Radio contest update (wee for wii)

[KD6NIG]

A letter was sent to the FCC by the deceased's family asking them to severely punish or terminate the licence of the station in question.

Article:

News 10 Sacramento Link (http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=23635)

[KF0RT]

At the very least, some relatives will get rich.

It's the American way, afterall. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

73, Rob

[KD6NIG]

Or worst case, they will become the owners of the radio station, I suppose.

[N2RJ]

The people did sign waivers, did they?

[al2i]

Quote[/b] ]"Our goal is to shut down trash media that humiliates and endangers people just to boost ratings and sell more advertising," said Dryer.

Good. I am sick of the so-called "reality TV" garbage.

[n4sva]

My guess is that the attorney's will reach an out-of-court settlement with the station's insurance carrier and their high-powered attorneys. (if they had liability insurance covering this)

[al2i]

Anyone else notice that the name "Dryer" is appropriate in this context? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[KC0W]

It's ALWAYS someone else's fault.......I highly doubt anyone held a gun to the deceased party's head so she could go on "holding her wee" for the contest prize. Nothing but stupidity on her part, plain & simple.

Next time that I get pulled over for a minor traffic infringement, I'm gonna tell the cop that it's the auto makers fault for manufacturing my car......Send the ticket to them.

No one takes responsibility for their actions anymore!!!



Tom kcØw

[KD6NIG]

A waiver was signed.

But from what I've read, a few callers expressed concern when she mentioned some symptoms they were having, and the DJ's comment was "well they signed a waiver."

I think the waiver didn't cover them not taking action to stop them when they started showing signs of problems due to the water intake.

I can tell you one thing though-its been headline news here since it happened. I have a feeling a good 90% of radio contests will be gone for good. Like one station manager was quoted as saying "from now on, all prizes will go to caller #14."

[K0RGR]

I'm actually not sure what can be done in this case, beyond FCC pulling the license.

From personal experience, I know what will happen if the family's attorneys even discuss this attempt to pull the license with the attorneys for the radio station - their entire case will be thrown out because there is a federal statute specifically making that illegal. If you challenge a broadcast license, you can't negotiate with the licensee - that is 'extortion' under the law. You would never think that you could committ extortion out in public through your attorney, but this sweetheart law makes it so!

If they've already mentioned this, they've blown the family's case!

[WA3KYY]

It was also mentioned that the comments made by one or more of the callers warning of water intoxication were never heard in the contest room by the participants. #Signing a waiver does not necessarily obsolve the organizers and those who ran the contest from responsibility if it can be shown they ignored symptoms of problems with one or more of the contestants. #One of the symptoms of water intoxication is impairment in reasoning ability. #After a certain point, it could be argued the pariciptants were no longer able to judge their own condition and how dangerous it had become. #If the personnel supervising the contest failed to intervene or were simply ignorant of the symptoms of water intoxication, they could be held criminally negligant despite the signed waivers.

[n2jso]

Quote[/b] (KD6NIG @ Jan. 22 2007,15:55)]#Like one station manager was quoted as saying "from now on, all prizes will go to caller #14."
It's a safe bet that caller #14 is calling from a mobile phone, while driving. Most of the contestants call while driving on the stations I listen to. For one contest, they have to recite the names/artists of the last 5 songs to win. Not a safe thing to be doing while driving.

[KD6NIG]

Quote[/b] (n2jso @ Jan. 22 2007,14:20)]Quote[/b] (KD6NIG @ Jan. 22 2007,15:55)]#Like one station manager was quoted as saying "from now on, all prizes will go to caller #14."
It's a safe bet that caller #14 is calling from a mobile phone, while driving. # Most of the contestants call while driving on the stations I listen to. #For one contest, they have to recite the names/artists of the last 5 songs to win. #Not a safe thing to be doing while driving.
You're probably right.

But at least it keeps them from shaving, putting on makeup, or brushing their teeth while they are on the phone!

[w2amr]

Another fine example of Natural selection.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[N4AUD]

She signed a waiver AND could have quit at any time if she didn't feel like continuing. Maybe her family should sue her estate...probably won't do that, will they?
If someone dares or encourages you to do something stupid and you do it, who's fault is it when it goes wrong?

[WS2L]

I would be interested in how exactly this waiver was worded. As far as the family requesting the FCC to pull the stations license I doubt that will happen. In recent years in NYC the Opie and Anthony show made a contest of tape recording two people having sex in the most outrageous place. A group decided that they would film theirs at St Patrick Cathedral and were caught. In this case the FCC advised Clear Channel entertainment to either terminate the DJ's or lose their license, of course they chose to fire the DJ's. In this case the station employees were already fired so I doubt that the station will lose their license. The family will probably sue the radio station and the involved employees for wrongful death and wind up paying out millions of dollars in an out of court settlement.

Even though they signed a waiver and all that each contestant should be held accountable for their own actions, if she felt so sick she should have dropped out of the contest. On the other hand if she complained of being sick the radio stations employees should have insisted that she seek emergency medical attention. At the very least the station should have called an ambulance to come and check her out and insist that she go to the hospital. If she refused medical attention from the Paramedics they would have her sign a "Refusal of Medical Treatment" form which is mandatory when a patient refuses medical assistance. The bottom line is that the station employees should not have let her leave to drive home on her own. They should have insisted she get medical attention. Since it was not done it makes the station more responsible for their actions.

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (KD6NIG @ Jan. 22 2007,15:55)]A waiver was signed.

But from what I've read, a few callers expressed concern when she mentioned some symptoms they were having, and the DJ's comment was "well they signed a waiver."

I think the waiver didn't cover them not taking action to stop them when they started showing signs of problems due to the water intake.

I can tell you one thing though-its been headline news here since it happened. I have a feeling a good 90% of radio contests will be gone for good. Like one station manager was quoted as saying "from now on, all prizes will go to caller #14."
And really now, I think that some of these stunts are just plain stupid.

I used to play in my fair share of radio station contests, and I won quite a lot of loot, but I would NEVER participate in one of those "stunt" type contests.

[KD6NIG]

Quote[/b] (AB2MH @ Jan. 23 2007,07:28)]Quote[/b] (KD6NIG @ Jan. 22 2007,15:55)]A waiver was signed.

But from what I've read, a few callers expressed concern when she mentioned some symptoms they were having, and the DJ's comment was "well they signed a waiver."

I think the waiver didn't cover them not taking action to stop them when they started showing signs of problems due to the water intake.

I can tell you one thing though-its been headline news here since it happened. #I have a feeling a good 90% of radio contests will be gone for good. #Like one station manager was quoted as saying "from now on, all prizes will go to caller #14."
And really now, I think that some of these stunts are just plain stupid.

I used to play in my fair share of radio station contests, and I won quite a lot of loot, but I would NEVER participate in one of those "stunt" type contests.
Well, I imagine after this, those radio contests will be going by the wayside.

Except for wacky costume dressing up or something, and they will likely prohibit anything like face paint to prevent medical issues, I think the wacky DJ antics were just sent to the grave with this incident.

The other thing that makes this bad is about 8 months ago a student at Chico State about 2 hours north of Sacramento died the same way-except it was at a Fraternity.

I think the litigation on that one is still pending also.

[ne6ao]

I remember the WKRP tv show in the 70's and at thanksgiving they decided to release a whole bunch of turkeys from a helicopter if you could capture it it was yours.They didnt know that these turkeys couldnt fly.The whole show was abt how stupid or should I say ignorant can a radio station be.The station mgr should have checked with a lawyer first ,and apparently did not.My thought is that ,if no one at the station caught this ,they deserve to be sued.And also the girl who died was she apprised that without the waver she cant enter the contest?At that point the station is saying defacto,"You may have serious medical consequences.So the radio representatives are aware of a potential harm from this.If the contest was a potential fatal or serious consequence,Its like saying "Hey we hold the contest if someone gets hurt no big deal we get our listeners anyway.Why hold a contest that needs a waiver,why did they need to hold a contest that involves serious risk,enough to need a waiver.The management needs to be investigated.If a teenager wanted to hold a contest,that involved medical risk,and I let them, its my responsibility to shut it down or Iam liable for the problems.The stations lawyer didnt say "Its too risky some one might get hurt,thats the mature way to have prevented this.In stead He said Let em sign a waiver,that way we make our money and if they get hurt is their own stupid fault for doing it.This was a no win situation from the word go.How come there wasnt any body involved with some medical training ,to say ,there is some medical risk here.If some charges were filed for criminal liability,alot of people make take notice and prevent this from happening again.Management should be held accountable,if not who ever was advising them .If they had to sign a waiver,then its too dangerous to commit the act itself period.

[ne6ao]

Also if the authorities dont investigate this,and dont file charges they are being criminally irresponsible.They would be saying the same thing the lawyer for the station said hey not our fault,the victim signed a waiver,since when is a citizen allow to take serious risks,even ignorant of the consequences,Some authority needs to be injected here.Somebody needs to be held accountable for ignoring the facts.Some kids will take risks without thinking of the consequences,and will do it till the parent stops them.Mature kids say Im not gonna do that its too risky.I raised 4 kids and one of them took a lot longer to govern their own behaviour.That is normal for kids.Not ok for adults.

[k4kyv]

Well, at least the public now knows that you can die from drinking too much water, just as you can die from too much alcohol or anything else.

I recall a story that circulated years ago (urban legend?) that a man died from overdose of vitamin A. He loved to drink carrot juice. He bought a juicer and would purchase a load of carrots every day and make his own juice, so he could have all he wanted. But he overdid it and was found dead one day.

Or at least the stuff will make the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet turn a dull yellowy orange.

http://lonestar.texas.net/~czubeck/newpage35.htm

[N7CPC]

Any body else notice that this Dryer person seems to also be the lawyer writing the FCC ?

Got waivers, not to mention the 1st Amendment. Add a hefty dose of Bozon Radiation and you get one dead idiot and a pissed off lawyer. Gotta wonder what else was in the water.

How bad can you want to play vidio games?

[KD6NIG]

Quote[/b] (ne6ao @ Jan. 23 2007,10:10)]Also if the authorities dont investigate this,and dont file charges they are being criminally irresponsible.They would be saying the same thing the lawyer for the station said hey not our fault,the victim signed a waiver,since when is a citizen allow to take serious risks,even ignorant of the consequences,Some authority needs to be injected here.Somebody needs to be held accountable for ignoring the facts.Some kids will take risks without thinking of the consequences,and will do it till the parent stops them.Mature kids say Im not gonna do that its too risky.I raised 4 kids and one of them took a lot longer to govern their own behaviour.That is normal for kids.Not ok for adults.
The authorities have launched an investigation.

This was in a prior article, though.

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (N7CPC @ Jan. 23 2007,12:55)]How bad can you want to play vidio games?
The availability of the Wii is nearly nonexistant, and it's not just because people want to play videogames.

Some people want to get the console so they can sell it on ebay for $300-$400 more than its actual MSRP of $249.

Plus some people want it for their kids, you know they'll go to the end of the earth to do things for their kids just because their little angels want a wii, mommy will die for a wii...

[ne6ao]

I dont even know what these wii or playstations are?all I gots is my laptop and stock in yaesu at least I should have sein I got 5 rigs fromem.

[K0RGR]

I emailed the attorney with my concerns about his suit, and I got a nice call back from his associate. I explained how we once sued a broadcaster in court, and simultaneously challenged his broadcast license that came up for renewal during our conflict. Part of the company that owned the broadcast station had ripped off our little non-profit corporation - they stole all of our gear and put us out of business. It was basically a corporate mugging, with a bit of burglary involved.

We used this burglary and about 40 other similarly scummy actions by this corporation to challenge their broadcast license on the basis that they lacked the necessary morality to control a major TV station. They grossly violated the PICON principle!

As part of the milion dollar out-of-court settlement, we agreed to drop the FCC action. Bingo! Their high-powered K-street lawyers pounced on us and got the whole thing thrown out! If we had gone forward with the FCC action, anyway, we'd have been OK. Once that license was renewed, we were had.

And you want to know why I don't trust lawyers, corporations, and crooked politicians! That was when I first learned the old saying that laws that look like a brick wall to you and me look like a triumphal arch to a corporate lawyer.

[n6hcm]

Quote[/b] (w2amr @ Jan. 23 2007,04:34)]Another fine example of Natural selection.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
honestly. to risk life and limb for a stupid $250 console game?!? madness!

[KB3LIX]

The Classic WKRP Turkey Drop......

Some of the funniest minutes ever transmitted on broadcast television.

"They're falling like wet bags of cement !"

Hilarious !!!!!!!!

I wish I had that episode on VHS or DVD.

[ne6ao]

wild turkeys can fly for short distances,and they roost in trees,unlike the domesticated ones.and supposedly they can see movement up to a 1/2 mile away.

[al2i]

Quote[/b] (n6hcm @ Jan. 24 2007,01:51)]Quote[/b] (w2amr @ Jan. 23 2007,04:34)]Another fine example of Natural selection.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
honestly. #to risk life and limb for a stupid $250 console game?!? #madness!
Unfortunately, most people were ignorant about water intoxication before this happened. The is why the DJs were joking about it.

I used to run some marathon gaming tournaments that had a prize at the end, but after reading about psychotic episodes and a couple of deaths in Korea from marathon game contests, I decided to drop the marathon stuff. It was pretty popular with the 20-ish kids.

[ne6ao]

Quote[/b] (KD6NIG @ Jan. 22 2007,13:04)]A letter was sent to the FCC by the deceased's family asking them to severely punish or terminate the licence of the station in question.

Article:

News 10 Sacramento Link (http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=23635)
So where or how do we find out what is or will happen?

[al2i]

Quote[/b] (ne6ao @ Jan. 25 2007,09:00)]Quote[/b] (KD6NIG @ Jan. 22 2007,13:04)]A letter was sent to the FCC by the deceased's family asking them to severely punish or terminate the licence of the station in question.

Article:

News 10 Sacramento Link (http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=23635)
So where or how do we find out what is or will happen?
Stay tuned to QRZ.