Does Increased Coverage Area Justify Duplication?

[Uncle Kaimbridge]

OTOOH, I know of several classical fans that hate WGBH's classical offerings on WCRB/WGBH-HD2 (and this is irrespective of the signal issues; they don't like the content itself) and they REALLY hated the old WCRB 102.5 too...and a lot of them really liked the classical that WHRB provided. (shrugs)

Now you just had to go and give LG’s hornet’s nest a good kick, didn’t you?

 

[HHH]

WHRB should expand jazz coverage beyond the 5AM to 1PM period which they currently program.

I do wonder about that. I'm hesitant to say that WHRB "should" be doing anything different since what they do seems to work pretty well for them and their audience. It's a niche audience, but it's pretty loyal. OTOH it does seem like WHRB is missing a prime opportunity here by going more jazz and less everything else.

OTOOH, I know of several classical fans that hate WGBH's classical offerings on WCRB/WGBH-HD2 (and this is irrespective of the signal issues; they don't like the content itself) and they REALLY hated the old WCRB 102.5 too...and a lot of them really liked the classical that WHRB provided. (shrugs)

Yes, commercial (or bigger public) stations' classical music programming tends to be the Bach/Mozart/Beethoven greatest hits approach. I suppose it is necessary. But some real aficionados want the deeper and more abstract stuff like John Cage, Shostakovich, etc plus all of that really strange vocal stuff that you hear on WQXR's HD-2 (Q2). WHRB will program some of this--as they should (who else?)--but I can't imagine that there are more people that want to hear this material than jazz. I think HRB could increase, or maybe re-schedule, their jazz programming in light of the WGBH decision. There is some kind of opportunity here for WHRB, I think.

 

[fybush]

There is some kind of opportunity here for WHRB, I think.

That assumes, I think, that WHRB has an interest in reaching a larger audience. It's certainly an odd beast - a commercially-licensed station that has no real motivation to seek high ratings, yet at the same time is apparently just financially comfortable enough to not be heavily dependent on on-air fundraising and listener support, either. That appears to give WHRB the ability to program out of the mainstream without any of the pressures that push larger commercial or public stations in the direction of more mass-market programming strategies.

(But I make these observations very much as an outsider; I'm not privy to WHRB's finances and can only make an educated guess as to what's happening inside...)

 

[TheBigA]

That assumes, I think, that WHRB has an interest in reaching a larger audience.

Apparently not. I just looked at the 6+ numbers and they're too small to count. That's not good.

 

[fybush]

That assumes, I think, that WHRB has an interest in reaching a larger audience.

Apparently not. I just looked at the 6+ numbers and they're too small to count. That's not good.

By the standards of public (or commercial) radio today, maybe not. But WHRB marches to its own drummer, and it appears to have found a niche in which it can operate comfortably without a lot of the pressures that drive a WGBH or WBUR (or even WUMB) in a different direction. It's not taking any CPB funding, it's not aggressive in seeking listener support, and while it takes ads, it seems to do so in a very low-key fashion. From the outside, at least, WHRB appears to be self-sustaining and under no financial pressure to change what it's doing - so who am I to say it should do so?

 

[TheBigA]

From the outside, at least, WHRB appears to be self-sustaining and under no financial pressure to change what it's doing - so who am I to say it should do so?

They apparently have "ghosts" who help. Probably rich alumni.

Could be why the jazz listeners held a funeral...they have no idea that WHRB even exists.

 

[raccoonradio]

>> "ghosts"
I don't doubt the likes of WGBH and WHRB urge listeners to leave them money as bequests...good point though, but maybe they'll discover 'HRB if they scan the dial. They just have to tune in at those
certain times --wow, jazz.

 

[TheBigA]

maybe they'll discover 'HRB if they scan the dial.

What we find is that most radio users typically don't "scan." The fact that WHRB is in the commercial spectrum might disuade them from even attempting it.

 

[raccoonradio]

Hmm you may have a point. And I get the feeling many people )into MAINSTREAM stuff) who may scan (hit the button, or just keep scrolling up or down the dial) may figure there's nothing worth listening to between 88 and 92 But maybe they (jazz fans etc.) pretty much stick to the non-comm band as you say.

 

[Improv]

I think the discussion about WHRB is well taken and represents an option that should be seriously discussed. My impression is that jazz listeners do know about it and appreciate it. However, WHRB used to have a bigger presence of community DJ's who really knew the music, didn't mispronounce names, were willing to bring musicians in for interviews, etc. Also, the programming starts very early, a disadvantage if you want a jazz audience. A time shift to a later start-even without an expansion of hours-would probably make a big difference. They already have incredible jazz orgies, which could be used to great promotional advantage. BTW, they do run straight ahead ads, which brings them some kind of income.

 

[TheBigA]

A time shift to a later start-even without an expansion of hours-would probably make a big difference.

This is why I've said in another thread that instead of wasting time protesting at WGBH, the jazz community needs to develop a closer relationship with a station that has already demonstrated an interest in the genre. When I was at a public station that played jazz, we incorporated some of those community supporters in our on-air team.