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WBAI Struggles
- Thread starter Theater of My Mind
- Start date
Re: WBAI massive layoffs
That actually off the table since they are canceling AJE News at the end of the month with AJ America premiering and all.
Barry said:
That actually off the table since they are canceling AJE News at the end of the month with AJ America premiering and all.
Re: WBAI massive layoffs
There are large communities of Cuban and Haitian expats in New York....whether this programming has been marketed to these groups, and/or would appeal to them (as opposed to being someone else's idea of what Cubans and Haitians should be interested in) is another story...
HHH said:
There are large communities of Cuban and Haitian expats in New York....whether this programming has been marketed to these groups, and/or would appeal to them (as opposed to being someone else's idea of what Cubans and Haitians should be interested in) is another story...
Re: WBAI massive layoffs
Let's look at the Cuban community, which, per the Census, is about 40,000 persons in total. Those who care about "the Cuban Cause" tend to be old, and Spanish dominant. So there are very few people who would care about a show on WBAI about the subject.
Haitians are likely to be less concerned about Haiti than about the economy in New York and similar matters. They are, for the most part, economic and not political refugees. They left their country to get away from its problems and lack of opportunity... as is the case with many immigrants. They are not particularly interested in an English discussion about the politics of Haiti (and likely would not care even if the show were in Kreyol).
These are blog subjects, not radio shows with any kind of appeal.
charles hobbs said:
Let's look at the Cuban community, which, per the Census, is about 40,000 persons in total. Those who care about "the Cuban Cause" tend to be old, and Spanish dominant. So there are very few people who would care about a show on WBAI about the subject.
Haitians are likely to be less concerned about Haiti than about the economy in New York and similar matters. They are, for the most part, economic and not political refugees. They left their country to get away from its problems and lack of opportunity... as is the case with many immigrants. They are not particularly interested in an English discussion about the politics of Haiti (and likely would not care even if the show were in Kreyol).
These are blog subjects, not radio shows with any kind of appeal.
R
Raydeodood
Guest
Re: WBAI massive layoffs
DavidEduardo said:
Re: WBAI massive layoffs
Visiting NJ for the next few weeks....Listening to WBAI right now and it sounds like they're taking calls and peoples opinions about the station and the future of WBAI, the date September 30th was mentioned, maybe thats their last day...
Edit...the guy said he's getting almost no calls and is asking himself on the air have people given up about the station, like he's shocked that no one is calling in concerned about the station...lol
Visiting NJ for the next few weeks....Listening to WBAI right now and it sounds like they're taking calls and peoples opinions about the station and the future of WBAI, the date September 30th was mentioned, maybe thats their last day...
Edit...the guy said he's getting almost no calls and is asking himself on the air have people given up about the station, like he's shocked that no one is calling in concerned about the station...lol
Re: WBAI massive layoffs
From today's New York Times .. "Democracy May Prove the Doom of WBAI."
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/21/b...prove-the-doom-of-wbai.html?ref=nyregion&_r=0
From today's New York Times .. "Democracy May Prove the Doom of WBAI."
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/21/b...prove-the-doom-of-wbai.html?ref=nyregion&_r=0
R
Raydeodood
Guest
Re: WBAI massive layoffs
Not at all, but if they can;t keep the thing on the air, FCC could force them into a distress sale.
Raydeodood said:
Not at all, but if they can;t keep the thing on the air, FCC could force them into a distress sale.
Re: WBAI massive layoffs
A telling quote from the article from a 73-year-old participant at a public board meeting last week (where the first 25 minutes was devoted to a procedural argument over the agenda and there were shouts from the audience of "Fascist!" and "Go back to the NSA!") when it was stated that they would have to start airing more programming of general interest in drive--“We are not a niche; we are it.” To a certain extent, this is an attitude of many longtime public radio listeners--it's just infinitely worse at Pacifica--and most of them are the participant's age.
Cosmopolite said:
A telling quote from the article from a 73-year-old participant at a public board meeting last week (where the first 25 minutes was devoted to a procedural argument over the agenda and there were shouts from the audience of "Fascist!" and "Go back to the NSA!") when it was stated that they would have to start airing more programming of general interest in drive--“We are not a niche; we are it.” To a certain extent, this is an attitude of many longtime public radio listeners--it's just infinitely worse at Pacifica--and most of them are the participant's age.
Re: WBAI massive layoffs
Mark, weren't you in management at KPFK in LA some years ago? If that's you, how long did you last before you needed a therapist to deal with the stress? I tried to get a job there once, and guess I should be grateful for what turned out to be a severely delayed response to my attempt.
I've read some of the web boards about WBAI in the earlier links in this thread, and the comments section explains why they're in such a mess. Paving the road to hell is an easier project than placating the spurned members of the "community radio family." Seems to be more of a psychological issue, not unlike the mental gymnastics some of the far-right radio and fox fans put everyone through. I lived for many years under the KPFA tower in the East Bay, and, much as I felt their intentions were good, it was way too many people playing psychological bumper cars with one another. I know the radio industry is competitive, but they took internal struggle to new lows, year after year after year.
I'd like to request they air Helen Reddy's "You and Me Against the World" as their last song. All right, it's too mainstream for some of the Pacifica constituents (who would prefer some more dissonant and harsh), but the title seems like their default mode. Any other suggestions for appropriate music to play on their last day, or later tonight while one Pacifica host waits for the next volunteer to show up ten minutes late for their show?
Mark, weren't you in management at KPFK in LA some years ago? If that's you, how long did you last before you needed a therapist to deal with the stress? I tried to get a job there once, and guess I should be grateful for what turned out to be a severely delayed response to my attempt.
I've read some of the web boards about WBAI in the earlier links in this thread, and the comments section explains why they're in such a mess. Paving the road to hell is an easier project than placating the spurned members of the "community radio family." Seems to be more of a psychological issue, not unlike the mental gymnastics some of the far-right radio and fox fans put everyone through. I lived for many years under the KPFA tower in the East Bay, and, much as I felt their intentions were good, it was way too many people playing psychological bumper cars with one another. I know the radio industry is competitive, but they took internal struggle to new lows, year after year after year.
I'd like to request they air Helen Reddy's "You and Me Against the World" as their last song. All right, it's too mainstream for some of the Pacifica constituents (who would prefer some more dissonant and harsh), but the title seems like their default mode. Any other suggestions for appropriate music to play on their last day, or later tonight while one Pacifica host waits for the next volunteer to show up ten minutes late for their show?
Re: WBAI massive layoffs
Then who buys it? CC is maxed out, so is CBS. If not Cumulus (perish the thought!), maybe WNYC who could move to WQXR to 99.5 FM.
Raydeodood said:
Then who buys it? CC is maxed out, so is CBS. If not Cumulus (perish the thought!), maybe WNYC who could move to WQXR to 99.5 FM.
Re: WBAI massive layoffs
While Cumulus would seem to be the most likely buyer of WBAI if it goes on the market (they could trade WFAS or even WNSH + cash for it), here is a guess out of left field.
Christian Contemporary K Love's owner EMF seems to have huge resources for buying up stations. They recently outbid CBS to purchase WWIQ in Philadelphia from Merlin. EMF could offer WKLV + cash for WBAI. WKLV on 96.7 has a decent 3000 watt signal that gets out quite well.
While Cumulus would seem to be the most likely buyer of WBAI if it goes on the market (they could trade WFAS or even WNSH + cash for it), here is a guess out of left field.
Christian Contemporary K Love's owner EMF seems to have huge resources for buying up stations. They recently outbid CBS to purchase WWIQ in Philadelphia from Merlin. EMF could offer WKLV + cash for WBAI. WKLV on 96.7 has a decent 3000 watt signal that gets out quite well.
Re: WBAI massive layoffs
I would just 'hide' the Satellite dish -- lest BAI listeners freak out if EMF bought their station!!
Barry said:
I would just 'hide' the Satellite dish -- lest BAI listeners freak out if EMF bought their station!!
Re: WBAI massive layoffs
Extremes at both ends of the political spectrum tend to attract lots of socially dysfunctional people, who have great difficulty working constructively with others and have a hard time finding common ground or consensus in a group setting. Such people tend to be absolutely certain of the "correctness" or "truthfulness" of their particular world view, and are quick to dismiss or ridicule anyone who might have a different opinion. When you have many such people involved in a single entity, you will have trouble getting anything done, as the extremists will try to force an agenda on everyone else (an imposed "groupthink.")
Political extremists also tend to ignore or dismiss cold economic realities. They really don't care where or how money is raised or provided; just that their "cause" has a "right" to funding. Of course this leads to a financial mess, many examples of which can be seen at all levels of society anywhere in the world.
The intolerance and delusions of those involved with Pacifica will probably be their undoing.
Mark Jeffries said:
Extremes at both ends of the political spectrum tend to attract lots of socially dysfunctional people, who have great difficulty working constructively with others and have a hard time finding common ground or consensus in a group setting. Such people tend to be absolutely certain of the "correctness" or "truthfulness" of their particular world view, and are quick to dismiss or ridicule anyone who might have a different opinion. When you have many such people involved in a single entity, you will have trouble getting anything done, as the extremists will try to force an agenda on everyone else (an imposed "groupthink.")
Political extremists also tend to ignore or dismiss cold economic realities. They really don't care where or how money is raised or provided; just that their "cause" has a "right" to funding. Of course this leads to a financial mess, many examples of which can be seen at all levels of society anywhere in the world.
The intolerance and delusions of those involved with Pacifica will probably be their undoing.
WBAI is currently off the air, apparently for the past couple of hours. Unpaid transmitter bill, or technical issue I wonder?
[EDIT] It's a dead carrier. Transmitter is on, maybe they forgot to pay the Verizon bill.
[EDIT] It's a dead carrier. Transmitter is on, maybe they forgot to pay the Verizon bill.
Last edited:
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