Sunday Dec 16 2007
I’ve blogged about invasive and intrusive advertising before, from guerrilla marketing campaigns to municipalities selling our public spaces to advertising companies. However one of my biggest complaints about “captive audience” advertising is marketing to kids.
With a captive audience, unlike radio and television, parents and children lack the option to just “TURN IT OFF.” And I find that wrong.
When I was in high school back in the early 90s our school entered into contract with a company called Channel 1. In exchange for outfitting every classroom with TVs and VCRs (whoop dee doo) our school signed an obligation to show 15 minutes of daily “news” programming. However this joke of a news service was (and still is) nothing more than entertainment, promotions, and advertising. Any national or world news is completely secondary and practically worthless in the quality and informative techniques.
One useful life tool that I DID gain from Channel 1 was my long term use of the “mute” button. During one semester we had a teacher so incensed by this deal with the devil that he muted the sound during every Channel 1 ad. To this day I keep the remote control at hand, and without thinking I instinctively mute all commercials until my show comes back on. If I’m not actively watching a show on television I don’t keep the TV on as background noise. And when I visit friends and family that maintain the practice of constantly blaring their TV whether it’s being watched or not I often need to bite my tongue.
Here’s a new one: Bus Radio is a service that pipes in programming to the captive audience of school bus riders. They produce programming for elementary, middle, and high school levels. Fun huh? Not so much. Here’s their programming clock. 
Although their “sponsorship” (which is a PC word for advertising,) is only relegated to a scant sounding eight minutes per hour, we have NO idea what ads and companies are working their way into “original programming.” Much like television today marketers and companies have agreements with programmers for detailed product placement. I doubt that the 44 minutes of “original programming” is free of mentions, discussions, and products that are sold in that manner.
Here’s their “about” page:
Bus Radio is an innovative media company that reaches over one million students every day on their bus ride to and from school. By offering a superior, age-appropriate alternative to AM/FM radio programming, students are engaged and entertained in the safest way possible.
Exclusive agreements with school districts and school bus contractors in the top 40 markets mean 10,000 school buses nationwide are fitted with our customized digital radio units. These units receive new programming every day, via WiFi from our centralized programming facility, that entertains students with three separate shows specifically tailored to Elementary, Middle and High School audiences.
Students are driven to interact with the Bus Radio show on air and online at BusRadio.com through exciting contests, lively DJ banter, PSAs and age-appropriate top 40 songs. With Bus Radio, students are guaranteed to be entertained, even when they’re not on the bus.
And the kicker:
With Bus Radio on board, noise levels drop, kids stay in their seats and the bus ride is safer and more fun than ever!
No - that means HUMAN noise levels drop, as the vapid audio clutter of DJs and Top 40 music rises. To even suggest that the interaction of student chatter and life should be ceased and replaced by meaningless chatter and celebrity gossip is insulting and offensive to young people and their development. Their “proven research” pages show Bus Radio improves attention and students behavior. By “improve” they mean it dumbs them down to a quiet glazed over zombie shell of an active student. There’s been arguments that mood altering drugs have the same effect. It’s not always correct to just do the easiest thing, and Bus Radio is nothing more than “audio ritalin” for educators in order to pacify students, thus avoiding the typical challenges of youth behavior.
Shame on these school districts and cities who have sold out and decided that mindless entertainment should replace the daily interaction that kids have with one another. With all the consensus and arguments AGAINST this product I don’t understand how a school districts can cave in and STILL allow this?
Tell me what’s better? Kids laughing with each other, sharing stories and parental woes, - talking, teasing, and doing the same thing they’ve done the bus for 70 years? Or this obnoxious dribble from their demo:
If you’d like to keep this nonsense out of your school buses contact the below head company members and tell them to stay the hell out of your town.
David Briere dbriere@busradio.com
Stephen Connolly connolly@busradio.com
Sonya Luongo sluongo@busradio.com
More at busradio.net
Excellent further resources and documentation against Bus Radio:
Gary Ruskin from commercialalert.net.
Obligation.org - highlighting lyrics and content
December 17th, 2007 at 9:22 am
I don’t have kids, so I’m not sure I’m qualified to have an opinion on this, but I’ve read the articles about it this morning and I have to say … ew. I remember riding the bus when I was a kid and begging the driver to turn the radio on, but it was distracting, and you couldn’t hear it half the time anyway.
I would think Radio Disney would be more appropriate - or heck, nothing at all. Let’s encourage the kids to have CONVERSATIONS on the way to/from school, right? Isn’t there enough of an onslaught of advertising targeted toward kids in the rest of life?
December 17th, 2007 at 9:53 am
Hi Margie - I don’t have kids either, (does my beautiful niece count?) but as a collective society we all want the best outcome for children. I’m no child psychologist or child rearing expert, but I think their sharp minds would agree with us that this is unnecessary and intrusive. I’m appalled at how many districts already have this in place.
A few years back “Transit Television Network” wanted to outfit our Denver city buses and trains with video and audio programming. I and many others at the quarterly meeting said “absolutely not.” If it can’t be good for adults it’s definitely not good for kids.
You’re right in that CONVERSATIONS and daily human interactions should precede mind numbing DJ chatter. I think “nothing at all” is a great option. There’s a mindset of some that we need to “fill space” with video and audio. From airport gates to taxis to malls - just because a place is quiet or lacks visual stimulation doesn’t mean it needs “filling.”
What’s next? Park Bench Programming?
Thanks for the note…
December 17th, 2007 at 10:02 am
Great post! Just wanted to add a couple of things.
BusRadio tries to be incredibly secretive about the school districts they are targeting. That’s because when parents find out about this service, they don’t want it: public outcries in towns and cities across the country have stopped BR. Unfortunately, parents frequently do not find out until a contract has already been signed. That’s why it’s so crucial that people contact their school board and let them know about their objections to BusRadio right away. At the very least, get your board to promise to hold a public hearing before enlisting in the program.
BusRadio is very secretive about its advertisers, but here’s what we’ve learned. They advertise a lot of TV shows (should a school-sanctioned message tell kids to watch more TV?); the Bratz dolls (singled out by the American Psychological Association for contributing to the sexualization of young children); cell phones for six-year-olds (at a time when many parents are fighting “the cell phone battle”) and Answers.com (which tells kids to do their homework by going to their website - and mocks kids who actually carry books around).
More than 50 national organizations - including the PTA - oppose BusRadio. Mine is one of them so let me add http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/actions/busradio.htm
to your list of excellent resources.
December 17th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Josh thanks for that information. As I suspected they flat out LIE by promoting “eight minutes of commercials,” when in fact entire blocks of programming are paid informercials.
I recommend anyone interested in this topic visit your site Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood. The Bus Radio page is complete with sample letters, advertiser information, and much more detailed information about Bus Radio.
If I may quote one line…
December 23rd, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Ask them for the written lyrics, songs and names of artist. Judge for yourself. I know its not for minors. If they force minors to listen to sexual music, does that make them sexual offenders?
You might want to go to 9new.com and type in the search box Bus Radio. or Google Bus Radio Denver.
Danny
December 24th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Good point Danny. Even tame Top 40 music is filled with sexual innuendo. It’s not like kids don’t already listen to this music - but their music should be decided on and discussed between kids and parents. Not pumped into their head from the schools. Make that companies that buy off kids FROM the schools.
January 5th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Mr. Kenny was right to some degree but has gone way too far on the issue. He doesn’t tell you that they have taken the songs in question off the air. He keeps dwelling on the same songs that seem to be primarily African-American artists. I rode the bus with my kids one day and can tell you the music played was appropriate for the ages. I went on a field-trip prior to Winter Break and listened to the music in detail from our elementary school to Heritage Square. It was a long travel and during that time there was no question to the fact that this was NOT bad for the kids. I can see Mr. Kennys point of view but it’s time to let go. If he worrying so much about what our kids are listening to, then who is safely driving the bus? Does he also tell you he is playing music from his own personal source? Does he disclose what he is playing on the radio? The lyrics to his songs? If he is driving me nuts as a parent, slamming our district all over the news, I feel terrible for how he has made his fellow co-workers feel. I haven’t heard the other driver’s jump on his band wagon so I question the validity of his complaint. I don’t hear other parents complaining or running to the press. All driver’s I would think care about every aspect of their children on their routes and would protect them from harm. Why is Mr. Kenny the only one we hear from? Why if you look on-line are there more cheers than jeers for bus radio? I say “Shhhhhhh” Mr. kenny. Enough! There is a volume switch if you personally don’t care for the music played, use it and quit putting kids in danger by worrying more about the music and less about your driving. It can really use some work.
January 5th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
I didn’t address the local angle of this story in my post - which is Littleton Schools driver Danny Kenny also hates bus radio and has brought it to local media attention. Here’s a complete story.
LPS Parent you should be thankful for people like Mr. Kenny. He has the balls to come out and rail against manipulative companies and this school district that chose to sell their children’s minds as a product to be sold for profit. I laud him as a concerned dissenter.
Personally I’m not as concerned with the music as the advertising. Kids hear music every. TV, movies, and their iPods. The lyrics are suggestive, but I listened to Poison in the 80s and turned out fine. But it should be the choice between KIDS and PARENTS as to what music they listen to. NOT a company or the school district.
The school should not be a venue for advertising. As the above commenter stated it’s more than just a few minutes an hour. Blocks of programming are sold to movies, TV shows, and promotional companies - muddying the line of marketing versus simple content. Parents that don’t bother to examine Bus Radio’s messages and fake promotional “news” content are the same ones that keep the TV blaring all day long as an additional family member - creating no healthy space for thinking and conversation sans incessant noise.
As far as a volume switch? No, the kids don’t get to use it, at least not outside Danny Kenny’s bus. And I don’t see how your sore comments about Danny Kenny’s driving ability are relevant.
Again, the school environment should NOT be a place for advertising. Period.
p.s. don’t sell me that Bus Radio is needed because they have “GPS and instant emergency capability.” So do cell phones, and almost every kid has one.
January 6th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
You are right, it should be a choice between KIDS and PARENTS as to what they listen to. But I must ask, do you have kids that attend an LPS school? Have you asked the LPS Transportation department to go to the bus depot and have the opportunity to even see what is played on there? Have you had the chance to make your own opinion? Have you talked to other driver’s to get their point of view? I have done these things. I have asked other driver’s their view. I was told by various routes that most of them have just choosen not to listen to it. They use the mute button and Mr. Kenny had the same choice. The driver’s I spoke to felt there was no need to blow the whole situation out of control. For the time I was on the bus, I heard 1 advertisement for a singing competition. I had to ask my driver to turn up Bus Radio as she drove with the radio turned down while kids were on the bus. Their safety was more important to her than what was on the radio and she said that she turned up the radio between routes if she felt like it. So ask someone, I did and it was refreshing. More driver’s encourage good old fashioned conversation over that stupid radio. Another driver I spoke to asks their kids what they learned that day, another quizes their kids from all the questions they heard from the show “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader”. That driver gives all of their kids a sticker for answering questions so not one feels left out. You are right the kids don’t get to use the volume switch, the driver does it for them. As for the comments on Mr. Kenny’s driving, how can you properly focus on your surroundings, picking up and dropping off kids, watching traffic and look out for potential hazzards for your kids with T.V. vans following you. I see this stuff on T.V. and wonder. It looks like Mr. Kenny wants and has gotten his 15 minutes of fame. You too are right that the school is no place to advertise. Does that mean we should all protest and ban all of the companies that have billboards? That is visual advertisement shoved down our kids throats as they ride the bus to school. I would rather have my child come home and tell me they heard an advertisement on the radio about getting out and exercising than coming home and asking me to explain what “Adult XXX” means on the sign they saw on Sante Fe as they were coming back from the Museum of Nature and Science. How about you?
Oh and P.S. no one is selling you that Bus Radio is needed because it has GPS, that’s just a bonus as I can see. I don’t think that parents are going to go out and buy their kids a satillite phone for the GPS features. If more conversation is needed the good old fashioned way, why do parents buy the child a cell phone. If most cell phones have GPS, then why can’t our kids locate them when they are lost?
January 9th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Yes. I keep asking and asking but they won’t give me an after hours tour. I’m planning on taking a sick day next week to check it out…
ok - Certainly you understand the difference between SCHOOL environments versus urban city life and commercial corridors right? One is able to be micro control, provided we and the parents give a crap about our kids.
Again, the two are completely unrelated, unless Bus Radio plans to cover up the window interiors with even more child targeted advertising. If they aren’t planning that already. Wait an ad about getting out and exercising? Anyway NO. I would rather my kid ask me tough questions about the real world than regurgitate audio clutter they are forced to listen to.
LPS it honestly sounds like you’re more concerned with saving face and the negative attention than the broad issue itself.
January 12th, 2008 at 11:00 am
There is no face to save. The district has done nothing wrong. Again, if they had, there would be a lot of angry taxpayers and parents at the board meetings or contacting the superintendant of the district. Or the same news medias as Mr. Kenny. So where are they? (chirp, chirp of the crickets) People watch news. Mr. Kenny has gone to every news outlet that he can. He plays on you for the commercial aspect and then the Catholic Churches for content. This is a PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. I don’t see constant media coverage about other districts with Bus Radio or the advertising on the side of their buses. At this point, I feel Mr. Kenny is loving the attention. There is also a separation between church and state. why is he going to they Catholic Church about this? Article posted at http://www.catholic.org/diocese/diocese_story.php?id=26214 says it all. If there are parents that don’t want their kids subjected to commericals or advertising, HOME SCHOOL THEM! Enroll them in the Catholic Church of their choosing. The church of these denominations have lots of money. They could provide their own schooling. When you have kids in public schools, you know that they are going to get subjected to alot worse than a little commercial. If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. It’s beyond a waste of time. Sure let the parents know of the radio, give them the information but then let them decide. If they don’t want it on the buses, then let them speak. If the Catholic parents don’t want it on the buses, let them speak otherwise, St. Mary’s has two schools down the road. Parents have cars, let them drive. Most of the bus drivers don’t listen to the music, they push mute so they can hear their kids. So they can hear emergency equipment. For safety! I hope your kids don’t ask too difficult questions about the real world because I feel the answers would be biased and one sided. That’s is mostly what I am seeing from your comments. You are supposed to be able to go on-line and listen at http://www.busradio.net
Posting to the church on the website listed above:
Catholic school students not affected
The Archdiocese of Denver does not operate an overall bus system for Catholic schools and none of the buses operated by individual Catholic schools subscribes to Bus Radio. Still, Superintendent for Catholic Schools Richard Thompson said this should be of concern to all educators.
“I know we have many Catholic children who ride buses to public schools,” Thompson said. “This is an issue that warrants parental involvement and parental scrutiny. It’s an example of how parents need to be the primary educator of their children.”
Meantime, Kenny has tried repeatedly to obtain advance copies of playlists to see what Bus Radio will be airing and has met with little success. Bus Radio has stopped responding to his e-mails, he said. But he’s not giving up. Not when he feels that this service is detrimental to the kids.
“We’re talking about God’s children here,” he said. “Why should we support a company that degrades people nationwide? This needs to be answered by the school districts.”
As stated above, it’s the parents responsibility. Not yours, mine or Danny Kenny. They have the information by now. It’s posted on the Littleton Public Schools website. Stil hear those crickets.
January 12th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Hi to this forum. I am a parent of a student at Wilder Elementary. I have been searching the net and following stories like this one and all of the news media. I am glad the Littleton Public Schools has put Bus Radio on the buses. There is more advertising on regular radio than there is on this Bus Radio system. I have listened to it and it’s just fine for my 3rd grader to listen to. It’s a shame that the driver on our route doesn’t use it. I had to go to hear it on a bus that doesn’t drive our route and I stood at the door while the driver turned it up so I could hear it. I have a child at Goddard Middle school and so I went to that driver to hear this. We had our daughter on the L-13 route, which Danny Kenny drives and we have pulled her off. This fool plays church music very loud on the bus. As the poster above said, we have a SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!!! We are of a completely different faith and My family and I are very offended that this bible thumping, crappy driving, whiner has nothing better to do than worry if there is a commercial played 3 times in an hour. I’d like to see this driver fired. He is not worried that I have followed him and he is a terrible dangerous driver. He could care less about the safety of our kids. This Bus Radio is his life. If you want to be captain crusader, Danny, then get the hell off of the bus. Go rally at Washington with all of your Tree Hugging buddies. I have been looking at all of the things that I have found on this subject and the only place Danny has not gone is to the moon. Dude, you have way too much free time on your hands. You know what? I am going to be one of the parents that stand up and complain. I am going to call your supervisor everytime you run a red light, speed as you do, cut people off in traffic. I am even going to film it. I am going to find out how to file a citizens complaint. YOU HEAR ME DANNY?? You have made my kid miserable to the point she won’t ride and that’s sad. I want our other driver back. Sherry where are you? We loved you.
January 12th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Jesus Christ I almost want to edit that, but I’ll keep it as an atrocious example of how NOT be succinct and to the point when writing. (Let’s hope these kids’ writing skills are being honed by their fine teachers and not these parents…) If that’s a spoonful to read just imagine being on the school board and having to deal with these types on a constant basis…
That’s great. You decided it’s fine for YOUR child. However the other parents may disagree.
Irony aside, the “free time on your hands line” is about as tired as “Someone’s got a case of the Muundays.” So what if someone has free time? How is that a BAD thing? And if they’re using it for an issue they care about all the better. I’d rather someone spend their time championing their causes, (whether I agree or not,) than vegging away doing nothing with their life.
Also I could really don’t care about Danny Kenny, Littleton Schools, his letters to the Catholic Diocese, route L-13, or whoever the hell Sherry is. Danny’s motives for being against Bus Radio, religious or not, are completely irrelevant. The OVERALL issue is increased advertising to children. If we’re not seeing it we’re both blind. Look past your beefs with Danny Kenny and my writings about the big picture. Do you REALLY want your schools (and by proxy your CHILDREN,) to be sponsored by the highest bidder?
Better yet skip my post and visit commercialfreechildhood.org
January 19th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I am a student of Littleton Public Schools. I am currently a Junior at one of the high schools here. I am doing some research for debate and since I have seen so much of this topic, I decided to Google it to see what information I could find. After finding lots of articles on this subject and reading all of them, I have observed the following:
* All of these people have valid points.
* Radio/Commercials are ignored by most kids. We are too busy talking about the days events. We proved this point to ourselves when we forgot we were going to listen to this because we were wrapped up in our day.
* After asking my friends who ride different buses at my school, the driver’s don’t play the radio. I asked my driver why and was told that most kids have their own music so why worry about the radio and the driver was right.
* A few of my friends and I asked to listen to the Bus Radio. In the half hour we spent on the bus, we heard a 30 second clip that kids can call in and request a song. We also heard a safety message during that clip on being safe on the internet. The rest was music.
So, I think all of your comments are interesting and I feel the moderator of this site is very harsh. I can see where these people are not fond of that driver with all of the distractions he has caused from seeing all of the media sites. I just wanted to say that I personally saw nothing wrong with that radio system. But I know being a kid, you’ll say I don’t know what I am talking about.
My friends and I feel that us kids being in the spotlight is worse than a commercial. I’m glad the media done bugging us now. Thank you for your time.
Katy
January 19th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Hi Katy. I’ll only argue with one point: that I’d dismiss you because you’re a kid. Your post is concise and well written. Your post is the best here, including my own responses. I appreciate the personal perspective, and you definitely deserve credit for having taken apart the issue and exploring it first hand.
It sounds like from your perspective the product is simply a non-issue. Or just another piece of “noise” that exists in the world of advertising, guerilla marketing, youth-oriented promotions, pop up ads, and general life. Also some other commenters have said, (between insane ramblings,) that their drivers are turning BR off. If you guys are ignoring BR, and drivers aren’t using it, (again just listen to how annoying it is,) it makes me wonder how the company is factoring in those numbers when selling advertisers?
While I still disagree that Bus Radio (or similar companies) have no place in the system, it is worth noting that young people today are VERY savvy and adept at filtering out useful content from BS, whether in radio, TV, or the internet.
Thanks for a great comment- james…
January 20th, 2008 at 2:04 am
I’ve had an opportunity to see Bus Radio from the ‘other side of the fence’. My company was one of a number of wireless network system integrators who were called on during the installation of Bus Radio systems in California, Georgia, and Colorado, and Arizona. I can tell you from first hand experience, the drivers that we spoke to across the western U.S. consistently pointed out that before Bus Radio was in place they had to be on guard for commercial broadcast disk jockys who would start rambling about their sex lives or for inappropriate content in musical lyrics. Although we never conducted a scientific poll, it seemed clear that Bus Radio DID have the impact of making the bus ride calmer for the kids. The other common denominator that we heard was that having Bus Radio on made it so the driver didn’t have to divert any of their attention to what was playing on the radio. It seems obvious that if a driver is paying attention to what’s on the radio they’re not devoting as complete attention as they could to the task of safely driving the bus. So, at least from what we saw, the drivers seemed to applaud the effect of Bus Radio on their passengers.
January 25th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
This is Danny, I listen many hours.
It is not about me. It is about the parents and their rights. Do they want their children listening to BowWow, Kanye West, Akon and so on. I just want the parents to be able to have a say on what their children hear. If it were up to me they would have wifi and be able to do their homework on the computer on the bus. But still it should be their parents not you and not me.
Danny
January 27th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Dear Mr. Danny, I address you as you seem to be in the middle of this controversy. Can you please tell me when they play songs from this artist? I have been researching this and I can’t seem to find these songs played on air by the above mentioned artists and please again keep in mind that we children aren’t on the bus that long. It appears that they have done away with them. I think now you can move forward and show the positive sides of the radio and the amount of commercials it does not play. I am reading all of the articles that you have out on the many sites but it seems that the Bus Radio Company has complied with not playing this music you object to. My debate team and I are just curious. Thank you sir.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Dear Katy
BusRadio would be a great idea, If they did it for the children and not the money. Children on my route (middle school) ride up to 50 minutes a day round trip.
My request, I want BusRadio to make available the written lyrics to parents and some students. I would like them in advance. My view are mine and not everyone agrees with me. However I feel that some of this music and some artist are morally unacceptable. It should not be up to the school district or bus drivers (including myself) to decide what is morally acceptable, It should be up to the parents and students (If they are at the age of reason) Remember this music is also played for 4 year olds on up.
This company signed a 5 year contract with our school district. They said it was an alternative to AM/FM, (So whats wrong with FM, Disney channel? they compare them self to Disney). They said they would not be advertising Viagra (Who would advertise this to teen age boys anyway)? No Beer commercials, But they played songs that sing about drinking, driving and so on.
They tell me that the song Crank Dat was about turning up the music. The parents should decide what the lyrics mean by pulling up the lyrics.(I think the students already know). The rapers use words you can not find in Webster so I use Urban Dictionary. Ive been told its unreliable, but they can’t tell me where to look words like Hatez up.
So where else do you look.
Anyway, Most parents love their children and do what they can to help them grow. I am just a messenger. Otherwise the parents would have no idea. Some people will tell you I give misinformation. They only way to tell who is telling the truth is to have the play list and the written lyrics.
I have a list of some of the songs that were played on December 14, 2007. Timbalan, “The way I are” was on that list, but the list also noted that it was not played in Littleton.
We made that decision, the committee. But shouldn’t our committee also have some parents and students on it?
Shouldn’t bus radio make available the written lyric to parents, school board, students?
After all they are making money off the students.
Additional information at Obligation.org click on Bus Radio and go to Nov 8 and listen to what the VP of Bus Radio had to say.
Also Google “Bus Radio Denver”
or 9news.com and type in the search box Bus Radio Danny.
Bottom line
“Work with the parents PTO’s and PTA’s OPEN AND HONEST COMMUNICATION”
Thank you for your concern.
Danny
January 28th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Katy, Danny - thanks both for your input. I hope those reading appreciate your intelligent discussion.
I do agree with Danny that it’s ridiculous to provide a service for kids, packed with do-gooder PSAs, yet contain lyrics filled with euphemisms of vice. Much like MTV is marketed towards kids yet the majority of shows are teen partying and soft core porn. (I’ve never seen a “Road Rules” where the guys and girls aren’t practically naked.)
Regarding Katy’s positive BR comment about “The amount of commercials is does not play” - I think it would be well served to read some aggregated info on promotional content WITHIN the show. Segments of BR can be purchased, in essence making EVERYTHING that isn’t music a paid endorsement. I realize kids are savvy enough to know when a “discussion” of a product is actually an ad FOR the product - but still it should be addressed as a negative. It’s not just music and light DJ banter. On top of the standard commercials you basically have INFORMERCIALS running inside the show.
Josh’s link above to commercialfreechildhood.org addresses this.
To me that’s more of a concern that the lyrics. I don’t think young adults like Katy, a junior in high school, need to be shielded from everything in life that could be potentially harmful. Kids are savvy enough at filtering content, much more than any previous generation. But they still shouldn’t be subject to the lyrics OR the ads.
Content should be ACTIVE, sought out by the listener/viewer. Not PASSIVE - meaning sent to you with no choice. With streaming, on demand, and the internet, this is how media exists for our generation. We shouldn’t subject those to listen to ANYTHING without a choice. I think I’m a bit more liberal on the subject of lyrics than Danny is, but my concern is the delivery of ANYTHING by those not wanting it.
I’ve never cared for “slippery slope” arguments, but what if a company wanted to install “video desktops” for students? They’d have nice sounding features like calculators and text displayed from the teacher - but in the downtime would show ads for your favorite companies.
Far fetched? Maybe, but I’d rather keep the school environment free from outside corporations and influence - at any cost.
January 29th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I’m glad the whole Bus Radio dispute is over and all of those involved can go back to normal AM/FM or they don’t have to listen to it. Be don’t have to here it anymore. YEAH! Now we can move on and find something else to complain about.
January 30th, 2008 at 6:20 am
Our School District ask the drivers not to play BusRadio as they are reviewing it. But Denver has it now. I wounder if Denver will provide the content to the parents.
I would like to see Denver Public Schools allow me or anyone else to record what is being played on the bus.
It is my understanding that School Buses are public transit, and that copyright laws do not apply if it is being played to the public.
I would like to see the parents who have children ask BusRadio and the school district these questions.
Do you request a email address from those students
who give feed back?
Yes they do. go to busradio.com and click on feed back and see.
Do they play music that uses words that are not in the dictionary?
Yes.
Where can I find the meanings?
I have used urban dictionary (Only because I can’t find the meanings anywhere else).
Have they promoted CD’s, Television shows and other inappropriate content?
See Obligation.org
Stop the bad seeds from entering your child’s mind. I don’t want a for profit company making money off of the children, are they pushing their immorality on to them?
Did they not promote a show where a student was asked if he would have sex with his sister?
Check again with oblgation.org
Does promoting items count as commercial time?
Not from what I heard.
I will stay with this issue and continue to do what I can to inform parents. I will still complain, but not complain to complain, but to complain for action.
February 3rd, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Out school district asked the drivers not to play BusRadio for now.
Thanks for the support.
Danny
9news.com ran another story on Feb. 1, 2008, as Denver Public School is going to start using it this spring.
BusRadio Parents of public school children need to know.
February 3rd, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Wow, this is almost funny but it’s not. It’s very nice that this man cares about BR and the effects it has on all ages of school kids. I am also doing my research on this and I think it would be good for alot of districts across the U.S.. This is just my opinion. By the uproar that has been created over the radio, it may have caused your district to shut it down but many more to fire it up. This driver gave them so much free advertising, the Bus Radio Corp. has become a household name for some people. Littleton Schools has given their driver’s the option and freedom to play the radio again, is that correct? SO it has now opened the door for more commercials to be played to your kids, right? And further more, it has the potential, if you hire a driver that is new to the education field, the opportunity to accidently use poor judgement as to what he/she plays around any age kids. I think you should have left the Bus Radio alone. Was it really hurting that much? I did have a chance to go view the footage of your clown crusade with DPS, well done but I did feel something was missing. Oh, I know, the sweet smell of success. You were not able to persuade them to cancel the installation of BR. All of those parents of DPS, Jeffco, Boulder Valley and many more local districts have watched you at Littleton and your campaign to get rid of it, now they just watched you get the door slammed in your face by DPS. Looks like Littleton pulled your platform as well. I do hope more of the districts look into Bus Radio and do see, compared to the common AM/FM airwaves, it’s quite the better choice. I would rather have my kids listen to it over FM radio anyday. I am going to recommend it to other districts and parents who don’t know about it. I will tell them, for the fewer commercials and smut it has verses the FM channels, this should be the way to go. Thankyou Littleton Driver for letting us know about BR, what a cool alternative.
Karen
February 4th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Karen - bringing to attention the negatives of a product is not giving them free advertising. Knowledge is power, regardless of your position.
Have you read Josh’s research at http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/actions/busradio.htm ?
Also let me again express my pleasure in reading comments and thoughts by students Katy C. and Nikki, which address the issue as a whole with thought and clarity rather than through rambling tired personal attacks.
It certainly says something when students are able to leap over the mental constraints of the parents and educators posting here and exhibit a respected level of maturity in their thoughts, delivery, and writing.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Those following this story might be interested in what our friends over in South Carolina are up to…
http://consumerist.com/352847/south-carolina-places-ads-inside-school-buses
I can’t be the only one that finds this completely perverse…
February 20th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
James, I am beginning to think that I have been out of the States for far too long.
This issue with the commercial ads being on public school busses, I would have thought that to be outright illegal for no other reason than it is municipal sponsorship of certain products. Sure, they don’t pick the adverts but they agreed carte blanche to the whole lot by proxy of the contract.
Here in the Philippines, it’s quite disgusting at how everyone with control over anything in the government will allow for private adverts and of course, make a little consulting fee on the side.
no…I still don’t see it. We are fond of throwing around the term ’separation of church and state’ but in reality, there should be a separation of state and anything at all commercial. The government should be barred from raising funds by means of adverts. It took hundreds of man-hours, about 2 contract administrators, legal fees in documentation, lots more legal fees from lawyers researching to make sure the district couldn’t be sued…..etc….which is waaaaay much more than any revenue they made.
Smaller administrative footprint, that will save money. Not spending more to bring some in.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:29 am
Are school boards aware of the contracts? Not all as it does not cost the school districts any money, a contract can be signed by a director in some areas.
BusRadio needs to tell the whole truth.
Danny
April 25th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I strongly suggest any parent that has a problem with folks such as these playing religous music, call Bus Radio to speak with them directly. Im sure they would be interested in working with you to correct the probelm with Danny.