***Either the station is self-sustaining and professionally run, or it's a drag on school finances.***
And that's precisely what separates KUHF from most other University-owned public radio stations. KUHF IS completely self-sustaining and managed by experienced professionals from top to bottom. It gets zero funding from the State of Texas and the University of Houston, and it gets only about 8 percent of its annual funds from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, leaving 92 percent to be raised from contributing members, underwriting advertisers and corporate donors. It does a good job of raising its money from all those sources every year.
KTRU does none of those things because it doesn't have to. It's completely funded by Rice University, and, frankly, the Rice regents are tired of it. They're trying to divest the school of a campus station that's managed by students and volunteers and which contributes nothing to the school's educational mission. It's little more than an expensive toy for a handful of students and former students, and it tortures credulity for the so-called Friends of KTRU to claim otherwise. No one can remember the last time anything even remotely "educational" was heard on KTRU.
Money is tight at Rice, because the school's Endowment Fund took a major hit when the stock market went down in the recession, and brought the Endowment down with it nearly 20 percent. Even though the market is coming back, and stock values are recovering, the Rice regents are wisely leaving the Endowment alone, and are instead trying to sell off something that's useLESS and put the proceeds into things that will be useFUL.
It would be a consummation devoutly to be wished if those "children" on the barricades at KTRU could understand the situation their school is in. Unable to challenge the sale on grounds that relate to the issues spelled out in the application, they're trying to muddy the water with so many extraneous issues and complaints it might cloud the case enough to convince the FCC the application should be rejected.
KUHF is to be congratulated for being in the fortuitous position of having so many popular and desirable news, information and arts programs available 24-7 that it needs another radio station to carry them all. I say it's time for those who agree with this purchase to send petitions expressing their support to the FCC. Lord knows the commissioners have been getting an earful of negative from the Friends of KTRU. It's time for them to hear some positive from the other side.
And one more thing. It will cost taxpayers absolutely nothing for KUHF to buy KTRU. UH will finance the purchase with bonds, and KUHF will raise money from private donors to pay off the bonds. Such a deal.
And that's precisely what separates KUHF from most other University-owned public radio stations. KUHF IS completely self-sustaining and managed by experienced professionals from top to bottom. It gets zero funding from the State of Texas and the University of Houston, and it gets only about 8 percent of its annual funds from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, leaving 92 percent to be raised from contributing members, underwriting advertisers and corporate donors. It does a good job of raising its money from all those sources every year.
KTRU does none of those things because it doesn't have to. It's completely funded by Rice University, and, frankly, the Rice regents are tired of it. They're trying to divest the school of a campus station that's managed by students and volunteers and which contributes nothing to the school's educational mission. It's little more than an expensive toy for a handful of students and former students, and it tortures credulity for the so-called Friends of KTRU to claim otherwise. No one can remember the last time anything even remotely "educational" was heard on KTRU.
Money is tight at Rice, because the school's Endowment Fund took a major hit when the stock market went down in the recession, and brought the Endowment down with it nearly 20 percent. Even though the market is coming back, and stock values are recovering, the Rice regents are wisely leaving the Endowment alone, and are instead trying to sell off something that's useLESS and put the proceeds into things that will be useFUL.
It would be a consummation devoutly to be wished if those "children" on the barricades at KTRU could understand the situation their school is in. Unable to challenge the sale on grounds that relate to the issues spelled out in the application, they're trying to muddy the water with so many extraneous issues and complaints it might cloud the case enough to convince the FCC the application should be rejected.
KUHF is to be congratulated for being in the fortuitous position of having so many popular and desirable news, information and arts programs available 24-7 that it needs another radio station to carry them all. I say it's time for those who agree with this purchase to send petitions expressing their support to the FCC. Lord knows the commissioners have been getting an earful of negative from the Friends of KTRU. It's time for them to hear some positive from the other side.
And one more thing. It will cost taxpayers absolutely nothing for KUHF to buy KTRU. UH will finance the purchase with bonds, and KUHF will raise money from private donors to pay off the bonds. Such a deal.