Kit Bond Wants FCC Inquiry into KFUO/LCMS Sale to Gateway

[Cornflake the Destroyer]

http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzo...cms-kit-bond-calls-for-congressional-inquiry/

In a note responding to the Musicians’ Council of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s letter opposing the sale of “Classic99″ to “Joy FM,” Bond writes, “…I understand your concerns. In response to your request, I have asked the Federal Communications Commission to initiate a Congressional inquiry into this matter. I look forward to notifying you of the outcome of their inquiry.”

 

[radioaircheck]

That's Crazy! Radio stations sell all the time and when they do, formats change. Just because classical Music will be going away, that does not mean stop the sale of the station. This kind of thing has gone on in Dallas, when the City of Dallas tried to sell WRR. By CD's if you want classical Music.

 

[pqgeorge]

http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzo...cms-kit-bond-calls-for-congressional-inquiry/

In a note responding to the Musicians’ Council of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s letter opposing the sale of “Classic99″ to “Joy FM,” Bond writes, “…I understand your concerns. In response to your request, I have asked the Federal Communications Commission to initiate a Congressional inquiry into this matter. I look forward to notifying you of the outcome of their inquiry.”

It's unlikely that the FCC will deny the sale of KFUO-FM. Ever since the WNCN mess back in the 70's, the Commission has flat out ruled that formats are not controlled by the FCC. The only thing to stop this sale would be if the Lutheran Church/Missouri Synod can be proven to have violated the Rules and Regulations of the FCC when it comes to the potential sale of KFUO-FM to the Gateway Group. All that aside, I think the Lutherans have made a grave error in not trying to sell KFUO-FM to a organization friendly to the St. Louis Classical community. The station obviously has had a special place in the community for over 62 years. Trying put a Classical format on an HD signal will not cut it. The radios are simply not selling. I think the Lutherans should reconsider and try to find an equitable solution to keep the KFUO-FM format intact. I'm not a big fan of Classical music. But I do know that there is a lot of people in the Greater St. Louis area who ARE. Let's see what happens.

 

[w9wi]

http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzo...cms-kit-bond-calls-for-congressional-inquiry/

In a note responding to the Musicians’ Council of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s letter opposing the sale of “Classic99″ to “Joy FM,” Bond writes, “…I understand your concerns. In response to your request, I have asked the Federal Communications Commission to initiate a Congressional inquiry into this matter. I look forward to notifying you of the outcome of their inquiry.”

- ?? Sen. Bond has asked the FCC to initiate a Congressional inquiry? Mr. Bond is in Congress, isn't he better-placed to initiate a Congressional inquiry?

- As "radioaircheck" and Peter say, there is essentially zero chance this will stop the sale of KFUO.

- What I suspect will happen... is that Sen. Bond, a Commissioner or two, a representative of the Church, and someone from one of the public radio stations (either WSIE or KWMU) will meet in a room for an hour or two. They'll come out with an agreement for the Church to donate KFUO's music library to KWMU (or WSIE) and for the public station to air it on their HD2. And since as Peter says, almost nobody has a HD radio, Amazon will see an increase in sales of classical CDs in the St. Louis area.

- I wonder if this kind of protest actually results in *fewer* classical radio stations?

Say you own a small suburban FM -- say, KSLQ 104.5. Let's say it's scraping along running oldies to an audience in your county. You're thinking about trying to access that rich classical audience in St. Louis proper. Then, you see that when KFUO tries to get out of the format, they face license challenges and Congressional panels.

And you decide to sell to K-Love instead?

 

[skippertthomas]

When WSM thought of dropping Country and classic Country, They hit the nerve and relented before it became a topic for federal question.
All sorts of 'traditional' ladden comments were made and such.. Loads of pressure.. Thus the hip Americana-Country format that is aired, to this day.. Then someome remembered, that WSM was only Counrty in the evenings and during the Grand Ol' Opry hours... They were actually 'chicken pop' in the sixties and seventies and only went Country at a later date.. Image over reality.. And now political correctness in telling a long running licensee "YOU CAN'T SELL IT!" It's bigger than life.. Tell that when they ask for taxpayer money to pay for a format lsoing money....

 

[Kent]

While it's certainly possible that KFUO's classical programming will be continued on a public broadcaster, it won't likely be KWMU. They make money hand-over-fist with the news/talk programming. I know for a fact that their sister station in Columbia wouldn't play classical music at all if the university didn't require it.

 

[mbatchelor]

The issue at hand for the FCC is not the change of the station's music format, rather the grave irregularities surrounding Kermit Breshear and the closed-end negotiations, and not even giving other interested parties the chance to make an offer.

 

[skippertthomas]

Now that would raise my eyebrow to some questions.. Thanks for that insight on the matter.... "Skip"

 

[truebeliever]

"The issue at hand for the FCC is not the change of the station's music format, rather the grave irregularities surrounding Kermit Breshear and the closed-end negotiations, and not even giving other interested parties the chance to make an offer."

It is irresponsible to pass judgement on this until the FCC rules on their decision. There have been a lot of alligations made that have yet to be proven without all of the facts being made known to the public. I think in the end the truth about this transaction will be made known. Rather or not everyone people believe it will be a different story.

 

[w9wi]

While it's certainly possible that KFUO's classical programming will be continued on a public broadcaster, it won't likely be KWMU. They make money hand-over-fist with the news/talk programming. I know for a fact that their sister station in Columbia wouldn't play classical music at all if the university didn't require it.

Yep, I don't see KWMU (or probably anyone else) doing classical on their main channel. I do see a classical format on KWMU's HD2 subchannel though, where it wouldn't interfere with the popularity of their spoken-word programming on the main.

 

[Kent]

Yep, I don't see KWMU (or probably anyone else) doing classical on their main channel. I do see a classical format on KWMU's HD2 subchannel though, where it wouldn't interfere with the popularity of their spoken-word programming on the main.

I drink beer with KBIA's GM on occasion, and I'll have to ask him about KWMU's HD progress the next time I see him. We had a good conversation a few weeks ago about KBIA's HD signal, where he's been running, for a lack of a better way to say it, a mirror image of the KBIA format on the HD-2 and Xponential Radio on HD-3. He's used HD Radio as a way to tell people who want either all NPR/talk or all classical that they can hear exactly what they want just by getting an HD Radio. If you hear classical music on KBIA and want talk, switch to HD-2. If you hear talk on KBIA and want classical, switch to HD-2.

He ran KWMU for about six months (along with KBIA) after the previous GM was forced out in the whole crime scandal there. I suspect he has a pretty good idea about what's going on there.

 

[Ai4i]

Trying put a Classical format on an HD signal will not cut it.
The radios are simply not selling.

Why does everything need to be shoved under people's noses?
The music will be available for two years on KFUO HD2 and then most likely on KWMU HD2 long after that.
If listeners want it badly enough, they will buy the radios and love the improved performance.
A classical music lover, I was not happy when classical music moved from a solid HD2 signal in my market (WLRN) to a rim shot analogue signal (WKCP) and my perfect full quieting music was no longer available to me :'( (terrestrially).

 

[Bongwater]

Classical music may be a niche format, but a passionate niche it is. Most classical stations on the air today have been around in the same format since FM began.

One thing you can say about classical: It ALWAYS will have listeners. Old AND young alike. It may not be the biggest rated or most profitable format, but it sure beats hearing yet ANOTHER redundant "Mix" "Kiss" "Star" (INSERT OTHER "YOU HEARD ONE, YOU HEARD 'EM ALL" OVERUSED RADIO MONIKER HERE.)

 

[anotherguyTN]

Although I'm a CCM fan and have listened to Joy FM when I'm in the St. Louis area I can sympathize with the people who have lost their station because of the sale. It happens a lot more in CCM radio than in classical. However like it or not, the owners have the right to sell to whoever they want. I do think that KFUO should give donors the option of a refund on their donation though. And I do hope that the classical listeners will have a new option in the near future.