Sure seems like a lot of syndicated shows on public radio have "bit it" this year. Not all on KUOW, but I have lost some of my favorite shows this year with the demise of The Bryant Park Project (NPR) and Fair Game (PRI) and most recently Weekend America (American Public Media). I am certain there have been others but these are the ones I especially miss. I would like to give KUOW props for replacing Weekend America with something locally produced: "KUOW Presents" rather than just slipping some other canned schlock into its place. I listened Saturday and it was interesting and very listenable although not as "fun" as perhaps a mid-Saturday show could be. Can we bring back "Rewind" now that John Moe and Bill Radke are both on the street?? Let's breathe some life back into KUOW!
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KUOW Schedule Changes
- Thread starter JustaLissner
- Start date
JustaLissner said:
Last time I checked, KUOW was one of the top ten, if not top five most successful news/NPR affiliated stations in the country. Given that statistic, exactly what "life" needs to be breathed back into KUOW?
Or is your statement based on your own personal tastes?
I think it's great that KUOW is trying to use some locally sourced program elements to replace a two hour national show, and giving a second airing to feature material a lot of weekend listeners would have missed during the weekday. The point of the original post was that KUOW used to produce one of the most enjoyable national shows, called Rewind. That is until too many consultants kept fussing with what was included on the show and it turned into a series of short interviews, without the bright skits and witty delivery Bill Radke had developed. Then it was cancelled, and the host and co-producers went on to other national gigs - outside of Seattle - until they were laid off from them recently.
You don't really find the same level of quality and good natured hosting from really any other local station announcers that I've heard on Seattle radio. They're all either very scripted and flat, or say nothing that I want to hear or that makes a difference in my life. I really dont care about the stations' slogans, over and over and over. What I want to hear is an accuate 3-day weather forecast, traffic alerts that I can understand, some ideas of things going on around town that I might enjoy before they happen, and someone to look at the radar to tell me if its raining or the sun is shining in the "rain shadow" so that I can find a place to go hiking on Sunday without getting soaked.
Guess I'm suggesting more weekend radio that reflects the week, and the city, that we're living in, with an engaging host or two who can pull it all together. Someone who can talk on the radio without insulting, mocking, snarking, or pushing crap on us. A real personality you'd enjoy spending time with in real life, as well as on the radio. Have all of these such people been driven off the air now by clueless management? I certainly don't hear much of this on the weekends, apart from syndicated shows here and there.
Maybe it's time to see if any of the about-to-be-laid-off newspaper people in Seattle can develop the chops to be a great radio personality. Or the other radio folk who never got a chance to blossom on the air and are looking for work now, too. Who would you guys like to give a shot at a weekend show on KUOW, on KOMO, on KIRO, or one of those dozens of other stations that don't really attract much of an audience with the stuff they're airing now. (I mean, does anybody actually listen to AM 1150, for example? Can you really sustain a station without an audience, even with time brokered informercials all day? Well, apparently for now. )
GL
You don't really find the same level of quality and good natured hosting from really any other local station announcers that I've heard on Seattle radio. They're all either very scripted and flat, or say nothing that I want to hear or that makes a difference in my life. I really dont care about the stations' slogans, over and over and over. What I want to hear is an accuate 3-day weather forecast, traffic alerts that I can understand, some ideas of things going on around town that I might enjoy before they happen, and someone to look at the radar to tell me if its raining or the sun is shining in the "rain shadow" so that I can find a place to go hiking on Sunday without getting soaked.
Guess I'm suggesting more weekend radio that reflects the week, and the city, that we're living in, with an engaging host or two who can pull it all together. Someone who can talk on the radio without insulting, mocking, snarking, or pushing crap on us. A real personality you'd enjoy spending time with in real life, as well as on the radio. Have all of these such people been driven off the air now by clueless management? I certainly don't hear much of this on the weekends, apart from syndicated shows here and there.
Maybe it's time to see if any of the about-to-be-laid-off newspaper people in Seattle can develop the chops to be a great radio personality. Or the other radio folk who never got a chance to blossom on the air and are looking for work now, too. Who would you guys like to give a shot at a weekend show on KUOW, on KOMO, on KIRO, or one of those dozens of other stations that don't really attract much of an audience with the stuff they're airing now. (I mean, does anybody actually listen to AM 1150, for example? Can you really sustain a station without an audience, even with time brokered informercials all day? Well, apparently for now. )
GL
(I mean, does anybody actually listen to AM 1150, for example? Can you really sustain a station without an audience, even with time brokered informercials all day? Well, apparently for now. )
GL
[/quote]
To answer that question... Yes, apparently one can. Just because you or your friends don't care for whatever programming, doesn't mean someone isn't listening to it. Not every station can be number one with everyone. Heck according to a few on this board, even if a station is tops in the demographic or top five billing, you suck and need to change format to something "fun".
So I think we all agree, including Bong, that KUOW does a good job, but you personally would like to see some changes in the weekend. Okay fine... So ask yourself this; have you taken the time to E-mail KUOW's management with constructive, articulate suggestions about what YOU would like to hear on the weekends? Or have you only used this forum to make sweeping generalizations about the programming, amounting to that it needs to have "life breathed into it". Or even more important.. Are you supporting the programming at KUOW by sending a donation? Do you frequent the advertisers, (underwriters), on the station and make sure they know you heard about their goods or services on KUOW?
I think that I already know the answer to the last two questions. Being critical on this forum is essentially free, but getting out your checkbook and supporting a non or commercial station by frequenting their source of income, or in the case of KUOW making a donation takes a little work, or a little money. I submit that its time you put your money where your keyboard is.
GL
[/quote]
To answer that question... Yes, apparently one can. Just because you or your friends don't care for whatever programming, doesn't mean someone isn't listening to it. Not every station can be number one with everyone. Heck according to a few on this board, even if a station is tops in the demographic or top five billing, you suck and need to change format to something "fun".
So I think we all agree, including Bong, that KUOW does a good job, but you personally would like to see some changes in the weekend. Okay fine... So ask yourself this; have you taken the time to E-mail KUOW's management with constructive, articulate suggestions about what YOU would like to hear on the weekends? Or have you only used this forum to make sweeping generalizations about the programming, amounting to that it needs to have "life breathed into it". Or even more important.. Are you supporting the programming at KUOW by sending a donation? Do you frequent the advertisers, (underwriters), on the station and make sure they know you heard about their goods or services on KUOW?
I think that I already know the answer to the last two questions. Being critical on this forum is essentially free, but getting out your checkbook and supporting a non or commercial station by frequenting their source of income, or in the case of KUOW making a donation takes a little work, or a little money. I submit that its time you put your money where your keyboard is.
Good thing I'm Just a LISTENER... I'm obviously not the best communicator as evidenced by the fact that my original post somehow didn't seem to communicate what I was trying to communicate. I LOVE KUOW. And I was giving them PROPS for putting something local on during midday Saturdays. And I even said that I enjoyed the show. I didn't mean to be critical of KUOW, but I do just miss the more lighthearted Bill Radke and company. It would be great to hear them again on a Rewind type show based in Seattle. And, incidentally, yes, I am a KUOW contributor (I wish I had big bags of money sitting around which would allow me to be a larger contributor, but as an avid listener to Seattle radio I absolutely do my part to support at the level I'm able to) AND yes, when some of my favorite shows (Bryant Park Project/BPP and NPR's Fair Game with Faith Salie) had their funding dropped I DID INDEED voice my strong displeasure with both my local station and with the public radio syndicator behind them. As I expected it didn't change anything but at least I let them know I wasn't happy about it.
Now. What I REALLY wanted this post to be about was the dropping of some of these syndicated shows on public radio. The two that I referenced were not given a lot of time to get established but were approaching public radio from a younger, hipper perspective and had a strong internet presence as well. They became more than just a daily show but a presence in listeners' lives throughout the day. But they were dropped. Seemed strange to me in a time when the trend is toward national shows, rather than local, that these fun, hip, popular national shows didn't survive. Is it that there is just less $$ so public radio is focussing on fewer shows?
Now. What I REALLY wanted this post to be about was the dropping of some of these syndicated shows on public radio. The two that I referenced were not given a lot of time to get established but were approaching public radio from a younger, hipper perspective and had a strong internet presence as well. They became more than just a daily show but a presence in listeners' lives throughout the day. But they were dropped. Seemed strange to me in a time when the trend is toward national shows, rather than local, that these fun, hip, popular national shows didn't survive. Is it that there is just less $$ so public radio is focussing on fewer shows?
To answer that question... Yes, apparently one can. Just because you or your friends don't care for whatever programming, doesn't mean someone isn't listening to it. Not every station can be number one with everyone. Heck according to a few on this board, even if a station is tops in the demographic or top five billing, you suck and need to change format to something "fun".
Guru - I can appreciate that, like me, you don't just post a couple of reactionary sentences to this board, in order to try to make it more than just a shallow opinion forum. However, you are making assumptions that I'm part of the crowd that just wants a station to be "number 1" whatever that means, or to simply serve my personal whims.
Do you live in the Seattle area and actually try to listen to some of the local stations? Seattle, like many US markets, has scant little on the AM dial that anybody with half a brain can listen to for more than 20 seconds, unless you're looking for something to underline your pre-existing opinions about politics and sports and religion. Which is one reason I think the industry is losing audience - especially younger potential listeners. Why bother tuning it al all when you can't even find a local 24 hour news station?
There are also, in my opinion, simply too many stations that don't even try to serve a general audience, or do a good job of serving minority interests, whose signals block out any possible long distance reception in the city from the big clears like KGO, KFI, CBV or even KSL, for heaven's sake. The local dial also doesn't really reflect many of the interests or the character of this community. Even the many international elements of Seattle are missing from the dial - we just get a few Russian and Korean preachers, for the most part. No Punjabi stations or general interest Chinese stations or contemporary Native American stations and only one college station airs something more than top 40 music. However, in neaby Vancouver BC, you can find several options for each of the above minority formats, even though the population base is quite similar here in Seattle. I think the difference is the Canadians try to ensure different types of audience have stations aimed at them. Here, you don't have to attract a significant audience, or even make money to retain a radio license. Just have the money to buy a cluster of signals, that's all.
And why do you assume that when I make a statement about the sound of FM and public stations here that I am not already a supporter of non-comm radio? Maybe I'm even a staff member! We can't all be cheerleaders all of the time - or we just get fluff.
The original post was about a great program, Rewind, which had been hosted by two local hosts who have since left the market to host now-defunct national shows -- and how there's really almost no one else on the air now that comes close to the way they were able to connect with listeners as genuine air talent.
Point is - don't settle for mediocre stuff that a handful of people get to decide is on the public airwaves. And by public airwaves, I'm talking about every station on the air, not just noncommercial ones. A lot of licensees are using public property to make money and offer little in return than music, commercials, talk show to keep the powerful in power, and sports shows to keep men pumped up. And if they can't even make money with free reign of a good radio signal, why not let someone else try without limiting it to the same half dozen mega-corporate owners, who aren't really any different from one another, from what we can hear. How many stations have you known where the staff are treated with less respect than the copier? I think this industry can do better, and better start to be better soon, before one demand options make the AM and FM dial completely irrelevant (as much as I still miss the 'magic' of tuning into something that captures your interest by surprise.) Listeners deserve more genuine options and a little imagination in a medium that can do some amazing things, when people behind the mic try. Too bad not many people even bother about radio anymore.
My hope is that this forum can encourage one another in the industry to find new ways of providing radio programming that's worth a little effort, and might turn on some new listeners. Cause there's not much local radio in most markets anymore, including Seattle, that offers much depth, much less a little humor and heart, that connects you with your neighbors, and leaves you with something more than you already brought to the table before you turned on the radio.
GL
Guru - I can appreciate that, like me, you don't just post a couple of reactionary sentences to this board, in order to try to make it more than just a shallow opinion forum. However, you are making assumptions that I'm part of the crowd that just wants a station to be "number 1" whatever that means, or to simply serve my personal whims.
Do you live in the Seattle area and actually try to listen to some of the local stations? Seattle, like many US markets, has scant little on the AM dial that anybody with half a brain can listen to for more than 20 seconds, unless you're looking for something to underline your pre-existing opinions about politics and sports and religion. Which is one reason I think the industry is losing audience - especially younger potential listeners. Why bother tuning it al all when you can't even find a local 24 hour news station?
There are also, in my opinion, simply too many stations that don't even try to serve a general audience, or do a good job of serving minority interests, whose signals block out any possible long distance reception in the city from the big clears like KGO, KFI, CBV or even KSL, for heaven's sake. The local dial also doesn't really reflect many of the interests or the character of this community. Even the many international elements of Seattle are missing from the dial - we just get a few Russian and Korean preachers, for the most part. No Punjabi stations or general interest Chinese stations or contemporary Native American stations and only one college station airs something more than top 40 music. However, in neaby Vancouver BC, you can find several options for each of the above minority formats, even though the population base is quite similar here in Seattle. I think the difference is the Canadians try to ensure different types of audience have stations aimed at them. Here, you don't have to attract a significant audience, or even make money to retain a radio license. Just have the money to buy a cluster of signals, that's all.
And why do you assume that when I make a statement about the sound of FM and public stations here that I am not already a supporter of non-comm radio? Maybe I'm even a staff member! We can't all be cheerleaders all of the time - or we just get fluff.
The original post was about a great program, Rewind, which had been hosted by two local hosts who have since left the market to host now-defunct national shows -- and how there's really almost no one else on the air now that comes close to the way they were able to connect with listeners as genuine air talent.
Point is - don't settle for mediocre stuff that a handful of people get to decide is on the public airwaves. And by public airwaves, I'm talking about every station on the air, not just noncommercial ones. A lot of licensees are using public property to make money and offer little in return than music, commercials, talk show to keep the powerful in power, and sports shows to keep men pumped up. And if they can't even make money with free reign of a good radio signal, why not let someone else try without limiting it to the same half dozen mega-corporate owners, who aren't really any different from one another, from what we can hear. How many stations have you known where the staff are treated with less respect than the copier? I think this industry can do better, and better start to be better soon, before one demand options make the AM and FM dial completely irrelevant (as much as I still miss the 'magic' of tuning into something that captures your interest by surprise.) Listeners deserve more genuine options and a little imagination in a medium that can do some amazing things, when people behind the mic try. Too bad not many people even bother about radio anymore.
My hope is that this forum can encourage one another in the industry to find new ways of providing radio programming that's worth a little effort, and might turn on some new listeners. Cause there's not much local radio in most markets anymore, including Seattle, that offers much depth, much less a little humor and heart, that connects you with your neighbors, and leaves you with something more than you already brought to the table before you turned on the radio.
GL
Do you live in the Seattle area and actually try to listen to some of the local stations? Seattle, like many US markets, has scant little on the AM dial that anybody with half a brain can listen to for more than 20 seconds, unless you're looking for something to underline your pre-existing opinions about politics and sports and religion. Which is one reason I think the industry is losing audience - especially younger potential listeners. Why bother tuning it al all when you can't even find a local 24 hour news station?
Whereas I don't live in the Seattle area full time, I do have a home in the San Juan Islands that I visit whenever I am able.
Regarding your personal opinion about programming on the AM dial, frankly I read your opinion as being somewhat narrow minded and elitist. Just because you can't find programming that suits your personal taste doesn't mean hundreds of thousands of listeners can't.
Last time I was in town, other than a midday talk show, KOMO radio does news 24-7. Again you may not like the way they present the news, nor that they make money through airing of commercials, but they do have a live news staff day and night.
There are also, in my opinion, simply too many stations that don't even try to serve a general audience, or do a good job of serving minority interests, whose signals block out any possible long distance reception in the city from the big clears like KGO, KFI, CBV or even KSL, for heaven's sake. The local dial also doesn't really reflect many of the interests or the character of this community. Even the many international elements of Seattle are missing from the dial - we just get a few Russian and Korean preachers, for the most part. No Punjabi stations or general interest Chinese stations or contemporary Native American stations and only one college station airs something more than top 40 music. However, in neaby Vancouver BC, you can find several options for each of the above minority formats, even though the population base is quite similar here in Seattle. I think the difference is the Canadians try to ensure different types of audience have stations aimed at them. Here, you don't have to attract a significant audience, or even make money to retain a radio license. Just have the money to buy a cluster of signals, that's all.
If there were a large enough Punjabi population in the Seattle area to financially support a radio station that caters to the segment, I'm sure there would be one. Vancouver, BC is a much more ethnically diverse population than Seattle and a much smaller market.
You are correct when you say it takes money to run a radio station. Radio, (even public), is expensive to operate. I've said it before and will say it again. Radio is a business. Always has been, always will be. Get used to it.
Its quite easy to operate a broadcast facility from an arm chair perspective, but when you actually have to write the paychecks, pay the utilities, negotiate the talent contracts, sell the advertising, and fend off crackpots, the view becomes much more based in reality.
And why do you assume that when I make a statement about the sound of FM and public stations here that I am not already a supporter of non-comm radio? Maybe I'm even a staff member! We can't all be cheerleaders all of the time - or we just get fluff.
Because if you were a staff member of say..KUOW, then you would be privy to the reason NPR, or KUOW was forced to cut certain shows. Public broadcasting is far from immune from the incredible economic challenges before us. In fact, most public radio and TV stations are walking a tightrope between being able to keep the minimal staffs they have and turning off the transmitter. Again, if you actually were a staff member, you would know that.
The original post was about a great program, Rewind, which had been hosted by two local hosts who have since left the market to host now-defunct national shows -- and how there's really almost no one else on the air now that comes close to the way they were able to connect with listeners as genuine air talent.
Again that's your personal opinion. NPR or PRI probably cut Rewind because of lack of popularity as compared with other shows. They're not stupid, or just throwing darts at a board with all their line-ups. Weekend shows with full time staffs are not as cost efficient to produce, (unless you're Car Talk), so they get the axe first
Point is - don't settle for mediocre stuff that a handful of people get to decide is on the public airwaves. And by public airwaves, I'm talking about every station on the air, not just noncommercial ones. A lot of licensees are using public property to make money and offer little in return than music, commercials, talk show to keep the powerful in power, and sports shows to keep men pumped up. And if they can't even make money with free reign of a good radio signal, why not let someone else try without limiting it to the same half dozen mega-corporate owners, who aren't really any different from one another, from what we can hear. How many stations have you known where the staff are treated with less respect than the copier? I think this industry can do better, and better start to be better soon, before one demand options make the AM and FM dial completely irrelevant (as much as I still miss the 'magic' of tuning into something that captures your interest by surprise.) Listeners deserve more genuine options and a little imagination in a medium that can do some amazing things, when people behind the mic try. Too bad not many people even bother about radio anymore.
Like other uninformed members of this board, you assume that radio is at deaths door, when in fact millions of people listen to the radio every hour. If you actually look at the facts, radio listenership is down nationwide 13%. Ad spending with radio is down about the same amount, but how many other industries or media, (newspapers), are down more? Are you suggesting that if only newspapers would do something more imaginary than just printing on paper, that somehow their subscriber base would turn around? The fact remains that new technology has taken a bite out of traditional media, it happens. Radio will still survive as a portable "wireless" media that provides news, entertainment, and local relevant programming long after your Comcast broadband or cell phone has failed to function.
These large corporations that you dislike pay millions of dollars to use the channels in which they broadcast. Its been that way since the 1920's in radios infancy. Even though the government regulates the use of the airwaves, broadcasters pay a lot of money to use them, so in reality, no.. you and I don't own the airwaves. Well maybe I do to an extent...
Whereas I don't live in the Seattle area full time, I do have a home in the San Juan Islands that I visit whenever I am able.
Regarding your personal opinion about programming on the AM dial, frankly I read your opinion as being somewhat narrow minded and elitist. Just because you can't find programming that suits your personal taste doesn't mean hundreds of thousands of listeners can't.
Last time I was in town, other than a midday talk show, KOMO radio does news 24-7. Again you may not like the way they present the news, nor that they make money through airing of commercials, but they do have a live news staff day and night.
There are also, in my opinion, simply too many stations that don't even try to serve a general audience, or do a good job of serving minority interests, whose signals block out any possible long distance reception in the city from the big clears like KGO, KFI, CBV or even KSL, for heaven's sake. The local dial also doesn't really reflect many of the interests or the character of this community. Even the many international elements of Seattle are missing from the dial - we just get a few Russian and Korean preachers, for the most part. No Punjabi stations or general interest Chinese stations or contemporary Native American stations and only one college station airs something more than top 40 music. However, in neaby Vancouver BC, you can find several options for each of the above minority formats, even though the population base is quite similar here in Seattle. I think the difference is the Canadians try to ensure different types of audience have stations aimed at them. Here, you don't have to attract a significant audience, or even make money to retain a radio license. Just have the money to buy a cluster of signals, that's all.
If there were a large enough Punjabi population in the Seattle area to financially support a radio station that caters to the segment, I'm sure there would be one. Vancouver, BC is a much more ethnically diverse population than Seattle and a much smaller market.
You are correct when you say it takes money to run a radio station. Radio, (even public), is expensive to operate. I've said it before and will say it again. Radio is a business. Always has been, always will be. Get used to it.
Its quite easy to operate a broadcast facility from an arm chair perspective, but when you actually have to write the paychecks, pay the utilities, negotiate the talent contracts, sell the advertising, and fend off crackpots, the view becomes much more based in reality.
And why do you assume that when I make a statement about the sound of FM and public stations here that I am not already a supporter of non-comm radio? Maybe I'm even a staff member! We can't all be cheerleaders all of the time - or we just get fluff.
Because if you were a staff member of say..KUOW, then you would be privy to the reason NPR, or KUOW was forced to cut certain shows. Public broadcasting is far from immune from the incredible economic challenges before us. In fact, most public radio and TV stations are walking a tightrope between being able to keep the minimal staffs they have and turning off the transmitter. Again, if you actually were a staff member, you would know that.
The original post was about a great program, Rewind, which had been hosted by two local hosts who have since left the market to host now-defunct national shows -- and how there's really almost no one else on the air now that comes close to the way they were able to connect with listeners as genuine air talent.
Again that's your personal opinion. NPR or PRI probably cut Rewind because of lack of popularity as compared with other shows. They're not stupid, or just throwing darts at a board with all their line-ups. Weekend shows with full time staffs are not as cost efficient to produce, (unless you're Car Talk), so they get the axe first
Point is - don't settle for mediocre stuff that a handful of people get to decide is on the public airwaves. And by public airwaves, I'm talking about every station on the air, not just noncommercial ones. A lot of licensees are using public property to make money and offer little in return than music, commercials, talk show to keep the powerful in power, and sports shows to keep men pumped up. And if they can't even make money with free reign of a good radio signal, why not let someone else try without limiting it to the same half dozen mega-corporate owners, who aren't really any different from one another, from what we can hear. How many stations have you known where the staff are treated with less respect than the copier? I think this industry can do better, and better start to be better soon, before one demand options make the AM and FM dial completely irrelevant (as much as I still miss the 'magic' of tuning into something that captures your interest by surprise.) Listeners deserve more genuine options and a little imagination in a medium that can do some amazing things, when people behind the mic try. Too bad not many people even bother about radio anymore.
Like other uninformed members of this board, you assume that radio is at deaths door, when in fact millions of people listen to the radio every hour. If you actually look at the facts, radio listenership is down nationwide 13%. Ad spending with radio is down about the same amount, but how many other industries or media, (newspapers), are down more? Are you suggesting that if only newspapers would do something more imaginary than just printing on paper, that somehow their subscriber base would turn around? The fact remains that new technology has taken a bite out of traditional media, it happens. Radio will still survive as a portable "wireless" media that provides news, entertainment, and local relevant programming long after your Comcast broadband or cell phone has failed to function.
These large corporations that you dislike pay millions of dollars to use the channels in which they broadcast. Its been that way since the 1920's in radios infancy. Even though the government regulates the use of the airwaves, broadcasters pay a lot of money to use them, so in reality, no.. you and I don't own the airwaves. Well maybe I do to an extent...
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