It's not WBEN. WBFO scored major awards in the New York State Associated Press awards competition. http://news.wbfo.org/post/wbfo-wins-top-radio-award-ap
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Western New York's News Leader
- Thread starter Element9
- Start date
And late last month Pergament did a lengthy (puff) piece with ND Brian Meyer: http://www.buffalonews.com/columns/...reign-as-the-king-of-all-local-media-20150531
WBEN's news department is a shadow of its former self. I guess that we should be thankful that there's any local news at all. At least Entercom is investing something in their product. Townsquare and Cumuless invest approximately zero dollars in local news. WBFO appears to have actually upped its commitment in the last year. Now, if they'd put something on at night for local audiences, instead of repeating CBC programming that's already widely available in Canada, they might close that budget gap. The 7% thing is getting really old. Maybe they need a little more carrot, and a little less stick in their fund raising efforts.
Maybe they need a little more carrot, and a little less stick in their fund raising efforts.
Most people wouldn't pay their electric bill if there wasn't the threat of their lights being turned off. It doesn't matter how good the service is.
The idea of paying for content is murky now. Free content online has
distorted the game. What is quality music, films or radio worth?
Many people support NPR because they value it.
Commercial radio is a wasteland for many of us.
Others have stated that the listeners are "users" and the advertisers are
the customers. The savvy user can avoid commercial radio altogether, thus
Less customers for the advertisers...
distorted the game. What is quality music, films or radio worth?
Many people support NPR because they value it.
Commercial radio is a wasteland for many of us.
Others have stated that the listeners are "users" and the advertisers are
the customers. The savvy user can avoid commercial radio altogether, thus
Less customers for the advertisers...
D
dand5780
Guest
Others have stated that the listeners are "users" and the advertisers are
the customers. The savvy user can avoid commercial radio altogether, thus
Less customers for the advertisers...
Well that is true, the advertisers are the paying customers. On "commercial" radio or on WBFO. But then you have additional customers on WBFO, the listeners that are paying.
Considering that this year's fundraising is the first in recent memory that hasn't hit its targets, they may want to reconsider their current campaign strategy. Rumor has it that TV is actually the media that isn't bringing in the necessary dollars, and radio is well ahead of them the percentage of people who contribute.
WBFO is airing "fiscal year end" announcements in which it is mentioned the station is 100 and some thousand short of its fiscal year end goal. Some announcements are produced, others are live, or at least seem to be. Strange, but it seems the figure differs from time to time. Unless the announcers are misreading the deficit, I've heard 173 thousand, 137 thousand and 142 thousand. Maybe the announcers have misread the figure.
True. And his may be the reason for a promo voiced by CEO Donald K. Boswell, in which he says he's "disappointed" by the number of listeners who aren't members of WBFO. Also, Boswell pronounces the letter "W" in the WBFO call sign as "dub-ya," and in one sentence actually sounds like he's saying "Dubya Be A Foe." Not at all "friendly." The man's background is promotions, not announcing, but still... you'd think a production or news manager would tell him the promo isn't one of his better pieces of work. But word is DKB, who makes a thick six figure salary plus benefits, doesn't take kindly to even constructive criticism, which is why more than a few former employees say he's surrounded himself with multiple layers of highly paid upper management yes men/women. Perhaps the "disappointed" tactic works with people who drive a Porsche, Audi or Volvo, but it can't be very appealing to listeners that drive a Ford, Dodge or Chevy. Is WBFO an Audi and Volvo station or a Chevy and Ford station? One per cent or 99 per cent?
Most people wouldn't pay their electric bill if there wasn't the threat of their lights being turned off. It doesn't matter how good the service is.
True. And his may be the reason for a promo voiced by CEO Donald K. Boswell, in which he says he's "disappointed" by the number of listeners who aren't members of WBFO. Also, Boswell pronounces the letter "W" in the WBFO call sign as "dub-ya," and in one sentence actually sounds like he's saying "Dubya Be A Foe." Not at all "friendly." The man's background is promotions, not announcing, but still... you'd think a production or news manager would tell him the promo isn't one of his better pieces of work. But word is DKB, who makes a thick six figure salary plus benefits, doesn't take kindly to even constructive criticism, which is why more than a few former employees say he's surrounded himself with multiple layers of highly paid upper management yes men/women. Perhaps the "disappointed" tactic works with people who drive a Porsche, Audi or Volvo, but it can't be very appealing to listeners that drive a Ford, Dodge or Chevy. Is WBFO an Audi and Volvo station or a Chevy and Ford station? One per cent or 99 per cent?
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NPR content probably does attract a more affluent and intelligent crowd.
This doesn't mean snobs, but just more literate listeners.
Buffalo has plenty of blue collar types who shell out money on
Bills and Sabres tickets. Many of those people probably don't
listen to WBFO or WNED. Perhaps some do.
The criticism of management may be valid, but that's a separate issue.
My sense is that fewer people in our society value literate content.
What brand of car someone drives is irrelevant...
This doesn't mean snobs, but just more literate listeners.
Buffalo has plenty of blue collar types who shell out money on
Bills and Sabres tickets. Many of those people probably don't
listen to WBFO or WNED. Perhaps some do.
The criticism of management may be valid, but that's a separate issue.
My sense is that fewer people in our society value literate content.
What brand of car someone drives is irrelevant...
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Perhaps the "disappointed" tactic works with people who drive a Porsche, Audi or Volvo, but it can't be very appealing to listeners that drive a Ford, Dodge or Chevy. Is WBFO an Audi and Volvo station or a Chevy and Ford station? One per cent or 99 per cent?
How many Ford drivers donate to charities. That would be an interesting statistic. How many Chevy drivers care about news from West Africa? Look, if WBFO wants to attract Ford & Chevy drivers, the way to do it is play music like they have on WYRK. Lots of Fords and Chevys at the Taste of Country Festival. No Volvos or Audis.
A reasonable deduction, which would be an interesting statistic. (Mildly surprised that you don't quote a survey or research stat for that, A. You've disappointed us.) Could be that Chevy and Ford drivers contribute a great deal to charities, but more in the vein of their local fire-rescue company and church. Yet I wouldn't totally discount Ch 17-WNED-WBFO as a beneficiary of their generosity. Like Country music, NPR cuts across all demographics and economic strata... which is why Boswell's condescending comment should have been stricken from the promo. Be nice. Say "thanks," just like the WBFO program hosts so often do. Y'git more flies with honey. Cowboys know that. So should high falootin' CEOs.How many Ford drivers donate to charities. That would be an interesting statistic. How many Chevy drivers care about news from West Africa? Look, if WBFO wants to attract Ford & Chevy drivers, the way to do it is play music like they have on WYRK. Lots of Fords and Chevys at the Taste of Country Festival. No Volvos or Audis.
All of which brings us back to my "less stick, more carrot" comment...
If you listen, there's a different tone to the current WBFO approach than what they had while owned by the State Ed. department. It's gone from "we love you, we need you, we'll give you a coffee mug" to "hey, slacker, pony up and become one of the 7% - and it better be at least $60 or you're not a member of our exclusive group". I was listening to a fund drive on NPR affiliates in the Hudson/Mohawk Valley area a few weeks ago, and the tone was so much different from what we've heard lately on WBFO that it was striking. Maybe some folks - particularly those from the TV side - need to stroll out of their ivory tower and take a walk amongst the hoi-polloi.
There are a LOT of people asking for donations - for some VERY worthy causes. Maybe people are simply not enthused about the programming changes that have taken place over the last couple of years, and have decided to put their "spare money" elsewhere. Perhaps there are some other charities that make them feel appreciated, not "obligated".
If you listen, there's a different tone to the current WBFO approach than what they had while owned by the State Ed. department. It's gone from "we love you, we need you, we'll give you a coffee mug" to "hey, slacker, pony up and become one of the 7% - and it better be at least $60 or you're not a member of our exclusive group". I was listening to a fund drive on NPR affiliates in the Hudson/Mohawk Valley area a few weeks ago, and the tone was so much different from what we've heard lately on WBFO that it was striking. Maybe some folks - particularly those from the TV side - need to stroll out of their ivory tower and take a walk amongst the hoi-polloi.
There are a LOT of people asking for donations - for some VERY worthy causes. Maybe people are simply not enthused about the programming changes that have taken place over the last couple of years, and have decided to put their "spare money" elsewhere. Perhaps there are some other charities that make them feel appreciated, not "obligated".
If you listen, there's a different tone to the current WBFO approach than what they had while owned by the State Ed. department.
Well of course! They went from getting state money and state benefits to actually NEEDING membership money. You tend to sound more desperate when you are.
The real problem here is not that people don't listen...but that those who do don't pay. How are you supposed to treat freeloaders?
Especially when the "freeloaders" are invited (urged) to listen to the content on line or "download the podcast at our website" by the program originators/syndicators. It's a double edged sword which reminds me of CDs when the record companies went all-in on them, then came to realize that the CDs were nearly indestructible and could be ripped onto hard drives, converted to compressed mp3 files and sent around the world, peer-to-peer. Doh!Well of course! They went from getting state money and state benefits to actually NEEDING membership money. You tend to sound more desperate when you are.
The real problem here is not that people don't listen...but that those who do don't pay. How are you supposed to treat freeloaders?
Better to be nice. Entice. Calling listeners scofflaws or freeloaders, and saying you're "disappointed" only makes the listener/member quickly push the button... perhaps with an expletive not-so-deleted ending with the word "you."
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Better to be nice. Entice. Calling listeners scofflaws or freeloaders, and saying you're "disappointed" only makes the listener/member quickly push the button... perhaps with an expletive not-so-deleted ending with the word "you."
If they're not going to support the station, they're better off not listening.
But the fact is that they WON'T change the station because they're addicted to Garrison Keillor. And they can't get him anywhere else.
BTW it's been my experience that the only ones who dislike the more assertive appeals are the ones who feel the most guilty. They paying members are usually in favor of the harder approach. It's like church.
If there is a way to scramble the signal so that only paying members
can listen, that would eliminate "freeloaders".!
Of course, there's still that internet thing.
Fundraising has always been a chore no matter the style.
I'm sure various stations use a variety of methods.
They'll try them all to see what gets the best results.
Some folks you just can't reach.
People here blindly throw money at losing sports teams that still
rake in obscene profits...
can listen, that would eliminate "freeloaders".!
Of course, there's still that internet thing.
Fundraising has always been a chore no matter the style.
I'm sure various stations use a variety of methods.
They'll try them all to see what gets the best results.
Some folks you just can't reach.
People here blindly throw money at losing sports teams that still
rake in obscene profits...
If there is a way to scramble the signal so that only paying members
can listen, that would eliminate "freeloaders".!
I looked into that at one time, and it's not permitted by the FCC.
You talk as if being owned by the State Ed department was a license to print money. Be assured, that was not the case. Their payroll for the troops was higher, and the benefits were better, but they were still expected to be self-supporting. The bureaucratic hoops were more complex in an educational environment, even with WNYPB's overloaded management.
The bottom line is what they're doing ain't workin'. And if your "freeloaders" stop listening, what are the odds that they'll EVER pony up? Approximately ZERO. Maybe you need a walk outside your ivory tower as well. BTW, there's this thing called The Internet. There are other ways to get "Prairie Home Companion".
http://prairiehome.org/listen/podcast/
The bottom line is what they're doing ain't workin'. And if your "freeloaders" stop listening, what are the odds that they'll EVER pony up? Approximately ZERO. Maybe you need a walk outside your ivory tower as well. BTW, there's this thing called The Internet. There are other ways to get "Prairie Home Companion".
http://prairiehome.org/listen/podcast/
The bottom line is what they're doing ain't workin'. And if your "freeloaders" stop listening, what are the odds that they'll EVER pony up? Approximately ZERO. Maybe you need a walk outside your ivory tower as well. BTW, there's this thing called The Internet. There are other ways to get "Prairie Home Companion".
There are lots of options for everything, but the majority of the people still prefer to listen to PHC or ATC live on the radio. All the station is saying is if you listen, then pay for it. That's not a complex concept.
Most professional communicators know "It ain't what you say, it's how you say it."
It's not that they shouldn't ask for money. It's that the change in the way that they're asking for it isn't working. Results matter. Somebody in their waterfront palace needs to set their ego aside, look at the results, and rethink this.
It's not that they shouldn't ask for money. It's that the change in the way that they're asking for it isn't working. Results matter. Somebody in their waterfront palace needs to set their ego aside, look at the results, and rethink this.
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