WBFO Comes Up Short

[Element9]

Yes, and in the long haul, what does it matter. Eight people on a message board devoted to radio, spurred by one guy who noticed the outage, discuss the issue. The average Joe and Joan don't care. The WBFO blues shows on Saturday and Sunday nights and the new Saturday afternoon line-up of Dr. Zorba Pastor and the Peoples' Pharmacy? Same thing. They're there if I remember, or don't have anything else to listen to.

Push another button. Hit scan. Click an app. There's always another choice, another source. Jocks mail in their voice tracks during a storm and the PDs insert them by remote control. WBFO probably could have done the same with local news breaks on Thanksgiving morning. I expect WBFO will have this system perfected by Christmas.

If people really want the news, skip the middle man and go to the source of every Buffalo radio station's news: http://www.buffalonews.com/ WBFO will continue to bang the drum about membership falling below the seven per cent threshold while NPR bangs the drum about using their apps. http://www.npr.org/ In a way, what's going on with radio and content providers like WBFO and other stations is reminiscent of the CD. Recall record companies championing "the crystal clear sound of the CD." Until... people began ripping CDs like mad and sharing the files with friends. The bottom fell out on CD and music sales. Blinded by science.

The latest Nielsen Listener Analysis is revealing but not surprising. Save for aging demographics, radio TSL is down, notably among teens. Television viewers in increasing numbers watch their favorite shows on DVR where they most likely FFx4 past the commercials. And those six, eight, nine minute commercial breaks twice an hour on FM music stations? Soon as the jock says "comin' up next..." the in-car listener (radio's prize target) is pressing the scan button on the steering wheel, changing the station or the source to smart phone. Pledge drive breaks? "Surely you don't expect me to pay for content? It's free on NPR, PBS, Drudge, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, Facebook, Twitter." There's always another source for local and national news, and smart phones give us pictures, too!.

Fourteen plus minutes of dead air and no local news presence on a holiday? I concede. The point has been made, "insignificant."

 

[TheBigA]

Fourteen plus minutes of dead air and no local news presence on a holiday? I concede. The point has been made, "insignificant."

As I've said many times, having stations locally staffed 24/7 isn't going to reverse the TSL trend or get people to throw away their phones and computers. TSL started its downward path 25 years ago, the minute people had other options.

Do you think the staffing levels at the Buffalo News are what they were 25 years ago?

 

[SirRoxalot]

The staffing levels at the Buffalo News may not be what they were 25 years ago, but they're better than any other news outlet in town. WBFO is competing with other radio (WBEN was staffed and doing local news), and with local TV (which was staffed and doing local news breaks). Phones and computers require interaction. Radio doesn't - which is part of the reason it's still got over 90% of the audience tuning it in looking for content. Failure to provide that content will push listeners away - either hitting the button to go to another station, or heading for another source. And we're not talking about "24/7" here. We're talking about the most listened-to parts of the day.

What about the corporate underwriters who expect their message to be presented in a favorable context? Lose the audience, and you lose the impact that they paid for. WBFO saved pennies, but may have cost themselves dollars. There seems to be a lot of that going on in radio these days.

 

[TheBigA]

What about the corporate underwriters who expect their message to be presented in a favorable context? Lose the audience, and you lose the impact that they paid for. WBFO saved pennies, but may have cost themselves dollars. There seems to be a lot of that going on in radio these days.

Once again, I'm sure whoever was responsible at WBFO got yelled at, and an ultimatum was given that it won't happen again. What more do you want?

But when we're talking about listener-supported radio, then the listeners bear some responsibility here too. If the listeners are only willing to pay so much, they can only expect so much in return. If they want a more dynamic station, it costs money, and that money comes from the listeners. If I ran this station, I'd present this situation to the listeners: You want 24/7 live & local news? Here's what it costs, and we'll deliver as much as you're willing to pay for. Make a contract with the audience. It's all a function of how much they're willing to contribute.

 

[Element9]

Ultimatums don't work on Western New York listeners. They probably don't work in many other markets, either. Word is the silence of Thanksgiving morning was actually a test run of a new program called "Dead Air," a counter-culture program to be hosted by WBFO alumna Terry Gross.

Thanks. Insignificant Sid. I'll be here all week for two shows nightly. Try the veal. And don't forget to tip the waiters.

 

[TheBigA]

Ultimatums don't work on Western New York listeners.

Once again, this is non-profit, listener-supported radio. Did you ever watch "Northern Exposure?" KBHR. That's what community radio is like.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Exposure

When they sell WBFO to the Baptist Church, you'll really miss it.

 

[tbolt909]

Does someone have an ax to grind with WBFO?
So they had some dead air on a holiday due to a technical mishap.
Their product may not be perfect, but it's far superior to
Commercial radio.

Corporations strangled the life out of commercial radio long ago.
Some stations could go silent for weeks and nobody would know or care...

 

[TheBigA]

Those of you who like community radio, and don't mind a little dead air every now and then, might enjoy a new movie about WFMU. When people complain to me about the state of radio, I tell them to start their own. That's what the guy who runs this station did. And he found a way to do it in the shadow of New York City, perhaps the most crowded radio market in the country.

http://www.sexandbroadcasting.com/

 

[SirRoxalot]

The "community radio" mantra loses some of its punch when you consider that we're talking about a broadcast group with multiple radio and TV stations, along with cable access channels. There are several people in management who are very well paid. To expect people on this board to believe that the extra dollars required to staff the radio station during drive-times on a holiday and deliver a newscast is an unreachable expense is a real stretch. Part-timers don't get overtime or holiday pay in this market. More gets spent on wine at lunch during a "meeting" than it would cost to pay a part-timer.

 

[TheBigA]

There are several people in management who are very well paid. To expect people on this board to believe that the extra dollars required to staff the radio station during drive-times on a holiday and deliver a newscast is an unreachable expense is a real stretch.

I haven't said it's an "unreachable expense." All I'm saying is ask the members. If you work in non-profit radio, the question is how do you spend the listeners' money. And the fact is that holiday newscasts in public radio are simply not a priority. In most markets, they're not a priority at commercial stations either. But that's besides the point.

As for the salaries of management, their salaries are a percentage of the corporate money they raise. That's their job, and that's how the Board of Trustees determines their pay. They attract corporate support to pay for capital expenses and office staff. The listener money pays for the programming. That's typically how the budget is divided.

But once again, what's wrong with asking listeners to pay for holiday newscasts? It's an easy way to find out just how important the listeners feel it is. It might be interesting to see if the listeners think it's as important as you think it is. As I said, most public stations don't do local news on holidays. This is also a Rochester board, so maybe someone can tell us what they do at WXXI.

 

[jim8230]

So...the other night around 1:30 in the morning, NPR distribution had an equipment crash that killed all of their live streams for almost 40 minutes. No newscasts, no classical music, no BBC...nothing. As I said in an earlier post...things happen. The comment about getting it right by Christmas was a bit snarky. I believe they have it "right"; For the amount of time they are automated there are very few problems. Surely when they were owned by the university they didn't have a perfect record during unmanned operation.

If the complaint is no local news on Thanksgiving, then write them and complain. Let them know you are unhappy about their decision. Judging by the radio landscape in Buffalo WBFO and WNED-FM, for the most part, are the only stations worth spending any time with...despite their foibles.

 

[Element9]

And the fact is that holiday newscasts in public radio are simply not a priority. In most markets, they're not a priority at commercial stations either.

Sure. Maybe in Springville or Horseheads. Did WBEN mail it in? No. Entercom saw value in having a local news anchor on duty. It would be good to hear from the Rochester contingent regarding WXXI. I'd be surprised if a local news anchor wasn't on duty there. As to the dead air: Granted, one missing line of code in an hour can create problems with automation. But having a body on premises at an estimated $15 to $20 an hour would have quickly resolved if not prevented the problem.

So...the other night around 1:30 in the morning, NPR distribution had an equipment crash that killed all of their live streams for almost 40 minutes. No newscasts, no classical music, no BBC...nothing. As I said in an earlier post...things happen.

You lucked out. 1:30 a.m. isn't 7:45 a.m.

The comment about getting it right by Christmas was a bit snarky.

It was neither snarky nor was it intended to be. It was an objective assessment. At worst it was presumptive.

I believe they have it "right"; For the amount of time they are automated there are very few problems. Surely when they were owned by the university they didn't have a perfect record during unmanned operation.

Probably not, but I can't remember the the last time "WBFO at UB" went dead in AM drive on a holiday. There were a few times when snow on the sat dish, resulted in drop-outs, requiring the morning news anchor to sweep out the dish to restore network programming. The point is, somebody was there.

As has been pointed out earlier in this thread, given the stature of WNYPB, you'd expect issues like this to be covered as well, if not better than they were when WBFO was in Allen Hall, when the ND and PD lived within minutes of the radio station and constantly listened to it.

Judging by the radio landscape in Buffalo WBFO and WNED-FM, for the most part, are the only stations worth spending any time with...despite their foibles.

Their value isn't being denied. In fact, that's why this discussion is taking place. Because listeners and members value the content, consistency and professionalism on weekdays, weekends and holidays. It's a discussion on a message board with likely less than three dozen readers. The only thing that's missing is a couple of beers and a tray of wings. To quote Michael Corleone, "It's not personal."

As to the "only stations worth spending time with," a Nielsen rating book from the last 12 months would offer evidence that listeners spend a little more time with WYRK, WBEN and WBLK, "despite their foibles." But as an astute sales manager once said, when a station is #1 with a 12 share, there are 88 shares it doesn't have. In other words, a lot of listeners aren't listening to it.

Finally, as Rox notes, given the layers of VPs at WNYPB and the likelihood that DKB spends more on car washes than what might be spent on a part time/weekend news anchor, investing in that news anchor yields an arguably equal if not better return, especially when the automation goes down.

So before DKB "yells" at his radio middle managers, he might want look at himself. But he's rarely if ever done that. So I'm told by more than a few people who've worked for him.

 

[TheBigA]

Finally, as Rox notes, given the layers of VPs at WNYPB and the likelihood that DKB spends more on car washes than what might be spent on a part time/weekend news anchor, investing in that news anchor yields an arguably equal if not better return, especially when the automation goes down.

That's not the issue. WBFO isn't trying to compete with commercial stations. And they don't care what a handful of posters on a message board think. What they care about is what do their paying members want. And at most public stations, not just WBFO, the answer is they don't care about local news on holidays. You say their money would "better spent on a part time/weekend news anchor," but that's just what YOU want. Not necessarily what the paying membership of WBFO wants. Everybody thinks what THEY want is what everyone else wants. That's not how radio works.

Once again, take a look beyond Buffalo. How many public radio stations have local news on holidays?

 

[Element9]

So what's good for Boise is good for Buffalo. Wonderful. Good slogan for the next pledge drive.

 

[TheBigA]

So what's good for Boise is good for Buffalo. Wonderful. Good slogan for the next pledge drive.

The slogan for the next pledge drive is: If you want local news on holidays and weekends: Call now. See what happens.

No one's talking about Boise. Tell me about Albany and Rochester. How much staffing do they have on holidays?

 

[SirRoxalot]

Thank you for speaking for "most public stations". So WBFO isn't competing with WBEN? You'd better tell them, their air staff, and their sales people.

Albany is a far different situation than Rochester or Buffalo. Maybe one of the Rochester folks knows what WXXI did on Thanksgiving.

The bottom line is that bigwigs at WBFO cheaped out, and it came back to bite them in the butt. Brian Meyer is relatively new as News Director. Perhaps he'll rethink the "savings". Perhaps not. And perhaps it's not his decision, considering the number of managers in the hierarchy. It still is appalling that the entire broadcast palace (and it IS a palace) didn't have anybody there to monitor the silence sensors and get SOMETHING on the air.

 

[TheBigA]

Albany is a far different situation than Rochester or Buffalo. Maybe one of the Rochester folks knows what WXXI did on Thanksgiving.

I'd be happy with some facts about the number of WBFO members who feel that local news is important on a holiday. So far, all I know is two radio geeks think it's important. I don't know if either of you are members of WBFO, but if only two people in a city the size of Buffalo want local news on Thanksgiving morning, I'd say it's not worth it.

For someone who likes to take the side of on-air talent, it's beyond me why you'd want to force someone to come in that day, knowing listenership will be way down anyway, and there's not much to report, plus you're not getting paid extra money. Seems cruel to me. Maybe you'd be a great manager.

 

[Element9]

I'd be happy with some facts about the number of WBFO members who feel that local news is important on a holiday. So far, all I know is two radio geeks think it's important.

Said the poster who doesn't live here, refuses to disclose his location and couldn't tell Sloan from Snyder, but insists that local news on holidays and weekends isn't important to listeners in Western New York and Buffalo, simply because public radio stations in other cities don't provide it on those days. Have another "Michigan," BA.

 

[SirRoxalot]

For someone who likes to take the side of on-air talent, it's beyond me why you'd want to force someone to come in that day, knowing listenership will be way down anyway, and there's not much to report, plus you're not getting paid extra money. Seems cruel to me. Maybe you'd be a great manager.

That's funny coming from the guy who hates on-air talent, and would be happy to run everything automated 24/7 - at least until everybody gets their content on their smart phone and they shut down radio altogether.

 

[TheBigA]

Said the poster who doesn't live here, refuses to disclose his location and couldn't tell Sloan from Snyder, but insists that local news on holidays and weekends isn't important to listeners in Western New York and Buffalo, simply because public radio stations in other cities don't provide it on those days.

Once again, all I'm asking is if the membership thinks it's important. It's not rocket science. It doesn't matter if everyone in town thinks it's important. What matters is the people who pay for it. Whether or not I live in Buffalo is also unimportant. We're talking about public, non-commercial radio, which is very different from commercial radio. You live there, so I'm asking for some facts, and you're giving me stuff I already know.

That's funny coming from the guy who hates on-air talent, and would be happy to run everything automated 24/7 - at least until everybody gets their content on their smart phone and they shut down radio altogether.

So you're punting because neither you nor E9 know anything more about the WBFO audience than I do. All you both know is YOU want a non-profit to do local news on a holiday. You have no real information on what their membership think. Just your own personal selfish needs.

If local news on holidays is SO important to you, why don't you volunteer to do it? Public radio stations welcome local volunteers who give their time to the station. Of course both of you resent the salaries of the management, so that's something you'd never consider. But it would demonstrate more of a commitment than what you've shown here.