Thom Hartmann to KBCS Jan 2nd

[Blatherwatch]

http://kbcs.fm/site/PageServer?pagename=Thom_Hartmann_FAQ

KBCS is pleased to welcome New York Times best-selling author Thom Hartmann to our weekday line-up.

The former Air America host leads a thoughtful discussion on issues of the day, with guests representing a variety of perspectives.

The Thom Hartmann Programs starts Wed. January 2nd, 2013. Tune in!

 

[toonces2u]

http://kbcs.fm/site/PageServer?pagename=Thom_Hartmann_FAQ

KBCS is pleased to welcome New York Times best-selling author Thom Hartmann to our weekday line-up.

The former Air America host leads a thoughtful discussion on issues of the day, with guests representing a variety of perspectives.

The Thom Hartmann Programs starts Wed. January 2nd, 2013. Tune in!

Thom announced this on his show today as well. Great news. Now if KBCS will just pick up the entire Progressive Talk / AM1090 line up a lot of Seattle listeners will be happy.

 

[Bongwater]

He'll also be on KSER 90.7 Everett

Thom Hartmann is a different cat from all the other progressive talkers. He syndicates his show to both public and commercial stations. All the others, Stephanie, Ed, Nor-MAN, Randi and Malloy don't do that. Thom gets bonus points for that.

He fills in the minutes on the non commercial stations with brief labor and other progressive-oriented news reports and some PSAs.

But since the show was very popular and would be very available, I can't understand why KLAY didn't pick it up as well....

 

[Lonely Summer]

Thom is a gentleman, great guy, glad he will still be on the air up here.

 

[Blatherwatch]

KLAY is waiting til after the 2nd. I don't know who else at this point has considered the line-up. I doubt we'll hear Mike Malloy again in Seattle but most listeners are going to streaming on something other than a radio so the shows are prepared, not the same as the old days however.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

Wouldn't this be an example where podcasting should shine (i.e. download the shows from a host website instead of dependence on a terrestrial carrier) ... but for whatever reason that habit never caught the sails of the people in the masses.

I see that scenario as the same thing I have seen over and over in the tech game for years. Chicken/Egg. Hardware doesn't take off because people aren't buying it because no content to support it ... no content generated because there is no mass market of hardware on which to play it. In this case we have podcast players up the yingyang but most stations never bothered to generate "best of" bits after a show was over, etc. -- the one exception (and in my mind deserves HUGE prop's for making the hiring decision out of his own pocket) is Bob Rivers. Web has always been a strong support tool of the program and a place to pick up content "if you missed it".

 

[toonces2u]

Wouldn't this be an example where podcasting should shine (i.e. download the shows from a host website instead of dependence on a terrestrial carrier) ... but for whatever reason that habit never caught the sails of the people in the masses.

I see that scenario as the same thing I have seen over and over in the tech game for years. Chicken/Egg. Hardware doesn't take off because people aren't buying it because no content to support it ... no content generated because there is no mass market of hardware on which to play it. In this case we have podcast players up the yingyang but most stations never bothered to generate "best of" bits after a show was over, etc. -- the one exception (and in my mind deserves HUGE prop's for making the hiring decision out of his own pocket) is Bob Rivers. Web has always been a strong support tool of the program and a place to pick up content "if you missed it".

I like the idea of pod casting. I would do that for many shows, especially the weekly classic AT-40 shows with Casey Kasem. Pay an annual fee to download those shows from a web site and then listen to them any place or time I desire. Not depend on the clowns running terrestrial radio anymore. I have Sirius in my car right now for a three month trial, and it is fine. I do get the AT-40 countdowns but I don't know when they air. I have only heard the 80s countdowns with the original MTV V-Js. The downside is that Sirius is only in my car and I am never in there for 3-4 hours to hear the entire countdowns. Pod casts would be much better.

 

[JakeMott]

Wouldn't this be an example where podcasting should shine (i.e. download the shows from a host website instead of dependence on a terrestrial carrier) ... but for whatever reason that habit never caught the sails of the people in the masses.

I see that scenario as the same thing I have seen over and over in the tech game for years. Chicken/Egg. Hardware doesn't take off because people aren't buying it because no content to support it ... no content generated because there is no mass market of hardware on which to play it. In this case we have podcast players up the yingyang but most stations never bothered to generate "best of" bits after a show was over, etc. -- the one exception (and in my mind deserves HUGE prop's for making the hiring decision out of his own pocket) is Bob Rivers. Web has always been a strong support tool of the program and a place to pick up content "if you missed it".

I like the idea of pod casting. I would do that for many shows, especially the weekly classic AT-40 shows with Casey Kasem. Pay an annual fee to download those shows from a web site and then listen to them any place or time I desire. Not depend on the clowns running terrestrial radio anymore. I have Sirius in my car right now for a three month trial, and it is fine. I do get the AT-40 countdowns but I don't know when they air. I have only heard the 80s countdowns with the original MTV V-Js. The downside is that Sirius is only in my car and I am never in there for 3-4 hours to hear the entire countdowns. Pod casts would be much better.

You can hear AT 40 on several stations through streaming. So if you are home you can listen. WOGL HD2 plays it almost all day on Sundays. Sometimes it's the eighties. Mostly the seventies.

Glad that Hartman will be on a station thats signal is good at my home and work. Not good for people that live in the outskirts.

 

[Lonely Summer]

Thom will also be on KLAY 5-7 pm, preceded by Stephanie Miller. I do not think this will work, neither will be live.

 

[multiplex]

Last I knew, Thom Hartmann was live from 9-noon Pacific. If that's still the case, it hasn't been live of late, and KBCS and KLAY will both be on delay.
Don't know about KSER.
Personally, I think Hartmann is a must-listen, so I'm glad he'll still be heard in the Seattle metro.

 

[Bongwater]

Last I knew, Thom Hartmann was live from 9-noon Pacific. If that's still the case, it hasn't been live of late, and KBCS and KLAY will both be on delay.
Don't know about KSER.
Personally, I think Hartmann is a must-listen, so I'm glad he'll still be heard in the Seattle metro.

Actually, Thom's program is Noon-3pm Pacific. He was on live today.

 

[uncamark]

Last I knew, Thom Hartmann was live from 9-noon Pacific. If that's still the case, it hasn't been live of late, and KBCS and KLAY will both be on delay.
Don't know about KSER.
Personally, I think Hartmann is a must-listen, so I'm glad he'll still be heard in the Seattle metro.

Actually, Thom's program is Noon-3pm Pacific. He was on live today.

The problem KBCS will have is pissed off volunteers (who were doing the Americana-ish block that's being replaced by Hartmann) and pissed off music listeners. A lot of the audience that KBCS appeals to wants mostly music and doesn't want much news/talk beyond Amy Goodman and "Free Speech Radio News." Remember that putting "The Takeaway" in morning drive (and making John Gilbreth a paid jock instead of five volunteers doing the morning jazz block) caused a lot of hubbub among volunteer jocks and listeners, including the inevitable "Save" web sites and blogs. KBCS dropped "The Takeaway" long before PRI took it out of morning drive.

 

[Bongwater]

Last I knew, Thom Hartmann was live from 9-noon Pacific. If that's still the case, it hasn't been live of late, and KBCS and KLAY will both be on delay.
Don't know about KSER.
Personally, I think Hartmann is a must-listen, so I'm glad he'll still be heard in the Seattle metro.

Actually, Thom's program is Noon-3pm Pacific. He was on live today.

The problem KBCS will have is pissed off volunteers (who were doing the Americana-ish block that's being replaced by Hartmann) and pissed off music listeners. A lot of the audience that KBCS appeals to wants mostly music and doesn't want much news/talk beyond Amy Goodman and "Free Speech Radio News." Remember that putting "The Takeaway" in morning drive (and making John Gilbreth a paid jock instead of five volunteers doing the morning jazz block) caused a lot of hubbub among volunteer jocks and listeners, including the inevitable "Save" web sites and blogs. KBCS dropped "The Takeaway" long before PRI took it out of morning drive.

You have a point. It's a really big pet peeve with public radio listeners that so many of them are going in a News/Talk direction (or adding secondary frequencies with often sub-par signals - or HD2 channels, on which to put their music offerings.)

If any public station should REALLY add Thom Hartmann, it's KUOW.

 

[Bongwater]

KBCS has a pretty long and POPULAR history as a mostly folk/Americana station. It's their niche and what their dedicated subscribers have come to expect and I wouldn't mess with it too much should, heaven forbid, the transmitter start going on the fritz or some other sudden godawful expense hit the station. They'll NEED them.

 

[scott salvatori]

10-4 boys! one wonders how that thom hartman show was sold and bought at the station in the first place. perhaps, a few big financial donations from some left wing deep pocket sources sealed the deal,after the 1090 change(I assume hartman was on 1090?). i worked at KBCS throughout the 90's hosting my own and then other country/americana/bluegrass/folk shows. i had always hoped KBCS would make some major moves in solidifying, and tightening up the Americana programming as a format for the seattle market, instead of the occasional show here and there, amongst the jazz, blues,rock,rap,worldmusic, talk etc. problem is nothing much can get accomplished at this station, as you have about 30 different formats within one station, and 100 different niche hosts/egos that may get stepped on, if an effort was made to tighten up. so extreme rudderless kayous, is the only format you get over there. this can be good if you like radical niche music shows. ya, KBCS that left handed lesbian dwarf string band music played underwater show is a real winner! bahhh!! thank God for XM/SR in my truck at night.

 

[Bongwater]

10-4 boys! one wonders how that thom hartman show was sold and bought at the station in the first place. perhaps, a few big financial donations from some left wing deep pocket sources sealed the deal,after the 1090 change(I assume hartman was on 1090?). i worked at KBCS throughout the 90's hosting my own and then other country/americana/bluegrass/folk shows. i had always hoped KBCS would make some major moves in solidifying, and tightening up the Americana programming as a format for the seattle market, instead of the occasional show here and there, amongst the jazz, blues,rock,rap,worldmusic, talk etc. problem is nothing much can get accomplished at this station, as you have about 30 different formats within one station, and 100 different niche hosts/egos that may get stepped on, if an effort was made to tighten up. so extreme rudderless kayous, is the only format you get over there. this can be good if you like radical niche music shows. ya, KBCS that left handed lesbian dwarf string band music played underwater show is a real winner! bahhh!! thank God for XM/SR in my truck at night.

I don't think it was like that. All I know is Thom has a pretty loyal audience and audience loyalty often equals $$$ in non-com radio circles.

 

[Goldilocks94941]

I don't think anyone could call KBCS "successful" as a hodgepodge of volunteer-hosted specialty music shows. Spinning CDs, no matter how artfully, is not much of a "live and local" experience. KBCS and KSER, as a couple of local examples, have relied on an antiquated model, rooted in the way the always-enviable Pacifica stations operate. And it just invites more dissention and in-fighting than actual listeners and supporters.
A thougtful mix of national and locally-hosted shows makes more sense to me (in my own mgt experience in non-comm radio). Amateur hosts, no matter how many years they've been on the air, can be a real tune-out if they resist any training, aircheck critiques, and try to politicize their radio hobby and threaten to hurt the station if they don't get their way. This kind of internal strife has long-hindered management at these "community" stations from making any meaningful programming refinements unless a hole opens up in the schedule because a volunteer moves away or dies. I wish KBCS well and hope their talk programming can be featured and promoted as an alternative to KUOW and KIRO-FM, and brings them additional listeners who find they can rely on the station for a particular stripe of political analysis and discussion..

 

[boombox]

I don't think anyone could call KBCS "successful" as a hodgepodge of volunteer-hosted specialty music shows. Spinning CDs, no matter how artfully, is not much of a "live and local" experience. KBCS and KSER, as a couple of local examples, have relied on an antiquated model, rooted in the way the always-enviable Pacifica stations operate. And it just invites more dissention and in-fighting than actual listeners and supporters.
A thougtful mix of national and locally-hosted shows makes more sense to me (in my own mgt experience in non-comm radio). Amateur hosts, no matter how many years they've been on the air, can be a real tune-out if they resist any training, aircheck critiques, and try to politicize their radio hobby and threaten to hurt the station if they don't get their way. This kind of internal strife has long-hindered management at these "community" stations from making any meaningful programming refinements unless a hole opens up in the schedule because a volunteer moves away or dies.

Changing a small non-comm station from a 'community' oriented, volunteer run one to a more slickly presented NPR clone has its advantages, but it also has its disadvantages -- one of them being that the incentives for volunteers to do more menial tasks at the station are reduced when you remove and reduce airshifts. And the 'community' aspect of the station can be lost.

 

[Bongwater]

Agreed. It's a balancing act.

On one hand, there's also the lesson of KRAB. KRAB 107.7 was innovative and unique (they were the very FIRST radio station in Seattle to ever play what would be known as hip-hop music in the late '70s) while at the same time, stymied in Lorenzo Milam's often bizarre programming philosophies (including leaving the studio mic on and the transmitter running when no one was on the air. And not bothering to fill the dead air with anything.)

On the other, had KRAB "tightened up" and became more "mainstream accessible", they would have become another generic public station along the lines of KUOW back then (a talk/classical hodgepodge.) And KUOW STRUGGLED during those years. I think a middle ground could have been found somewhere. But nobody seemed to be looking for one and volunteers would have rebelled like crazy if one was found. So either way, KRAB was doomed.

KBCS is different because it's nowhere near as "adrift" as KRAB. They have a pretty solid foundation, being part of a community college (KRAB was licensed to The Jack Straw Memorial Foundation, named after a character in a 13th century poem) and KBCS has somewhat of a specialty format niche (Americana/World Music), whereas KRAB was AOR (All Over The Road.)