City Of Dallas Seeking Non-Profits To Operate WRR

[AnyHuman]

From RadioInsight:

"The City of Dallas is currently seeking RFP’s for a non-profit to take over operations of Classical 101.1 WRR Dallas.
In a statement the city’s Office of Arts and Culture states, “The City of Dallas and Office of Arts and Culture greatly values the classical music broadcasts and arts organizations support that Classical WRR 101.1 FM radio provides. Unfortunately, due to reduced advertising revenue during the global pandemic and legal restrictions on the government employees of WRR to comply with ethics regulations, WRR 101.1 FM has operated at a deficit for eight years in a row..."

City Of Dallas Seeking Non-Profits To Operate WRR - RadioInsight

radioinsight.com

 

[AnyHuman]

"legal restrictions on the government employees of WRR to comply with ethics regulations"

So the Government's laws hurt itself?

 

[TheBigA]

So the Government's laws hurt itself?

Absolutely. That's the idea, otherwise the government would run over the rights of the people. It's possible the reference is to federal regulations rather than those of the city or state. The government has regulations on its own employees that an independent company would not have. Plus city employees qualify for government pensions and other benefits.

I'm assuming the city has already spoken with NTPB about combining operations with KERA. Perhaps this notice is to seek out other competing applications. From this notice, the city would retain ownership, and the outside company would replace city employees. When this happened in New York for WNYC, there was an overlap period to allow grandfathered city employees to either transfer to other positions in the city, or retire.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Absolutely. That's the idea, otherwise the government would run over the rights of the people. It's possible the reference is to federal regulations rather than those of the city or state. The government has regulations on its own employees that an independent company would not have. Plus city employees qualify for government pensions and other benefits.

I'm assuming the city has already spoken with NTPB about combining operations with KERA. Perhaps this notice is to seek out other competing applications. From this notice, the city would retain ownership, and the outside company would replace city employees. When this happened in New York for WNYC, there was an overlap period to allow grandfathered city employees to either transfer to other positions in the city, or retire.

I heard the former NJN face a similar situation where WNET-TV took over the TV operations of NJN and WNYC took over NJN Radio as part of the deal because of the budget issues in New Jersey a decade ago due to a previous recession.

 

[TheBigA]

I heard the former NJN face a similar situation where WNET-TV took over the TV operations of NJN and WNYC took over NJN Radio as part of the deal because of the budget issues in New Jersey a decade ago due to a previous recession.

I don't think budget was as much of a reason as it was a Republican governor who didn't want to support public broadcasting.

N.J.'s Christie Compares Public Broadcasting to Soviet Union Before Announcing Deal

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie compared government funding of public broadcasting to the old Soviet Union before he announced a deal that sells the state's public broadcasting network to two nearby states, MyFoxPhilly.com reported.

www.foxnews.com

He compared it to the Soviet system. It's a bad analogy. State governments don't control the content of public broadcasting in the way the Soviets did. The intent of public broadcasting was to better accomplish the FCC's goal of public service.

The city of Dallas has kept WRR true to its original mission without content interference. It's one of the last remaining commercial classical stations in the country. WFMT Chicago is also commercial classical, but owned by the public TV station.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Interesting that the City of Dallas will retain ownership while farming out actual operations to a third party. There have been a number of heritage Classical stations that have gone non-commercial, but that usually involved a frequency/license switch to a lesser facility. KING-FM in Seattle is the only one that comes to mind that converted to non-comm while retaining its license and transmitter.

Could this be considered a reverse of the situation with KKJZ in Los Angeles where commercial operator Saul Levine (KKGO, etc.) manages and operates a college owned non-comm?

The Friends of WRR group is now going to have to put up or shut up, and it appears they are complaining already. Well, show us the money. It's probably amazing WRR has lasted this long, given changing (aging) demographics and shifting musical tastes.

NTPB would be the best solution, if they are willing to take on the responsibilities without draining money and resources from KERA, KKXT, as well as KERA-TV.

Regardless of what happens with new operators, I still have the feeling that WRR will be sold in the next few years, and the Classical format, should it survive, would wind up elsewhere--perhaps on 93.3 or relegated to an HD channel, as is the case in Houston.

Here is the RFP: City of Dallas - WRR Municipal Radio Station Management

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

I don't think budget was as much of a reason as it was a Republican governor who didn't want to support public broadcasting.

N.J.'s Christie Compares Public Broadcasting to Soviet Union Before Announcing Deal

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie compared government funding of public broadcasting to the old Soviet Union before he announced a deal that sells the state's public broadcasting network to two nearby states, MyFoxPhilly.com reported.

www.foxnews.com

He compared it to the Soviet system. It's a bad analogy. State governments don't control the content of public broadcasting in the way the Soviets did. The intent of public broadcasting was to better accomplish the FCC's goal of public service.

The city of Dallas has kept WRR true to its original mission without content interference. It's one of the last remaining commercial classical stations in the country. WFMT Chicago is also commercial classical, but owned by the public TV station.

I remember a similar thing in the national level but at the time that the New Jersey article came out when

Key Elements Of NPR Gotcha Video Taken Out Of Context

The videotapes that triggered a firestorm last week are being scrutinized. Footage posted by conservative activist James O'Keefe captured NPR's chief fundraising official disparaging conservatives, and saying the network would be better off without federal funding. But much of what Ron Schiller...

www.npr.org

Project Veritas a then fringe group on the right went after the previous board management of NPR. That may have been a sparking point to defund local NPR affiliates.

WRR in this case I can see this either moving to an HD-2, or streaming only to KERA-FM.

 

[TheBigA]

WRR in this case I can see this either moving to an HD-2, or streaming only to KERA-FM.

Not according to the article in the OP: "The City will retain ownership of the station and WRR will be a classical music station continuing services to arts organizations."

 

[TheBigA]

The Friends of WRR group is now going to have to put up or shut up, and it appears they are complaining already. Well, show us the money. It's probably amazing WRR has lasted this long, given changing (aging) demographics and shifting musical tastes.

Another example in Seattle: Pacific Lutheran University sought to sell KPLU. They had a buyer in KUOW. But new owners planned to change the format. So the Friends of KPLU group raised over $7 million and bought the station from the University. The Friends of WRR group could form a non-profit to run the station. They would have to demonstrate how they would raise funds and operate the station without depending on the city.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Not according to the article in the OP: "The City will retain ownership of the station and WRR will be a classical music station continuing services to arts organizations."

Good point for now! But like you said I can see KERA radio talent run an LMA on WRR if the contract was approved.

 

[b-turner]

I suspect the Friends of WRR would be the likely group to take over the programming. There may be some logistics, but there is no law a non-profit cannot operate a commercial radio station or that said station be non-commercial. As for the employees of WRR, I am sure there could be a workaround where the staff could switch bosses from the city to the non-profit entity.

One thing I believe really hurts WRR is the City of Dallas City Council meetings being aired during prime listening hours and prime advertising hours for the station.

The worst would be the route taken by both KUHF and South Texas Public Radio by blowing out the staff and plugging in Classical 24. Dallas/Fort Worth has a huge population and a big arts community capable of supporting it's sole classical outlet. Even with Covid, there's no reason the station should be losing money if management is given the reigns to make that happen. It just needs some creative packages that don't overly-commercialize the content while offering some exclusive features an advertiser can hang their hat on.

 

[TheBigA]

One thing I believe really hurts WRR is the City of Dallas City Council meetings being aired during prime listening hours and prime advertising hours for the station.

Exactly and I didn't see anything in the RFP that would require the new operator to continue that on the main signal.

 

[gr8oldies]

Exactly and I didn't see anything in the RFP that would require the new operator to continue that on the main signal.

Next year at this time: fire and BRIMSTONE.

 

[TheBigA]

Next year at this time: fire and BRIMSTONE.

Not according to the article in the OP: "The City will retain ownership of the station and WRR will be a classical music station continuing services to arts organizations."

 

[tested]

I find it noteworthy that this RFP opened June 17th and the Friends of WRR didn't say anything until July 2nd.
It means the Friends of WRR is unlikely to be able to make a bid and if another entity like North Texas Public Broadcasting or First Dallas Media (i.e. First Baptist Church) was contacted early in the process they will be the only bidders.

Now that it's out in the public, I suspect we will see the same cycle we have before: outrage from Friends of WRR, council contacted, council concerned. and idea will be shelved.

 

[TheBigA]

Now that it's out in the public, I suspect we will see the same cycle we have before: outrage from Friends of WRR, council contacted, council concerned. and idea will be shelved.

If you go to the Friends of WRR website, this is what you'll see:

CALL TO ACTION — Deadline: July 15, 2021

CALL AND EMAIL COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE CITY MANAGER, AND THE MAYOR TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR WRR NOW
WRR is the 2nd-oldest licensed radio station in the United States and the first station licensed in the State of Texas. It has been owned by the City of Dallas since being licensed 100 years ago. It is the 5th-most-listened-to classical station in the country, bringing classical music and the arts to 250,000 to 300,000 individual listeners every week.

In August, the Dallas City Council will be asked to vote on bids from outside managers for the control of WRR. The Friends Board of Directors strongly feels the bid process is rushed and flawed. It does not give potential bidders enough time or information to prepare bids that sufficiently protect the station. If no one bids, we are concerned the City will move to sell the station. Even if a bidder wins the contract, the station is exposed to a serious risk of long-term harm and, ultimately, a sale.

OUTSIDE MANAGEMENT IS EXACTLY HOW HOUSTON LOST ITS CLASSICAL MUSIC STATION COMPLETELY. THE BID PROCESS HAS BEEN FAST-TRACKED WHILE THE CITY COUNCIL IS IN A RECESS, AND IT IS HAPPENING WITHOUT INPUT FROM THOSE AFFECTED MOST—ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND LISTENERS.
TO FIND OUT MORE DETAILS CLICK HERE. WRR IS CITY-OWNED AND CANNOT ADVOCATE FOR ITSELF, SO IT’S UP TO US:

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A couple of things: The Houston situation was very different. University of Houston bought KTRU. The city of Dallas is retaining the license to protect the format. Whoever ends up operating the station will need to work with the Friends of WRR. So whoever wants to take on this station should reach out quickly to make peace with the Friends. They are one of the fine arts groups the city expects the operator to work with.

 

[tested]

Here's the thing about this, we've been down this road many times before. It winds up being way too hot for the council to handle and they always back off. However, in the past decade or so, Dallas has successfully gotten private groups to run the zoo and Fair Park. Both of those efforts had concerns raised by various groups, but the city was upfront about what they were doing and got significant support for the idea to cut the city cost and improve the zoo and fair park. If this process had been done in an above-board fashion, they could have sold the idea to the Friends of WRR and found a way to make an LMA from NTPB (or someone) work. Instead, this has been done in an underhanded way that has made the Friends of WRR an enemy of the idea. I don't know who thought that was a good idea, but it wasn't. Maybe they know something I don't, but I suspect the council will ultimately reject this idea.

 

[TheBigA]

Maybe they know something I don't, but I suspect the council will ultimately reject this idea.

The "call to action" sounds pretty pissed. So you may be right. But if they've been losing money for 8 years, something has to change. The council can't let that continue. From what I see, the Friends aren't proposing to be one of the bidders. They want to stop the process. So as I said, whoever wants to run this station needs to find a way to make peace with this group.

 

[Mediafrog+]

OUTSIDE MANAGEMENT IS EXACTLY HOW HOUSTON LOST ITS CLASSICAL MUSIC STATION COMPLETELY.

Friends of WRR has no idea of what they are talking about here. KUHA in Houston died because it was a financial albatross for Houston Public Media, which is under the University of Houston. We knew just two years after launching that the station was in trouble when most of the airstaff was fired. HPM was never able to raise the money to keep KUHA going, and the station was sold to a local religious operator. If Houston couldn't come up with the $$$, how will DFW be any different?

 

[TheBigA]

If Houston couldn't come up with the $$$, how will DFW be any different?

WRR is a commercial station. KUHA was non-commercial. So it was 100% dependent on listener donations. HPM bought KTRU and moved classical to that station. I can't find the purchase price, but I recall it was around $9 million. That was a lot of debt to overcome. So it depends on the deal the new operator makes with the city. If they can do a revenue share, where the city gets a percentage, rather than a hard dollar figure, they might be able to make it work. But since the on-air staff are city employees, they're likely making more money than traditional radio people. So that's another factor that will have to be worked out.