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FCC Investigating WBAI

T

TheBigA

This is a subject that's been discussed here for years: How does WBAI continue to air Gary Null and all the medical shows as underwriting? Now the FCC is asking the question. If they determine it's illegal, that could be the end of Pacifica:

www.insideradio.com

FCC Looking Into New York’s WBAI For Possible Underwriting Violations.

The FCC is investigating the underwriting practice of Pacifica’s New York station. The issue has come up as part of the license renewal application for “Pacifica Radio 99.5” WBAI. The
www.insideradio.com www.insideradio.com

The Commission has received a petition asking it to deny giving the left-leaning broadcaster a new license for allegedly violating rules that prohibit noncommercial stations from airing underwriting announcements that contain comparative and qualitative descriptions, price information, calls to action, and inducements to buy products or services provided by program guests.
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CTListener said:
"Country!"
"No, alternative!"
"No, COUNTRY!"
"What are you smoking? NEW YORK NEEDS ALT!"
"Country! Country! Country!!!!"
"What about the greatest music every made? Oldies!"
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You forgot about hip-hop.
 
If Smulyan can't get an offer anywhere near his $50MM price tag for WOR-FM -- sorry, I'm very old school on 98.7 -- then what's 99.5 going to be worth? No "goodwill" value, no "going concern" value, a stick value negatively impacted by being on 4 Times Square rather than the ESB, a 65 year history of government and managerial chaos, and a cume lower than the ridership on a typical Queens-bound F train after 8 pm. This won't ever be a Z-100, "Worst-to-First" scenario, no matter what gets programmed on it. You could bring back the ghosts of the 1961 Yankees to do sportstalk, or the Good Guys (take your pick which Good Guys) from that same year, and it still would take two years to get the least bit of traction.
 
Weiserguy said:
If Smulyan can't get an offer anywhere near his $50MM price tag for WOR-FM -- sorry, I'm very old school on 98.7 -- then what's 99.5 going to be worth? No "goodwill" value, no "going concern" value, a stick value negatively impacted by being on 4 Times Square rather than the ESB, a 65 year history of government and managerial chaos, and a cume lower than the ridership on a typical Queens-bound F train after 8 pm. This won't ever be a Z-100, "Worst-to-First" scenario, no matter what gets programmed on it. You could bring back the ghosts of the 1961 Yankees to do sportstalk, or the Good Guys (take your pick which Good Guys) from that same year, and it still would take two years to get the least bit of traction.
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WBAI was on ESB, I don't see any reason why they could not return there, as long as their rent checks clear.
 
Loverofradio said:
Why does Pacifica always have unheard drama?
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To give the Reader’s Digest version:

Pacifica is highly decentralized. It’s only real goal is a clearinghouse for programming from other sources (Pacifica affiliates, independent producers, etc).

Each station is essentially independently operated by Local Station Boards. And that’s the fly in the ointment.

You have the far left wanting their information disseminated, a fully unionized workforce at the station. You have the folks (like Gary Null) who find it as more of a business venture, complete with kickbacks and the like, and the old anarcho-libertarian hippies who have had their Mongolian Throat Flute show on Sunday afternoons since 1978. And they’ll be damned if there are no listeners…they’ve earned the right to that Sunday 2-4pm shift, and they’ll scratch, claw, and bite if suggestions are made to have more audience friendly programming.

What that means is there’s always constant bickering amongst the various LSBs (some would call it revolutionary struggle), and nothing ever gets done. Never enough money to pay the bills…and the only time they all agree on anything is to fire a station manager who suggests they all work together as a team.

There’s more to it than that, but it’s a complete enough picture. If you want to dive into the Pacifica rabbit hole, buckle up…it’s a wild ride!
 
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