"KSS does put a "touch tone" at the begining and end of the local avail time.
Zara 1.6 and newer is supposed to be able to use those tones"
That's fine and good if one has their systems set up to be using the Zara 1.6 program and have all the necessary in/out configured tied to a switcher, or rely totally on one computer handling all these tasks accurately and without any glintch.
Unfortunately I use SAM because SAM has web integration and Zara does not. SAM has built in professional encoders, Zara does not. The encoders are licensed via the purchased "key" from Audio Realm...where as Zara does not include licensed encoders.
So here in at least for my stations, two problems which both problems require either a total swap out of my station's automation system which it has used for the last 4 years, or bump someone else's program which earns me a revenue check every month to place a barter program whereas I would have to "resell" that block time to either the same sponsors of that block time, or new sponsors if the current ones don't care to be sponsoring a block containing a different program from the one they joined up to support.
Since the program insists on airing during its live time slot and not in any delayed replay even with the in-show barters and avails intact, that pretty much puts it at a dead end, not to mention I am not going to scrap 4 years of perfect problem free automation program with web site integration and licensed encoders for a much less capable automation program just for this one show.
If only that show and its host/producers were not so stiff about delayed airplay, there would probably be a lot more affiliates on their list. Last time I dealt with a "stiff" staff of another program I regretted it and will never get caught in that kind of thumb over my head or my stations ever again.
It's a shame, cuz the program sounds interesting and probably would be something my audience would be interested in. But I am not going to rebuild my entire systems for just one show, or bump a program earning me an income each month...I don't think anyone else would either.
Given the manner in which the program operates and its affiliate requirements, the show should be PAYING affiliates to air the show and follow such an uncooperative policy.
RFB