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The Official Paracast FAQ


Gene Steinberg

Forum Super Hero
Staff member
New listeners come to us with questions about the show, but rather than have to repeat the same answers, and bore everyone else to death, I've decided to put typical questions and answers into this message. I'll take a few responses for a while to flesh out the information, but I'll soon just keep it closed once it's complete or mostly complete.

1. Why does The Paracast run so many ads?

The Paracast is syndicated by GCN, a commercial radio network with hundreds of commercial outlets. We follow a standard "clock" or production schedule that allows for 12 segments ranging from 8:50 to 10:40, each. The system is computerized, which means segments have to be timed within a tenth of a second to allow spots to be broadcast automatically. What this means is that we cannot omit ads, or change the interval between ads.

Our ad schedule is no different from hundreds of other shows syndicated in the U.S. Are they too many? Perhaps, but that's how the system works. Listeners who don't like the ads are always free to fast forward.

2. Why can't you just group the ads into larger segments so there are fewer breaks to break up the discussion?

Once again, these systems are computerized, so we can't vary the schedule even if we want to. We try to make the breaks as smooth as possible, but when a guest is on a roll, we still have to break in gently.

3. Why can't you choose ads that are less "extreme"?

We are allowed nine minutes to present our own ads per episode. The rest is up to the network and local stations, and we have no say in their selection. In saying that, if you believe an ad is making a deceptive offer, let us know via email or a personal conversation and we'll bring it to the attention of the network. (Please don't discuss it here.)

4. I'm willing to pay for an ad-free version. Is one available?

Yes there is! We're now able to offer a premium subscription-based package, known as The Paracast+. The list of benefits is growing, but you'll be able to download a higher resolution ad-free version of The Paracast. There will also be other special features that will be announced soon.

Subscriptions are $5 per month, or $50 per year, and are available to all forum members from this link:

https://www.theparacast.com/forum/account/upgrades

5. With all those ads, why is there the need to request donations from listeners? There ought to be plenty of revenue from radio spots.

The network and local stations do not share advertising revenue. Our sole source of income consists of those nine minutes, plus revenue from subscriptions to The Paracast,+ which we've just introduced. We've just hired a salesperson to spread the word and build ad revenue. For now, the donations are critical to pay expenses and put food on the table, but we see a time when they will no longer be needed.

6. Why not just leave the network and go out on your own?

The Paracast (and our other show, The Tech Night Owl LIVE) signed up with GCN to gain credibility with potential advertisers and reach a wider audience. We have succeeded in the latter, as the audience has increased by several hundred percent since 2010, when we joined GCN. Yes, we may lose a few listeners because of the heavy ad content, but we hope that most of you will tolerate them and maybe sometimes find an announcement of a product or service you want to check out.

Still, you are free to fast forward through ads, or just subscribe to The Paracast+ and download ad-free versions of the latest episodes.

7. Why are people attacking The Paracast and the hosts?

Good question. Attacks and backbiting are normal in these fields, particularly in UFO research. Perhaps some rival hosts are hoping to pick a fight and get ratings from the flamewars. But we rarely mention other shows or hosts, except when it's pertinent to a discussion. While some of the more vicious and false attacks are occasionally answered, we largely try to stay above the fray.

But we're human!

8. Why do you discuss UFOs so often?

Both Gene and Chris got involved in these fields as the result of an interest in UFOs. Gene has been engaged in some form of UFO research and publishing for several decades. Chris has focused on a wider range of phenomena because of his ongoing investigations into the mysteries in the "Mysterious Valley."

But we do venture outside the comfort zone quite often with guests covering a wide variety of subjects. After eight years, The Paracast is still a learning experience.

9. So does The Paracast move to TV next?

Gene often boasts he has a face for radio, but the fact of the matter is that radio affords far more flexibility. There is no need for cameras, special setups and lighting conditions. We can record episodes or specific segments almost anywhere where there's a mic, a Mac and an Internet connection.
 
Aren't numbers 5 and 7 rather inextricably linked, and isn't a bit more transparency perhaps and respectfully regarding them in order?

Regarding #5, how long have the donation solicitations been going out to listeners/ subscribers? It's been many years, hasn't it? With only nine minutes per week for your own ads, some minutes of them for Rockoids, will that ever reap enough income to mean a cessation of personal donation requests? I don't know, just asking.

Regarding #7, I've never seen any rival hosts trying to benefit from attacking you. And why does the question contain the plural? I've, yes, seen you mentioned but never Chris. And when you are mentioned, I notice it's nearly always regarding the thought in #5.
 
Regarding number 5: If we sold all or most of those nine minutes to paying clients — and some represent our own stuff and tradeouts for Web servers and such — there would be no need for personal donations anymore. We'd have more than sufficient income to cover our needs and pay Chris a decent wage.

If we can get approval for the premium package — the ad-free episodes for a modest subscription fee — there would be enough extra revenue to provide a few added perks and maybe some retirement savings.

It's as simple as that, but not so simple because we've been looking for sales/marketing help for years, and nobody has stepped up to the plate. Yes, we have set rates sufficient for those nine minutes to deliver a decent return.
 
Let me update the sales outlook: We have hired Andy Schopick, someone with many contacts in the UFO field, with an extensive sales background, to handle sales and marketing for our two radio shows and the tech blog.

Welcome aboard Andy!
 
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