NPR/Nashville After Vivian Schiller Exit: Business As Usual

[DToTheJ]

In light of the CEO of National Public Radio tendering her resignation after much turmoil in recent months, WPLN's president and FM insists he is still quite optimistic about its future.
http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/03/09/npr-nashville-wpln-public-broadcasting.html

 

[jetfli]

In light of the CEO of National Public Radio tendering her resignation after much turmoil in recent months, WPLN's president and FM insists he is still quite optimistic about its future.
http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/03/09/npr-nashville-wpln-public-broadcasting.html

Government sponsored radio programming no longer makes sense anyway. Long live independently public-sponsored radio.

 

[TheBigA]

I think his views represent those of a lot of station GMs, and they will have a lot to say about the changes NPR makes in the wake of today's resignation. The stations basically "own" NPR, by paying for the programming services, and station GMs make up the majority of the Board of Directors. So expect what the Nashville GM says to carry a lot of weight in DC.

Government sponsored radio programming no longer makes sense anyway. Long live independently public-sponsored radio.

On the other hand, it's because of government funding that this CEO got fired. Not many other radio companies are that responsive.

Independent radio is great, but the main problem is getting listeners to pay. So these stations end up struggling to meet their goals and serve their audience. If government funding goes away, the bigger public stations will go after the smaller station's funding.

 

[jetfli]

Independent radio is great, but the main problem is getting listeners to pay. So these stations end up struggling to meet their goals and serve their audience.

If people aren't interested enough in the programming to pay for it, why should the government be involved in force feeding the programming? Plus, isn't it time sponsorship rules were changed for public radio?

IIf government funding goes away, the bigger public stations will go after the smaller station's funding.

That becomes a problem of ethics on the part of the bigger public stations, not something for which the government should be responsible.

 

[TheBigA]

If people aren't interested enough in the programming to pay for it, why should the government be involved in force feeding the programming? Plus, isn't it time sponsorship rules were changed for public radio?

Commercial broadcasters oppose changes in sponsorship rules. They have a lot more juice on Cap Hill, especially now.

The issue isn't "interest" in the programming. The issue is they aren't required to pay for it. If your electric bill was voluntary, would you pay? So it has nothing to do with interest. The government isn't "force feeding the programming." All they're doing is collecting the money. The government has absolutely no role in programming.

In Nashville, WPLN is the #12 station in town with a 3.7 share and 156K cume, beating commercial stations like WLAC, WSM-FM, WSM-AM, WRQQ, and Lightning 100. So the problem isn't interest.

 

[jetfli]

The issue isn't "interest" in the programming. The issue is they aren't required to pay for it. If your electric bill was voluntary, would you pay? So it has nothing to do with interest.

I don't have to pay for any radio station I listen to over the airwaves. Why must I have government funded public radio? It's not like they read legal notices over the air, or deliver government messages over the air. I just don't get your point.

 

[TheBigA]

I don't have to pay for any radio station I listen to over the airwaves. Why must I have government funded public radio? It's not like they read legal notices over the air, or deliver government messages over the air. I just don't get your point.

If you want to know why you must have government funded radio, simply do some research. I think when you find out how your tax dollars are spent, you will reach the same conclusion that Congress has made for the past 43 years: That it's money well spent. Congress holds funding hearings every year on the specifics of how the money is spent. They see the budgets, they see the specifics, and a lot of other things you obviously don't see. At that point, they have the opportunity to deny funding, yet haven't. If you go the extra step and see the numbers they see, you may better understand why they spend the money.

 

[jetfli]

If you want to know why you must have government funded radio, simply do some research. I think when you find out how your tax dollars are spent, you will reach the same conclusion that Congress has made for the past 43 years: That it's money well spent. Congress holds funding hearings every year on the specifics of how the money is spent. They see the budgets, they see the specifics, and a lot of other things you obviously don't see. At that point, they have the opportunity to deny funding, yet haven't. If you go the extra step and see the numbers they see, you may better understand why they spend the money.

I am very familiar with the process, as I have been part of research and creating white papers in support of public radio in the past. For 2011, however, I just don't draw the same conclusions you do. What made sense at one time no longer does, unless government funded radio is completely retooled.

 

[TheBigA]

For 2011, however, I just don't draw the same conclusions you do. What made sense at one time no longer does, unless government funded radio is completely retooled.

There is nothing that has changed in 2011 that requires any changes in federal funding. As of now, 94% of Americans still receive their information from traditional radio. Traditional commercial radio is becoming more consolidated, as evidenced by today's Cumulus-Citadel merger. Therefore, now more than ever, we need to ensure that publicly-owned non-corporate media will continue to provide the services that commercial media has been foresaking. Until there are changes made in the regulations on how these stations can raise money, the federal funding must continue.

 

[spew]

NPR (WPLN)...sadly the last radio station in Nashville that has a reporter on capitol hill in Nashville and sadly the people they cover (republican lawmakers) will have them shut down.

 

[spew]

The GOP/Tea Party is right about cutting funding for intellectual radio and teachers. A dumb electorate is easily handled by the corporate sponsored political party. No news is good for bottom lines.