We
have established a set of guidelines to ensure that our underwriting
sponsorship announcements are in compliance with FCC rules, and with the
standards of the non-commercial broadcasting industry.
The concept of crafting your business image by
supporting local, grassroots, community oriented and independent media such as
WSAX-LP can be an important way of supporting your community. Available statistics and
studies from communities that have
similar stations as WSAX-LP show that listeners appreciate doing business with
those that support and help stations like WSAX-LP provide non-commercial,
community-based radio to their communities.
Underwriting our programming directly associates a business with a
desire to improve the quality of life in their community and gives a voice to
those who live and work in the community.
An underwriter’s affiliation with WSAX-LP’s
emerging and increasingly important position in the local media landscape will
help to further create and maintain our mission as a significant player in supporting our
listeners, student, musicians, venues and the community.as a whole.
By definition, program underwriting is
a financial contribution made in support of specific programming. When providing on-air funding
acknowledgments, FCC regulations require that stations like WSAX-LP limit such
announcements to identification purposes only.
They cannot be “promotional,” but they are still effective.
Our underwriting and sponsorship announcements are very
effective and an excellent cost effective way for a customer to show their support
for the local community, as well as getting their message out. Below are some key points:
1.
An underwriter will
be identified by mention of its legal or recognized name.
2. Underwriting
announcements must be factual, value-neutral, and consistent with the tone and
content of non-commercial programming.
3. The standard length
of time allotted to an underwriting announcement is 15 to 30 seconds. 60 seconds is also available.
4. Underwriting
announcements may include:
- A description of
products and services including brand names, but cannot contain
adjectives such
as “best”, for example. - Location of
underwriter, products and services.
- A description of key
or target markets.
- Longstanding slogans
that identify the underwriter's business.
- Holiday greetings or
the celebration of a special occasion.
- A telephone number,
location or web site address.
5.
Underwriting
announcements may not include:
- A call to action.
- Qualitative or
comparative statements.
- Adjacencies or
references to the location of one business to another business.
- Advocacy, ambiguous
or misleading statements.
- Pricing information,
discounts or incentives.
6. WSAX-LP will not
accept underwriting which supports or opposes any candidate for political
office.
7. Each underwriting
contract including proposed underwriting announcement language must be submitted to the Underwriting Director for review and approval in advance of
airing. Underwriting contracts must be resubmitted for review at the time of renewal. Payment
for all underwriting announcements are payable in advance of airing.
8. WSAX-LP reserves the
right to refuse underwriting that may present a conflict of interest or the
perception of a conflict of interest with program content.
Regards,
Underwriting
Jazz 98.5 WSAX-LP
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