airchecks

Airchecks are recordings of on-air broadcasts used to evaluate and improve performance. In radio, an aircheck records a host’s on-air delivery, timing, and content, including spoken links, music bed usage, promos, and commercial timing, as well as legal IDs and weather or traffic updates. They are commonly produced when a shift ends or during production, and may be created automatically by studio software or by a producer. Files are typically labeled with date, station call letters, show, host, and segment.

Their purpose includes coaching, performance appraisal, and ensuring adherence to a station's format clocks and regulatory or policy requirements. They aid staff development by allowing the talent and a program director or coach to review pacing, diction, tone, mic technique, and interaction with the audience. Airchecks are also used to document a host’s progress, audition material, and to archive examples of past broadcasts.

In practice, airchecks are circulated to involved staff for feedback; the host or trainer notes strengths and recommended improvements. They are typically stored in a digital library, with metadata and searchable keywords, and may accompany written evaluations. In television, the term is used less commonly but can refer to a similar review of anchor or presenter performance. The practice has shifted toward digital delivery and online collaboration, but the goal remains the same: to improve on-air quality and consistency.