Is The Downturn Now An Upturn?

shootist

shootist

Well-known member
Our station just ordered 10 new news vehicles. A good sign? I would think, at some level at least.

When I heard we were looking at Chevy after I don't know how many generations of Explorers, I voiced a preference for a diesel Suburban. I seem to carry more equipment than anybody. I do occasional production/promotional/commercial shoots where I try to jam even more in the Explorer. I thought the diesel would exhibit some sense of "green". I think I was ignored.

10 Chevy Equinoxes on the way. Of course, maybe I'm not getting one and the Suburban will be in the next wave. yeah right.

Anyway....anyone use an Equinox? It's even smaller than an Explorer, isn't it?
 
equinox vs explorer

much smaller than the explorer. shorter than the explorer. not a great choice
 
The upshot of any fleet replacement, regardless of vehicle newsfulness, is that your new rigs will be safer. Side curtain airbags, ESC, ABS are standard in most new models.
The last station I was at got new vehicles and free satelite radio for 6 months... showtunes 24 hours a day!
 
Optimistically speaking, I think this is an upturn. Pessimistically, I don't know that it says anything one way or the other.

shootist said:
I seem to carry more equipment than anybody. I do occasional production/promotional/commercial shoots where I try to jam even more in the Explorer.
Click to expand...

The Explorer holds about 20 cubic feet more than the Equinox.

However, I don't see why having a trailer on-hand wouldn't be an appropriate alternative. With the money saved by going with Equinox instead of Explorer, the station could probably invest in a few trailers. Wells Cargo makes some pretty worthwhile options.

The smallest trailer I was able to find, the Mini Wagon, actually has its own cargo capacity of 86.25 cubic feet. Add that to the Equinox's storage capacity and you've got well over 100 cubic feet of gear storage.

I'm not sure what a new trailer of that size goes for. However, I was able to find a three-year old model listed for $1,200.

You could always appeal to their love of slapping station logos all over everything.
:)

shade said:
not a great choice
Click to expand...

On space, yes -- the Explorer beats the Equinox.

However, you have to think of this from the bean-counter's perspective. It's worth noting that the Equinox beats the Explorer in two undeniably attractive aspects: MSRP and MPG. The Equinox is almost $8,000 lower in price and has a MPG rating almost twice that of the Explorer. Chevy may also have beaten Ford on a fleet discount.

I would rather the station save $80,000-plus on ten new vehicles and spend the money elsewhere. That kind of money could easily pay for two photogs at a mid-market station.
 
We have two new Equinoxes. Crappy sight lines on the rear corners. Ours have the ugliest seat fabric ever. All the controls are in some 747 like center console...including the door lock button. We have a good amount of large hills or in some places miniature mountains...nothing like the engine running what sounds like 14k rpm's all the way up them just to keep the speed up. Coming from an explorer I think you will feel like you are missing something...
 
Last two quarters have seen an increase in ad revenue over here. 10.7% in the last quarter... could it be that the downturn was because of the recession and not the internet killing TV??? :eek:
Could it be we didn't need to adapt or die?
Was resistance not futile?
Should we have just concentrated on making good product knowing the advertisers would return when the recession past?
All I know is most management will still be fighting last years war so if your guys have enough sense to realize things are looking better then that is a good sign.
 
shootist said:
I voiced a preference for a diesel
Click to expand...

I spent ten years working out of diesel trucks. I never want to have another vehicle with a diesel engine ever again.

But that's me. ;)

Slight feel of an uptick in the economy here in South Florida...but a long way to go before anyone is feeling secure.
 
Another factor to consider as well is that oftentimes these decisions are guided by depreciation tables. We basically get rid of a car at five years and replace it. Now we could really use one of those written off cars to stay around for those busy days...but corporate thinks the repair bills are too expensive. On the other hand beta was here for about twice as long as it should have been. How they justify that I don't know. I think the sd XDCams will be out on schedule though...HD is pushing it.

And to keep things in perspective, I just read an article about how big companies like Harley and Alcoa are saying screw those who are laid off, we are making a lot more now without you. Sounds eerily familiar to us in TV...
 
Lensmith said:
I spent ten years working out of diesel trucks. I never want to have another vehicle with a diesel engine ever again.

But that's me. ;)
Click to expand...

You may be right, John. I'm not that up to speed on the domestic diesel engines. Being more of a European car guy, I've seen tremendous strides forward in design and execution of diesel engines ala BMW/VW and the like. Really none of the old issues but with increases in MPG. Kinda just assumed America was due to catch up. Bad assumption, perhaps?
 
shootist said:
You may be right, John. I'm not that up to speed on the domestic diesel engines. Being more of a European car guy, I've seen tremendous strides forward in design and execution of diesel engines ala BMW/VW and the like. Really none of the old issues but with increases in MPG. Kinda just assumed America was due to catch up. Bad assumption, perhaps?
Click to expand...

my issues with diesel engines involve the extra time and expense needed to repair them. No to mention, when talking about them as news vehicles, there less than stellar acceleration abilities after a few years. Top it off with the higher price one pays for diesel here in the US per gallon compared to non-diesel fuel. There may be better milage, as long as the engine is in perfect condition, but the higher price cuts right back into the budget.

Diesel was a cheaper fuel in Central America. They didn't play the tax games with the price like they do here in the states. Diesel is actually cheaper to make/refine than "regular" gasoline which, again, always left me shaking my head at the price here. i know...the thought process is that diesel vehicles use the roads more, thus the higher tax bite in fuel price.

I spent way too much time running around getting pumps adjusted and changed in my old diesel engines. Then there's those cold, cold morning where, if you didn't have that diesel engine plugged in over night to keep the block warm(I had a diesel live truck in Detroit) it was a bear to start...if it started at all.

We have two diesel live trucks here at my Miami shop. It has become a regular headache where someone in a hurry forgets and puts non-diesel fuel into the truck and then it's off to the shop again to have it all pumped out...if it hasn't already damaged the engine.

I had three diesel trucks in Nicaragua. A Mitsubishi Montero, Isuzu Trooper, and Toyota pickup. The good thing for me? I spent so much time at the mechanics ( who spoke no english) keeping them running that it helped me learn my Spanish that much faster! ;)

I'm not bitter against diesel engines. Just making sure you know there are extra issues with them over the long term that you may not be aware of.

As always, the very best to you Shootist!
 
excellent info as always John. in what apparently is progressing further toward a moot discussion. definitely keep it in mind. might actually find myself looking to keep my current vehicle. it's only got 90K on it.
 
With regard to the question of "is this an upturn?" don't forget that this is an election year so political ad spending would be a big reason for any increase in ad revenue, especially coming off a terrible 2009. I'd like to see how stations' ad revenue this year compares to 2009 after you subtract the political ad revenue.
 
svp said:
With regard to the question of "is this an upturn?" don't forget that this is an election year so political ad spending would be a big reason for any increase in ad revenue, especially coming off a terrible 2009. I'd like to see how stations' ad revenue this year compares to 2009 after you subtract the political ad revenue.
Click to expand...

Big indicators for us are Automotive and Grocery advertising.

Right now, Automotive is coming back BIG time. Grocery not so much.

Baby steps....maybe a good thing.
 
Getting a good deal on a fleet of cars otherwise not moving is not a sign of coming out of a depression. It looks more like a bad financial decision at a time that money could have be more useful elsewhere. What's your current equipment situation look like? How's the staff? I bet you can look and see a dozen better ways that money could have been used. 10 new rides? Only if ten were neglected to apoint of no return.
 
Last edited:
I don’t think it’s a matter of an upturn or downturn. It just the fact that the leases are up on the fleets and the Chevy’s were cheaper. Don’t fool your selves management doesn’t care how comfortable we are – or how we fit the gear in the trucks. All they care about is that they can save money and we can get to the stories on time.
 
Do most people's new cars have mini-jack inputs as a standard stereo connection? One of the reason I like my 2003 Explorer is the cassette, which I can use one of those cassette/mini adapters to run audio from my hand-held scanner.

Also, the new Japanese and German diesel engines are different animals entirely than their predecessors. But I don't see a news outfit going for a Jetta Sportwagon.
 
A Step Above Productions said:
I don’t think it’s a matter of an upturn or downturn. It just the fact that the leases are up on the fleets and the Chevy’s were cheaper. Don’t fool your selves management doesn’t care how comfortable we are – or how we fit the gear in the trucks. All they care about is that they can save money and we can get to the stories on time.
Click to expand...

Interesting sidebar. Our leases are up on many of our cars. I'm driving a 2003 for example.
But I found out that we have an agreement on (for lack of a better term) a "post-lease" rate. Meaning, I suppose, we've met the responsibility of the lease and now we're paying down the residual value?????

This one I'll open up to guesses for a little while 'cuz I wonder if everyone will be as far off as I was.

"How much does my company pay per month for me to drive my 2003 Ford Explorer?"

And we're not talking maintenance or gas or tires or all the usual extras. Just the cost we pay per month...per car..to extend the lease.

Bueller? Bueller?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top