WKBN’s Rivers: Applying Tech to Stay on Air, Bring Comfort
Dan Rivers, host of the long-running Dan Rivers Show on WKBN Radio, has relied on modern technology and talented colleagues to stay on the air. He wrote this column about the ups and downs of running a radio show during a global pandemic. You can read more about Dan on the WKBN Radio website.
On February 13, 2020, my wife, Cheryl, and I were returning to Youngstown after a few weeks in Southwest Florida. Days earlier, I recall bartenders at Fort Myers Beach playfully saying, “You know you can’t catch the coronavirus from the (Corona) beer.”
We made it back to the Valley just in time for a sudden snowstorm. I worked a couple of weeks and forgot about the coronavirus, except for the occasional conversations with Tom Rivers from the foreign desk in London. Italy was the virus hot spot then, and America was running two weeks behind Europe.
A few weeks later, while sitting in the parking lot at Knoll Run Golf Course, I got an urgent call from my oldest son who told me to wash my hands, and not go anywhere because a pandemic was coming. “Can you work from home?”
By Friday, my supervisor told me to gather technical equipment and keep it at my home just in case travel is restricted. On Saturday, Keith Kennedy, iHeartRadio’s vice president, made the decision: Work from home.
So it began. At first, we hung on every word from Governor DeWine and Dr. Amy Acton at 2 p.m. daily. FEMA cards were issued in case travel was restricted. I began doing my daily show from home.
Broadcasting from home
Today’s radio technology has reached the point, with WIFI, that radio remotes have become studio quality. It takes only a small road crew suitcase, containing a proprietary computer, headset and microphone, to set up and broadcast anywhere you can access WIFI or cellular service.
I began what would become months of doing the show from home. Now I had to coordinate closely with my partner, Viking Jim. He had to call guests and sponsors and place callers on air while maintaining a high standard of production. In other words, no goofs, no double audio, no dead air, no dropouts … it’s a lot to do. He is known as the “work wife.”
My most important tool is an atomic clock, which I follow to the second. I simply fit into the space the programming allocates. It works remarkably well. I still wonder why, with all this technology, a clear cell call is rare.
I would end up doing the show remotely for the next three months. One Sunday, I became ambitious and tried to transplant some elephant grass, without my wife’s blessing. She likely would have told me go golfing. None too carefully, I dug around the roots and noticed coaxial cable with a nick in it. I ran to the house to see if we still had internet service … it was down. Cursing the day, I jerry-rigged the cable back together, and the ‘net was magically restored.
I dutifully fessed up to Armstrong what I had done. “No problem,” they said. “A tech will visit you soon.” Soon was the next day at 9 a.m. Before I could say wait, an Armstrong tech cut the line during the 9 a.m. news. I sprung up to get an antenna, which is a back-up to WIFI. The system works with a router or antenna. Before I could hook up the antenna, the system came back up.
While I was out, the ever-vigilant Viking Jim jumped in and started the interview with reporter Bill Zimpfer, and I finished it, no one the wiser. The Armstrong tech fixed my cable between 9:02 a.m. and 9:07 a.m. From now on, I will listen to my wife and go golfing. The last time I ignored her advice about golfing, I ran a power washer over my hand.
A return to the broadcast studio
That incident, along with cabin fever, drove me back to our newly remodeled studios on South Avenue in Boardman. We all have an appreciation for the technology that has allowed us to work from home, but there’s nothing like being in the studio.
As we searched for answers regarding the virus, there were more questions: How long would the Virus last? What are the best treatments? How do you stay safe? We got an early jolt of reality in March, when one of our closest friends died with COVID. It was unexpected. On Christmas Day, a close relative died.
We got calls from listeners who had similar experiences. Some of our listeners insisted Hydroxychloroquine, the Malaria drug, had saved their lives. I will never forget the council of Dr. John Venglarcik. For three months, John joined the show every day at 8:06 a.m. and answered questions. John is a renowned infectious disease doctor in Youngstown. Listeners wanted to know — Is it airborne? Does the mask work? What is the best therapy? “John was a great comfort to the listeners.
In March, we balked at the idea of being shut down through Easter. Then came Memorial Day, the Canfield Fair, YSU Football, Big 10 Football and many other events – all canceled. We lowered our expectations.
Looking ahead
As I write this, I think the true miracle is that we actually have a vaccine that is more than 90 percent effective. I think in large part the speed of the vaccine is due to “Operation Warp Speed,” shepherded by President Trump. I am told the method developed will allow for effective treatment of cancers in the future using Messenger RNA, a messenger carrying instructions for controlling the synthesis of proteins.
Each day I strive to bring listeners the information they need and give them the hope that we can get past the coronavirus. We were able to continue our daily radio show because of the technology developed and put to use quickly. Let us trust in God that he will guide America through the greatest crisis of our lifetime.