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Net Effect

E

evnlee

Guest
let's apply a hypothetical....

If the funding for NPR ( both private and public ) were eliminated, and NPR would close up shop and stop broadcasting today, how would that effect the ratings of :

A Err America ( gasp! ) Radio
B Jones,Nova M,Democracy Now, etc
C any conservative talk show

just curious
 
evnlee said:
let's apply a hypothetical....

If the funding for NPR ( both private and public ) were eliminated, and NPR would close up shop and stop broadcasting today, how would that effect the ratings of :

A Err America ( gasp! ) Radio
B Jones,Nova M,Democracy Now, etc
C any conservative talk show
Click to expand...

Just a guess though backed by just shy of fifty years experience in broadcast:

A Some minor gain but most dedicated NPR listeners who were going to be guided by their politics to AAR almost certainly went there over a year ago. Might reinforce the loyalty of those who shifted but would not draw big numbers.

B I think even less likely to benefit than AAR but indidental gains.

C Probably no gain except for a few of the "hair-shirt" fringe who would dial in to deplore the probable gloating.

I would expect the real benefactors would be the satellite service providers who, smelling an audience, would quickly roll out some sort of replacement for NPR. At least long enough to see if it produced any lasting result.



.
 
evnlee said:
let's apply a hypothetical....
If the funding for NPR ( both private and public ) were eliminated, and NPR would close up shop and stop broadcasting today, how would that effect the ratings of :
A Err America ( gasp! ) Radio
B Jones,Nova M,Democracy Now, etc
C any conservative talk show
just curious
Click to expand...

Guess how much federal money is in NPR's budget?

A. 50%

B. 10%

C. 1%

Stay tuned for the answer
 
Guess how much federal money is in NPR's budget?

Are you only talking straight cash transfers, or are tax incentives to private sector contributors, and the worth of the broadcast licenses, and other indirect considerations included as well?
 
It's a low figure - I don't know exactly what percentage.

People who complain about NPR's government funding usually do so because they think the network's news programming has a liberal bias. Thus, to stir up anti-NPR sentiment, they complain about "your and my tax dollars funding this left-wing radio."

First off, the amount of government funding is very low. If all of it was yanked today, NPR would continue to operate.

Second: In my opinion, just because you present news and talk programming that doesn't toe the Republican party talking points, it doesn't make you liberal. I'd rather listen to what I call intelligent news and talk programming that is brave enough to question what our elected officials are doing instead of being a cheering squad for a particular party.
 
Second: In my opinion, just because you present news and talk programming that doesn't toe the Republican party talking points, it doesn't make you liberal.

No, that wouldn't make you a liberal. But, that's not what NPR does. What NPR does is to mix together news reporting and new "analysis" seamlessly, so that to the casual listener, there's no difference between reporting of the facts and the subsequent liberal analysis of those facts. There is also a much higher proportion of interviews with those who present liberal opinions as if those opinions were proven facts.

Then there are the socially liberal programs like "Fresh Aire". Terry Gross is one of the best interviewers in the business. But she does tend to present social agenda liberals as if they were correct in what they say, and to paint social conservatives as mistaken in their beliefs.
 
radiophiler said:
Second: In my opinion, just because you present news and talk programming that doesn't toe the Republican party talking points, it doesn't make you liberal. I'd rather listen to what I call intelligent news and talk programming that is brave enough to question what our elected officials are doing instead of being a cheering squad for a particular party.
Click to expand...

this discussion has been had before, and supporters of NPR that insist it is 'objective' have lost that argument already. Thier own ombudsman said so as much.

My question was based more along the lines of: if MPR went away, who would benefit from it ( ratings and listenerwise) and who would suffer ( beyond NPR itself ).
 
Commercial news (not talk) stations may benefit a bit if NPR went away.

I think many NPR listeners would seek out alternative forms of audio news and talk, such as the BBC, CBC and long-form news podcasts that some commercial news stations (KYW in Philly does this) are starting to provide.

I don't see talk benefiting much at all - conservative or liberal talk. As someone pointed out in an earlier post, many NPR programs are news-based with accompanying analysis. The NPR talk programs (Diane Rehm, Fresh Air) are interview-focused, not a host using two-to-three hours to pontificate on his/her own views.

Also if NPR went away, some commercial stations might try doing what they do: long-form news and analysis.
 
I think the original question is an interesting one. If public radio (NPR and all the rest) has to complete in the same marketplace and under the same conditions and commercial broadcasters, could it survive?

Remove any government subsidies (not just Federal - lots of state money goes into public radio) and the tax advantages for those who donate to public radio (particularly corporations), and compete for listeners and advertising dollars in the open market, on a level playing field.

Most have good signals. Most have the absolute latest technology. Most have the necessary staffs. Could they support it in a more traditional, commercial way?

It would be interesting. Some public radio is well done and could be commercially successful! I suspect it would be similar to today's landscape, where some thrive, some survive, and some don't!
 
radiophiler said:
Commercial news (not talk) stations may benefit a bit if NPR went away.

I think many NPR listeners would seek out alternative forms of audio news and talk, such as the BBC, CBC and long-form news podcasts that some commercial news stations (KYW in Philly does this) are starting to provide.

I don't see talk benefiting much at all - conservative or liberal talk. As someone pointed out in an earlier post, many NPR programs are news-based with accompanying analysis. The NPR talk programs (Diane Rehm, Fresh Air) are interview-focused, not a host using two-to-three hours to pontificate on his/her own views.

Also if NPR went away, some commercial stations might try doing what they do: long-form news and analysis.
Click to expand...

great analysis! That's more along the lines of what I was looking for
 
The answer is C "1%"

The thing is, as both radiophiler and I pointed out, direct cash payments aren't the only thing NPR gets from all levels of government. As radiophiler noted, "government subsidies (not just Federal - lots of state money goes into public radio) and the tax advantages for those who donate to public radio (particularly corporations)" also provide NPR with resources that commercial radio doesn't enjoy.

What gets me is that so many people use "NPR" as a catch-all term for all public radio, including PRI, but only for their news programming. Take away Morning Edition, Weekend Edition, and All Things Considered, and there are still a lot of interesting programs on public radio.

Personally, I think that shows like Car Talk, What Do You Know, Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me, The Splendid Table, The Prairie Home Companion, Fresh Aire, and the other non-news programs of NPR and PRI could succeed on commercial radio. They might have to be adjusted a bit, but a good broadcaster could get them to succeed on a commercial station.

Whether anyone would make the attempt is a whole different issue. Taking a shot at making those programs work on commercial radio would require vision and boldness, which are two qualities seldom found in the ranks of those who make decisions about what goes on a radio station.
 
I'm not so sure all those great shows on NPR and PRI would survive on commercial radio. Commercial radio skews to the youngest listener and quite often reaches for the lowest common denominator, just like commercial television. Public radio even with it's newscasts tend to go beyond what any commerical radio network does with it's newscast. The radio networks long ago gave up trying to do entertainment programs like dramas, quiz shows, variety musical shows, concerts, etc. Public radio picked up that slack just as Public TV did.

My guess is the demo for public radio is not the same demo that listens to commercial radio. The public radio demo is willing to donate to keep their favorite shows on, because they can not find that type of music, drama, long form newscast, news analysis and commentary, interview shows, musical variety show, Car Talk, etc, etc on commerical radio. Corporations seem willing to take advantage of the ability to make a corporate donation, and certainly the various government funds both state and federal make a difference. Bottom line, I believe that public radio serves those whose programming choices no longer fit what commercial radio will broadcast, because they are not the desired demo for the ad agencies. So Public radio and TV serves that underserved group of listeners and viewers who desire something different from what the commerical networks provide. Should our programming choices be so limited that less popular forms of programming don't get the opportunity to be heard? That's where public radio comes in. Is Public radio /TV perfect, no not by a long shot, but they offer the average citizen an alternative to the usual humdrum of narrow choices that commercial radio offers. Even if you can't afford to donate, you still can hear their programming unlike satellite radio, so everyone can benefit from Public radio, if they choose to tune in.
 
The public radio demo is willing to donate to keep their favorite shows on, because they can not find that type of music, drama, long form newscast, news analysis and commentary, interview shows, musical variety show, Car Talk, etc, etc on commerical radio.

I don't know how accurate that statement is. I am a frequent listener to two of the three public stations I am in the broadcast range of, and I've never given either of them a dime.

I'm not so sure all those great shows on NPR and PRI would survive on commercial radio.

I doubt if they'd survive by simply moving them intact with no change beyond dropping commercials in every few minutes. But I do think that similar programs, tailored for more mass appeal and with better promotion, could succeed. For example, I think that Car Talk could survive as a 15 minute standalone programs aired daily in morning drive time. I think Terry Gross could be succeesful doing a daily 15 minute interview show in evening drive time. I think The Prairie Home Companion could work in syndication if handled like "House of Blues" or "The King Biscuit Flower Hour".
 
Apparently enough listeners are supporting both NPR and their local NPR station or some of those more expensive NPR type shows would disapper.

I've never heard of House of Blues or the King Biscuit Flower Hour. I looked up King Biscuit on internet and it apparently has been on the air for over 20 years. They didn't list how many stations air the show or which one's. It would seem that NPR has an advantage of being a real network in the traditional sense where you know where to find that sort of programming. Today's syndicated networks shows move around alot ( in Wilmington Delaware's market Limbaugh has moved back and forth between WILM and WDEL two times) where as if you find an NPR affiliate you know where to listen for those main stays of Public radio.

I know some don't like NPR, especially because it gets some government cash, but based on what the commercials stations offer, it's my guess that if there were no NPR those types of shows would disappear for the most part.
 
It would seem that NPR has an advantage of being a real network in the traditional sense where you know where to find that sort of programming.

Not really. You'll find NPR programs on public radio stations. You find syndicated classic rock concert programs on stations who play classic rock. You find syndicated shows with oldies music on oldies stations. You'll find syndicated religious programs on stations that program religious music.

If NPR (and PRI) were "real" networks in the traditional sense, you wouldn't have to consult your local listings to find out what time the shows were on. Where I live, I can pick up Fresh Aire at 3:00 PM on one of the stations down at the low end of the FM dial, and at 7:00 PM on a different one down there. Other NPR programs that are on two stations I can pick up at the same time are actually a minute or two out of sync. On a "real" network, all the shows would be carried simultaneously on all stations in real time.

And as for the main stays of public radio, if you're in a little market like Wilmington, you probably only have one public station. In the market where I live, there are three "public" radio stations. The only reason why shows haven't bounced between the three seems to be the result of some sort of gentleman's agreement among the stations not to attempt to step on each others' toes.

it's my guess that if there were no NPR those types of shows would disappear for the most part.

Which types of NPR (& PRI) shows are you referring to? The news/analysis shows, the interview shows, the quiz shows, the variety entertainment shows, or the how-to shows?
 
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