L
Laurence Glavin
Guest
Some of the posts about the WCRB handover from Charles River-to-Nassau have been amusing, but even now some issues must be considered even before the deal is sealed. Number One: the Boston Symphony's first Saturday evening concert is on September 30th. Can Charles River sign up advertisers for several weeks on 102.5 with the agreement that they will stay aboard when the flip to 99.5 happens? The BSO broadcasts must be fairly expensive: you have the rights fees, plus costs involved in a high-quality remote. If WCRB 102.5 can't line up a sponsor, certainly Nassau will have a greater degree of difficulty. So really, WGBH-FM would be the best bet if they choose to do it; some high-profile underwriter might be willing to pay the freight on a grandfathered 100K signal. Then of course, there's the issue of how Nassau will publicize the switchover. For the past dozen years, since the great dumbing-down, it appears that WCRB worked out promotion deals between performing organizations in Boston that actually offered the kind of music that reflected the richness of Boston's musical life. So you had them placing spots during WCRB's vapid programming, and WCRB would get a prominent ad in their program booklets. Talk about mixed signals...in a publication providing information about the adventurous and searching fare most actual musical organizations in Boston provide would appear an ad for WCRB Saying "Relax to the music". Duh. Will Nassau be able to continue relationships of this nature, and get the word out to the concert-going public that they exist and where to find them? This is a cohort that reads newspapers, but may not be fixated on radio-industry comings and goings. It may be an interesting Fall.