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KUSF story reported in NY Times
- Thread starter TheBigA
- Start date
TheBigA said:
The article calls the FCC's attention to this matter "unprecedented," but is it really? I seem to remember the uproar about a quarter century ago when James Gabbert wanted to buy 98.9 KKCY. A citizen's group ("Committee to Save The City," or some such) made a big stink. IIRC, the FCC paid attention, and Gabbert had to make a number of promises about keeping the programming of the station...most of which the Committee later claimed that he broke. But regardless, the FCC did listen, and Gabbert's purchase of the station was not a slam-dunk. At least that's how I remember it.
Lkeller said:
Depends on which part of the inquiry you're talking about. The FCC has questioned a number of license transfers over its history. And it's not unusual for a licensee to assign a temporary operating agreement to the new licensee pending approval of the transfer. This is pretty typical, and has happened in commercial as well as non-commercial transfers.
But what might be unprecidented is the kinds of questions being asked, which are well beyond the purview of the FCC. To ask a licensee for names, titles, and hours of duty for station employees is pretty unprecidented. There seems to be a level of doubt that the new licensee is actually going to carry through with the terms of the transfer.
Still, at the end of the day, the issue here, at least as far as this "Letter of Inquiry" is concerned, has to do more with the way in which this sale was done, rather than in the fact of the sale itself. It seems very unlikely that the FCC will force USF to retain ownership of this station. There's nothing in the letter that implies that the previous format should be returned to the frequency.
I don't get these "friends of" organizations that attempt to force groups that don't want these radio stations to keep them. I live in Houston and there was a similar stink here when Rice sold their radio station.
If I were a university that was somehow forced to retain ownership, I'd absolutely change the format to something completely unpalatable to the "friends of" organization that scuttled the sale. Automated polka anyone?
If I were a university that was somehow forced to retain ownership, I'd absolutely change the format to something completely unpalatable to the "friends of" organization that scuttled the sale. Automated polka anyone?
Yeah, but the schools have deep pockets.
radiogooroo said:
And if the listeners and/or staff were really and truly interested in keeping the station's format they'd start a non-profit, raise money, and make an offer to buy the station.
There is nothing wrong funny about polka music. The polka is a fun (and very energetic) dance and the music is good. Polka Heaven: http://www.247polkaheaven.com/
As a non-com station (and a non-profit organization), KUSF is held to far more stringent standards than a commercial broadcaster when it comes to license transfers. But lately, there seems to be a growing trend of colleges/universities disposing of their non-com stations. And one I personally feel DOES need a little more regulatory oversight.
USF should have been FAR more transparent in it's intentions to dispose of KUSF. As well as offered the staff of KUSF first dibs in acquiring the station. That alone would have saved everybody a massive headache. But Father Privett seems to me acted in bad faith when he accepted the first offer on his desk, as well as signed the non-disclosure agreement. He GROSSLY underestimated what he was getting himself and USF into. You just don't go and quietly dispose of a public radio station this way. And lately, a lot of these deals seem to be working out in this manner. But not with KUSF. and for that, I'm actually proud of the Save KUSF folks and I wish them well in their fight to save their station.
I know that opinion isn't going to make me many friends on this board, but what's right isn't always popular and what's popular isn't always right.
USF should have been FAR more transparent in it's intentions to dispose of KUSF. As well as offered the staff of KUSF first dibs in acquiring the station. That alone would have saved everybody a massive headache. But Father Privett seems to me acted in bad faith when he accepted the first offer on his desk, as well as signed the non-disclosure agreement. He GROSSLY underestimated what he was getting himself and USF into. You just don't go and quietly dispose of a public radio station this way. And lately, a lot of these deals seem to be working out in this manner. But not with KUSF. and for that, I'm actually proud of the Save KUSF folks and I wish them well in their fight to save their station.
I know that opinion isn't going to make me many friends on this board, but what's right isn't always popular and what's popular isn't always right.
Bongwater said:
It was no secret that USF has wanted to rid itself of KUSF for years. Originally it was bought from Simpson Bible College in order to continue a Christian ministry. They began putting some Catholic programs on it, but it just didn't take. For a number of years they just kept it probably due to inertia. It wasn't costing them much and maybe it got a little publicity for USF.
But then the Catholic radio network, Eternal Word (EWTN) began to pick up huge numbers of affiliates about 8 years ago. When a different Catholic group bought KOIT from Bonneville and turned it into an EWTN affiliate, the powers that be in the Jesuit order (which operates USF) began to question why USF should have KUSF. I understand it was then (what, 5 years ago?) that USF started putting out feelers about a sale.
Local non-comm broadcasters didn't snap it up because the KUSF signal isn't any better than any of the other non-comm signals around here, so the usual suspects such as KALW, KQED, etc., weren't interested.
How do you know he didn't? It's clear from the reportage so far that KUSF's manager, Steve Runyon knew about the LMA and sale before it happened.
How do you know it was the first offer? I'd suggest that he probably held out because it's very likely the first offer would have been from K-LOVE, since they don't have a decent SF signal yet.
But wait one second the KUSF group has a live 365 profile here
http://www.live365.com/index.live
Why should "Save KUSF" inc fight over an old frequency that was sold or acquired by KUSC inc to air KDFC programming on it. Look the University of San Francisco had to sell it because the board of regents told the president of the university to balance the budget. I know USF is Private but its subjected to budget cuts too like public universities like CSU and UC's are but without the involvement of State congress and Governor and as a former film & broadcast student I would understand the outrage of cutting KUSF since it was required to build up experience in working in radio and in resume's for people who have degrees in Broadcasting and Film. But My new major like Pre-Pharmacy and Biotech are subjected to cuts too since I am at a community college like Solano.
http://www.live365.com/index.live
Why should "Save KUSF" inc fight over an old frequency that was sold or acquired by KUSC inc to air KDFC programming on it. Look the University of San Francisco had to sell it because the board of regents told the president of the university to balance the budget. I know USF is Private but its subjected to budget cuts too like public universities like CSU and UC's are but without the involvement of State congress and Governor and as a former film & broadcast student I would understand the outrage of cutting KUSF since it was required to build up experience in working in radio and in resume's for people who have degrees in Broadcasting and Film. But My new major like Pre-Pharmacy and Biotech are subjected to cuts too since I am at a community college like Solano.
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