A combination of choice and necessity keeps Power 105 playing at Ohio University's Ping Center.
The center has agreed to allow the radio station a monopoly on the airwaves inside Ping in return for free advertising for special events, Ping director Hafedh Benhadj said.
We asked them to be a sponsor
then it grew from there he said of how the arrangement began in 1999. I remember talking to them and they said
'If you play us
it'd be great; we'd love it.' But it's not going to break them.
The arrangement works in an honors system kind of way -with no written contract or strict guidelines on airtime or advertising time, Benhadj said.
It's been a really good working relationship
he said.
Power 105 program director John Domigan said the agreement with Ping does not involve any money.
It is a promotional agreement
he said. They play us
and we sponsor their events.
The radio station's platform is classified as contemporary hit radio and plays top 40 hits, Domigan said.
Ping had the same sort of agreement with ACRN when Benhadj came to OU in 1998, but people complained about the station's use of objectionable language, he said.
We want (Power 105) played here anyway because it keeps us informed
he said, pointing out the station's coverage of weather emergencies.
He said Ping budgets $14,000 each academic year to pay for special events -such as those on Sibs' and Moms' weekends and Halloween -and asks for handouts from local businesses to help make ends meet. That is where Power 105 comes in.
We can do all the planning we want
but if we don't convince students to come in
it doesn't help anyone
