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The Future of Local Public Radio

K

ka3kza

In recent years out of market public radio operators have moved on the to the lower Eastern Shore. WYPR Baltimore bought a commercial frequency, 106.9 and went non-comm, simulcasting their Baltimore programming. WAMU Washington has done the same thing with 88.3 WRAU. Now the building that WSCL-WSDL is scheduled to be taken down to make way for a new building next April at Salisbury University. The cost of a move is extremely high, considering most of the equipment dates to the late 1980's, and must be replaced, and if they have to move off the campus many services that have been provided (electric, phones, internet, etc) will no longer be provided. Can a local non-comm like Delmarva Public Radio survive, or will it be sold off to the highest bidder. Will they have another 25 years of service, or just simulcasting something from someplace else. I'm sure a religious broadcaster or possibly WHYY which already expanded to cover all of South Jersey would love to pick up these stations. WHYY already owns the tower on of the station's operates from. Looks like local public radio may be going the way of local commercial radio.
 
Check out the Friends of Delmarva Public Radio on Facebook to the see what the University President wants to do with WSCL-WSDL.
 
This is very interesting and I wonder in the end how it will all pan out. The same thing is happening over here in Virginia, with many translators being scooped up and fed public radio or religious broadcasting from far, far away. One local (to me) translator broadcasts public radio from Marion, VA which is 5 hours away. I'm not sure I understand this method of doing things, because even though they are non-comms, they still mention local sponsors who support them. Plus, you end up hearing the same stuff across the dial.

Of course, the public broadcasters from DC and Baltimore going into the Ocean City market makes a bit more sense as probably 90% of the people in OC on any given summer weekend are from those areas. Many have also moved out there to live year 'round too.
 
A note, if you plan to go to the public meeting you will not be allowed to speak unless you register. The more that register the better.
 
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