WBFO Has Imploded

[tbolt909]

Mostly, WBFO's response appears to be a top-down failure, not an indictment of the people near the bottom of the food chain.

Here's a positive post. WBFO is a quality radio station. They run NPR and a mix of local content. It far outclasses anything that WBEN serves up. They have also added The Bridge which you of course criticized in a previous post. You seem to think that 9th caller contests and putting Joe Blow on the air talking about snow drifts in his driveway is compelling content.

The management chose not to staff the station during the holiday weekend. You don't like their decision. They knew the storm was coming just like the public should have known. I suppose you also expected first responders to go out no matter how impossible the conditions were...

 

[SirRoxalot]

Here's a positive post. WBFO is a quality radio station. They run NPR and a mix of local content. It far outclasses anything that WBEN serves up. They have also added The Bridge which you of course criticized in a previous post. You seem to think that 9th caller contests and putting Joe Blow on the air talking about snow drifts in his driveway is compelling content.

The management chose not to staff the station during the holiday weekend. You don't like their decision. They knew the storm was coming just like the public should have known. I suppose you also expected first responders to go out no matter how impossible the conditions were...

If you were actually here during the storm and actually knew the area, you'd know how asinine you sound when you talk about first responders. Nobody was putting "9th caller contests" or "Joe Blow" on the air or advocating that. As far as diverting resources to The Bridge and reducing local news coverage is concerned, it's simply short-sighted. The Bridge got a .1 between April and August and disappeared from the ratings after that. Numbers like that make The Wolf and the Beer and Wings boys look like genius moves.

As far as WBFO is concerned, they run NPR and a LOT of syndicated public radio shows. There's precious little local content these days. Maybe it's a ploy to market to Toronto better, but it's sure not serving local listeners as well as it used to.

 

[TheBigA]

As far as WBFO is concerned, they run NPR and a LOT of syndicated public radio shows. There's precious little local content these days. Maybe it's a ploy to market to Toronto better, but it's sure not serving local listeners as well as it used to.

In most markets, that's what NPR stations do. Especially those co-owned with TV stations. I recall there was a lot of this kind of criticism when WNYPB bought WBFO 12 years ago. Back then a lot of local music shows were replaced by national news shows. Clearly there has been a redirecting of station news resources to the daily one-hour local news show, rather than traditional spot news coverage, and they elected not to bring in extra staff during a holiday weekend. We'll see what happens at the next fundraiser, and how this plan fits with what their membership wants.

 

[tbolt909]

As far as diverting resources to The Bridge and reducing local news coverage is concerned, it's simply short-sighted. The Bridge got a .1 between April and August and disappeared from the ratings after that. Numbers like that make The Wolf and the Beer and Wings boys look like genius moves.

Talk about False Equivalencies(A phrase you like to use). You obviously don't know the market. The Bridge is an HD only station without a full FM signal. WBUF has one of the best signals and just registered a 1.8. I guess in Buffalo that's a genius move...

 

[SirRoxalot]

Talk about False Equivalencies(A phrase you like to use). You obviously don't know the market. The Bridge is an HD only station without a full FM signal. WBUF has one of the best signals and just registered a 1.8. I guess in Buffalo that's a genius move...

The only reason that The Bridge is on HD is to reduce the cost of music royalties. Reality is that it's an online streaming station. You apparently missed the point about diverting resources away from local news at WBFO. I'm not defending a 1.8, but it's way better than less than a 0.1. I suspect my grasp of both the market and the radio industry is a lot more current and relevant than yours. At least I understand why the old Lake format is a non-starter in this market.

 

[Mark1981]

In most markets, that's what NPR stations do. Especially those co-owned with TV stations. I recall there was a lot of this kind of criticism when WNYPB bought WBFO 12 years ago. Back then a lot of local music shows were replaced by national news shows. Clearly there has been a redirecting of station news resources to the daily one-hour local news show, rather than traditional spot news coverage, and they elected not to bring in extra staff during a holiday weekend. We'll see what happens at the next fundraiser, and how this plan fits with what their membership wants.

Indeed, virtually all public radio station schedules are filled with programs from NPR, APM, PRX and other public radio syndicators. But stations in medium to large markets find a way to present hourly local newscasts, plus at least one longer form daily program.

A prime example is Rochester’s WXXI. Buffalo and Rochester are 70 miles from each other. They’re the number 2 and 3 largest cities in New York, respectively. They’re very similar. Their respective public radio stations should sound relatively the same. But they do not. Not only does WXXI cover breaking local news quite well, it does so while airing a daily two-hour locally produced show. So, I question why WBFO can’t do the same. Covering local news and airing a daily public affairs show should not be mutually exclusive ideas. Buffalo is a slightly larger market. Yet, I would argue WXXI is the better station. It’s staffed on weekend mornings and holidays. WBFO is not. And WXXI fully utilizes the Morning Edition clock, providing a maximum of local content, something WBFO used to do but no longer does.

I would hope WBFO members would voice their displeasure by withholding their support. But in reality, I’m not sure the average public radio listener, while highly educated, notices the subtleties. They want NPR. And they’re getting that thanks to WBFO. And they’re still hearing some local newscasts, weather updates and an in-depth enterprise piece or two a week. It pains me to hear automation throwing in five consecutive repetitive spots during a Morning Edition local availability where I once heard an engaging interview or in-depth feature. But most listeners are not like me. So, I doubt WBFO’s fundraising will be affected in any appreciable way. That shouldn’t be used as a justification for the changes WBFO has made. The station’s management deserves the criticism it’s getting from some in this thread. Again, if WXXI is able to do what it does, so can WBFO. Buffalo shouldn’t accept a lesser effort from its public station.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Indeed, virtually all public radio station schedules are filled with programs from NPR, APM, PRX and other public radio syndicators. But stations in medium to large markets find a way to present hourly local newscasts, plus at least one longer form daily program.

I know you said "virtually all" but i can somewhat proudly say "not us" I have a saying .. and no offense to anyone else but "hjust because were public radio doesnt mean we have to sound it"

We carry Me at 6, ATC at 4, statewide news at 5... but we sound, overall, much more like a community station.. playing garth brooks, judas priest, weird al and more with 5 hours a day of local programming 8 -9am and 12noon to 4pm

Paul at KSKO

 

[TheBigA]

I question why WBFO can’t do the same.

Typically when it comes to public radio, the answer is budget. One way to handle this is to bring this up at the next fundraiser. "You want weekend news? Call with your pledge now." If they get enough money to cover the staffing, then they do it.

 

[Mark1981]

I know you said "virtually all" but i can somewhat proudly say "not us" I have a saying .. and no offense to anyone else but "hjust because were public radio doesnt mean we have to sound it"

We carry Me at 6, ATC at 4, statewide news at 5... but we sound, overall, much more like a community station.. playing garth brooks, judas priest, weird al and more with 5 hours a day of local programming 8 -9am and 12noon to 4pm

Paul at KSKO

I should have qualified my post. I was referring to public stations that are basically news-talk. Indeed, there are many stations like yours that play music between the Morning Edition and ATC bookends. Many present Classical music. Others jazz or Triple A. Your station sounds quite eclectic. I’ll have to check it out!

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I should have qualified my post. I was referring to public stations that are basically news-talk. Indeed, there are many stations like yours that play music between the Morning Edition and ATC bookends. Many present Classical music. Others jazz or Triple A. Your station sounds quite eclectic. I’ll have to check it out!

I played a bunch of 80s pop in the second half of the 1pm hour, close to 230, i played weird al's p[arody of gangsters paradise followed by coolios real version .. now im playing elton john and tina turner

 

[Larry]

I would hope WBFO members would voice their displeasure by withholding their support. But in reality, I’m not sure the average public radio listener, while highly educated, notices the subtleties.

But this isn’t something subtle that wouldn’t be noticed by a large number of people. There’s a huge difference between not having a local cut in on national NPR programming and having no local coverage during the major storm Buffalo just experienced. Listeners and members/donors notice that. Question is did it upset them enough to withhold future support.

 

[SirRoxalot]

It seems like a lot of jobs have been cut at that big, shiny building downtown, and a lot of operations have been automated and outsourced. We seem to have a growing need for studio and soundstage space in WNY thanks to movie producers who have discovered the variety of location looks here. Maybe WNYPB should consider selling the building, which has never come close to being fully utilized, and moving to more modest digs that would allow them to cut operating costs. They've already downsized. Maybe it's time to also right-size.

 

[tbolt909]

It seems like a lot of jobs have been cut at that big, shiny building downtown, and a lot of operations have been automated and outsourced. We seem to have a growing need for studio and soundstage space in WNY thanks to movie producers who have discovered the variety of location looks here. Maybe WNYPB should consider selling the building, which has never come close to being fully utilized, and moving to more modest digs that would allow them to cut operating costs. They've already downsized. Maybe it's time to also right-size.

Maybe you should apply for the CEO job there. It's amazing they have stayed in business this long without your sage leadership.

You could make the same argument about Corporate Parkway that Entercom - Audacy uses. I've heard about lots of downsizing there and many empty offices...

 

[Rusty Bridges]

You could make the same argument about Corporate Parkway that Entercom - Audacy uses. I've heard about lots of downsizing there and many empty offices...

A few years back, the Company Formerly Known as Entercom cut the 500 Corporate floor plan by about a half.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Maybe you should apply for the CEO job there. It's amazing they have stayed in business this long without your sage leadership.

You could make the same argument about Corporate Parkway that Entercom - Audacy uses. I've heard about lots of downsizing there and many empty offices...

Audacy already made major cuts (see Rusty Bridges post). WNYPB is by far the largest TV studio in the city and goes unused most of the time since they do very little local studio production. It was built so they could produce the Mark Russell specials a couple of decades ago. Since Mark is now in his 90s, I don't expect him to make a comeback. They haven't come up with a replacement who garners national interest so the production facility lies fallow. The building also was much larger than their needs when it was built because they expected to lease part of the building to offset operating costs. The purchase of WBFO did utilize more of the building, but there have been significant structural issues over the years and they've never fully leased the additional space.

Again, you don't really know what goes on in this market, so you wouldn't understand context and history. Of course, that won't stop you from opining about things you don't understand.

 

[TheBigA]

Maybe WNYPB should consider selling the building,

Here we go again. Regular posters will remember your continued calls to cut the pay for WNYPB's CEO. This time, you're calling for them to sell the building. In either case, they do what they do based on what their Board of Trustees suggest. Not what you write on a message board.

When he took the CEO position, Calderone proposed using the open space in the building for live music performances for The Bridge, as well as an event space for members. It's something that a number of public stations have done around the country. They had to pause their plans for gatherings because of covid. But it's possible that his proposal could happen this year.

 

[CTListener]

Still missing in this thread: Solid evidence that Buffalonians as a whole are far more obsessed with radio than residents of other cities. Purely anecdotal evidence ("A non-radio friend said she was outraged by ..." and the like) that is posted by a person in the industry or with an oversize interest in the "inside baseball" of radio doesn't count. If I were to visit Buffalo, as a complete stranger, walk into a bar or attend a Sabres game and strike up conversations with random drinkers/fans about what WBFO did or didn't do during the blizzard, do you really think I'd stir up passionate, detailed discussion?

 

[Larry]

If I were to visit Buffalo, as a complete stranger, walk into a bar or attend a Sabres game and strike up conversations with random drinkers/fans about what WBFO did or didn't do during the blizzard, do you really think I'd stir up passionate, detailed discussion?

I think the more important question is how do donors (individual, foundation, corporate) feel about the lack of coverage of the storm, and if they are disappointed or angry, will they reduce or eliminate their support?

 

[TheBigA]

I think the more important question is how do donors (individual, foundation, corporate) feel about the lack of coverage of the storm, and if they are disappointed or angry, will they reduce or eliminate their support?

Public radio stations have membership staffs who keep in touch with what the members want. The station doesn't do live news on weekends, so this was nothing new. If members want it, they can ask for their donation to fund weekend news.

 

[Rusty Bridges]

Still missing in this thread: Solid evidence that Buffalonians as a whole are far more obsessed with radio than residents of other cities. Purely anecdotal evidence ("A non-radio friend said she was outraged by ..." and the like) that is posted by a person in the industry or with an oversize interest in the "inside baseball" of radio doesn't count. If I were to visit Buffalo, as a complete stranger, walk into a bar or attend a Sabres game and strike up conversations with random drinkers/fans about what WBFO did or didn't do during the blizzard, do you really think I'd stir up passionate, detailed discussion?

A guy walks into a bar in Buffalo... This is a radio board, what the heck do you expect?! Few civilians care as much about the business as do the readers and posters on this board. We're a sub-set of a sub-culture. Transmitters, towers, music rotations, formats, personalities... this is our watering hole. Perhaps we should stop wasting our time here reading and posting, and instead devote our time to something more substantial and productive. Hey! How 'bout them Bills!?