Northern California CapRadio ending agreement with Chico, Humboldt stations

[RF101]

I am posting this here as opposed to Sacramento. This change clearly originates with the CapRadio financial fiasco.

CapRadio eyes ‘transition plan’ for Chico, Humboldt public radio stations

Management of NSPR in Chico and KHSU in Humboldt County would return to their individual license holders, Chico State Enterprises and Cal Poly Humboldt, respectively.

www.capradio.org

Highlights of the news story...

"CapRadio has been managing daily operations for NSPR (KCHO 91.7 Chico/KFPR 88.9 Redding) and KHSU (90.5 Arcata) in Humboldt County since 2020 and 2021, respectively. Management of the stations would return to their individual license holders, Chico State Enterprises and Cal Poly Humboldt. CapRadio is a National Public Radio affiliate licensed to Sacramento State. The agreements were signed by CapRadio’s former general manager Jun Reina, who has been sued by the station for embezzlement and has denied any wrongdoing. .."

 

[ted chittenden]

Given the current issues surrounding CPB funding in Washington, D.C., this could be devastating to both networks. The good news is that, with the exception of Chico, all of the areas served by these outlets are also served by Jefferson Public Radio based out of Medford, OR.

 

[RF101]

It would be somewhat bizarre even for Jefferson Public Radio to pick up the Chico market as that area falls outside what traditionally was known as the "State of Jefferson".

To prove JPR's commitment to Northern California, KNCA (Burney) just received a major repair. Details and photos are here:

JPR Rhythm & News station KNCA/89.7FM in Northern California gets a major antenna system upgrade

www.ijpr.org

 

[radiofan2023]

KHSU has to be one of the smallest public radio stations in the mainland US, with only 2 staff members according to that article.

 

[ted chittenden]

KHSU has to be one of the smallest public radio stations in the mainland US, with only 2 staff members according to that article.

I'll bet it had more staff before Capp Radio took over. Since California is a "blue" state, I wonder if the state legislature, like the one in New York, will allocate some additional moneys for its public radio facilities should CPB money become unavailable.

 

[michael hagerty]

I'll bet it had more staff before Capp Radio took over.

Ted: No. Part of the reason for the agreement was that North State had fired most staff, ended its volunteer program and was airing entirely network programming. Here's a story from the Humboldt campus paper explaining, back in 2021:

KHSU plans to return to local programming

After getting abruptly cut back, KHSU hopes to once again begin running local shows

thelumberjack.org

 

[RF101]

Interesting to note that HSU has operated (at least) two stations in the commercial segment: KHSQ Trinidad, KHSM McKinleyville. Both are Class C3. SOU (JPR) operates KNHT Rio Dell, a C1 at 102.5.

Strange that KHSM always was affiliated with HSU.

For many years, JPR has been acquiring unprofitable or donated AM/FM stations to expand their network. KNHT was one of them,

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

I am posting this here as opposed to Sacramento. This change clearly originates with the CapRadio financial fiasco.

I would argue both "Yes and No"- Clearly, the mismanagement of finances had a major impact, but both KHSU and NorthState were in financial distress before the agreement was put in place. Much more so for KHSU.

CapRadio's part was that it was in no position to take this and all of the other ambitious initiatives at the same time.

 

[michael hagerty]

I would argue both "Yes and No"- Clearly, the mismanagement of finances had a major impact, but both KHSU and NorthState were in financial distress before the agreement was put in place. Much more so for KHSU.

CapRadio's part was that it was in no position to take this and all of the other ambitious initiatives at the same time.

And a reminder that the decision was made by a previous general manager who hid accurate financial information from the board and the staff, whose mismanagement took two exhaustive audits to fully uncover and who SacState is suing for embezzlement while criminal charges remain a possibility. This absolutely lands on his shoulders.

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

And a reminder that the decision was made by a previous general manager who hid accurate financial information from the board and the staff, whose mismanagement took two exhaustive audits to fully uncover and who SacState is suing for embezzlement while criminal charges remain a possibility. This absolutely lands on his shoulders.

CapRadio puts out a great product and I hope their reputation continues to improve along with their finances. It's unbelievable how it got so far out of hand and went on for so long.

 

[ted chittenden]

Ted: No. Part of the reason for the agreement was that North State had fired most staff, ended its volunteer program and was airing entirely network programming. Here's a story from the Humboldt campus paper explaining, back in 2021:

KHSU plans to return to local programming

After getting abruptly cut back, KHSU hopes to once again begin running local shows

thelumberjack.org

Thanks for the correction. KHSU-FM actually runs three different radio services in Eureka: the standard NPR/community outlet licensed to Arcata (and which has several full-power simulcasters and translators); a station that carries all-BBC all of the time; and a station that carries all Radio Bilingue all of the time. Putting myself in harm's way again, my best guess is that at least one of those two side stations will have to go, and my best guess about that will be that it will be the full-time BBC outlet that gets cut.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

It would be somewhat bizarre even for Jefferson Public Radio to pick up the Chico market as that area falls outside what traditionally was known as the "State of Jefferson".

To prove JPR's commitment to Northern California, KNCA (Burney) just received a major repair. Details and photos are here:

JPR Rhythm & News station KNCA/89.7FM in Northern California gets a major antenna system upgrade

www.ijpr.org

Given the current issues surrounding CPB funding in Washington, D.C., this could be devastating to both networks. The good news is that, with the exception of Chico, all of the areas served by these outlets are also served by Jefferson Public Radio based out of Medford, OR.

JPR also owns my former station in Redding, KWCA.

Flinn shouldve never bothered with this signal, originally a small Class A licensed to Weaverville, operated by a hispanic guy when in Weaverville, i think as a more mass appeal format.. and when it was upgraded, i think he did spanish on it then the Mix adult AC format. During it's ENTIRE exsistence as a commercial outlet in Weaverville and redding, it never turned a profit, ever.

JPR was and still is the best hope for a future for 101.1

Anoither problem ... is/was its STL....no microwave RF frequencies availabile and no line of STL from downtown Redding studios, no phone lines available at the site, no cell phone service..... they had a Comrex briclink for STL TX at the studio on ATT DSL and a private point to point, not shared internet connection at the TX site provided by a wireless isp that also shares their tower. The dish got blown out of alignment at the tx site one night by very very heavy winds.