WBAI Struggles

[Joseph_Gallant]

The WBAI Soap Opera Continues

The latest chapter occurred late last week (August 9th), when WBAI-99.5 Pacifica interim director Summer Reese went on the air over WBAI-99.5 to announce that all but a handful of the station's employees had been laid-off, including the entire news department. Reese also claimed WBAI's financial problems had existed for at least a decade.

The station is still on the air, using repeats of old programs and material from other Pacifica stations, but still faces severe financial problems. In fact, according to a Current.org story (see link below), as of today (August 12th) "four of the network's seven units lacked payroll funds for the following week" (I don't know if means the current week, August 12th through 18th; or next week, August 19th through 25th).

It may no longer be a question about WBAI remaining in Pacifica hands (despite Ms. Reese's claims it would), but whether Pacifica at all will survive.

Should Pacifica go under, or decide to sell-off it's stations (WBAI is on a commercial allocation), the process of selling-off stations and/or dissolving the Pacifica Foundation could get extremely ugly!

In a perverse way, it might be the best soap opera on radio since the cancellation of "Ma Perkins" nearly 53 years ago!

Current.org story: http://www.current.org/2013/08/sharp-staff-cuts-at-pacificas-wbai-aim-to-save-station/ .

 

[nd2023]

Re: WBAI massive layoffs

They should just sell off 99.5, buy an AM station, and keep the rest of Pacifica afloat. In fact, 99.5 should have been sold in 2004. But no, they want to let the ship sink, and be forced to sell ALL of their stations.

 

[Barry]

Re: WBAI massive layoffs

So WBAI has brought back a former PD who will try to bring in more interesting programming to WBAI, with virtually no funds to work with. He indicated that for now he plans to rebroadcast shows from other Pacifica stations, such KPFA.
Are there enough compelling shows on other Pacifica stations to kickstart WBAI and increase its audience?
Perhaps Pacifica could function more like a network, and rebroadcast its better programs on most of its stations. This could save money and possibly improve content. A few local shows that have a reasonable following could be continued.
As management clearly wants to try to turn WBAI around rather than sell it at this point, are there any other ideas out there how more appealing programming could be quickly and cheaply provided to WBAI?

Interesting Article on the Decline of WBAI: http://observer.com/2013/08/the-excruciating-demise-of-wbai/

 

[TheBigA]

Re: WBAI massive layoffs

That's an interesting article. I think now that the demons have been exorcised, they have a chance to at least focus on something besides internal politics. The fact that it took this long is a shame, but hopefully it's done. No matter what they put on the air, it can't do any worse than what they've been doing.

 

[nd2023]

Re: WBAI massive layoffs

WBAI has hit rock bottom. The only way is up. But they'll find some way to get even worse

 

[MoldaMania182]

Re: WBAI massive layoffs

WBAI has hit rock bottom. The only way is up. But they'll find some way to get even worse

How? How does the station expect to bring in more money when they've fired everyone and will do less ultimately? They're a sail-less boat adrift in the middle of the sea far from any shore with no rescue in sight, only a matter of time before it sinks.

 

[Barry]

Re: WBAI massive layoffs

The new PD Andrew Phillips said on the air Friday that he will be adding shows from other Pacifica stations, particularly KPFA. That seems to make sense, as there could be some appealing programs produced by those four outlets, and they may not cost WBAI anything. They could replace some of the ultra-niche shows that have been aired on 'BAI.
If Pacifica absolutely would not consider selling WBAI's valuable license for 99.5 at this time, perhaps they could consider putting WPFW, their Washington D.C. signal on the market. Its financial situation appears to be just as bad as WBAI's. As it is on a non-commercial frequency in a smaller market, it may not bring in very much, but at least there would be one less financial drain for Pacifica.

 

[TheBigA]

Re: WBAI massive layoffs

If Pacifica absolutely would not consider selling WBAI's valuable license for 99.5 at this time, perhaps they could consider putting WPFW, their Washington D.C. signal on the market.

Absolutely not. For a politically-based organization, having a DC signal is very important. Houston is the weakest link.

 

[Barry]

Re: WBAI massive layoffs

If Pacifica absolutely would not consider selling WBAI's valuable license for 99.5 at this time, perhaps they could consider putting WPFW, their Washington D.C. signal on the market.

Absolutely not. For a politically-based organization, having a DC signal is very important. Houston is the weakest link.

I believe KPFT in Houston is in comparatively decent financial shape. So it is not clear why it would be considered Pacifica's "weakest link."
WPFW in Washington is not going to do much to advance Pacifica's political agenda in the nation's capital if together with WBAI it loses so much money that it pulls the entire organization down.

 

[TheBigA]

Re: WBAI massive layoffs

I believe KPFT in Houston is in comparatively decent financial shape. So it is not clear why it would be considered the "weakest link."

In terms of the goals of the organization, Houston is the least important.

Pacifica is not a commercial radio company. They don't care about money. By now that should be obvious. They care about their mission. Signals in places of power are core to their mission.

 

[Barry]

Re: WBAI massive layoffs

When Pacifica's interim Executive Director Summer Reese announced Friday that she was dismissing most of WBAI's paid staff, and expressed concern about paying rent for the transmitter, it did seem that they cared about money.

 

[TheBigA]

Re: WBAI massive layoffs

When Pacifica's interim Executive Director Summer Reese announced Friday that she was dismissing most of WBAI's paid staff, and expressed concern about paying rent for the transmitter, it did seem that they cared about money.

Had they cared about money, they wouldn't be in this mess. Now they have no choice. In order to continue the mission, they need to care about money. But that doesn't change the mission.

 

[nd2023]

Re: WBAI massive layoffs

They can just do a perpetual fund drive. The purpose of the fund drive: to pay the staff so that they can do the fund drives.

Kind of like the cop in a town with very low crime who only writes traffic tickets. The money from the tickets pays his salary, so he can continue writing tickets. But that cop is more useful to society than WBAI.

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

WBAI Trade? (Was: Re: WBAI massive layoffs)

They should just sell off 99.5, buy an AM station, and keep the rest of Pacifica afloat.

I could see three possible scenarios where an existing AM station could make a trade to move to 99.5 (with Pacifica getting some money for giving up the FM signal) and for Pacifica to get their current AM station:

(1) Bloomberg, so WBBR would be heard at 99.5 FM, while WBAI would be at 1130 on the AM dial. But Bloomberg's business programming is considered "Evil and the Voice Of The One Percent!", by many Pacifica staff and supporters, so such a trade might not meet with approval from the Pacifica board, even though the foundation would get some $$$ for an 99.5/1130 trade.

(2) Disney Number One: A trade with AM 1050, so "ESPN Deportes" would go to 99.5 in New York and WBAI to 1050; which could be important if ESPN New York were to win more rights to Spanish-language broadcasts of New York pro teams.

(3) Disney Number Two: A trade with AM 1560, so WQEW's "Radio Disney" format would go to 99.5 and move WBAI to 1560.

Were it not for CBS's purchase of what was WRXP-101.9 to simulcast WFAN-660 (reaching the limit of FM stations in New York), I could have seen a 1010/99.5 trade and WINS going to FM.

A possible "trader", but one I doubt would go through with it (alth0ough you never can tell) would be Cumulus, who would trade 770 for 99.5 and put WABC's all-talk format on FM. But a 99.5/770 trade would involve one of the four best AM signals in the market, and Pacifica might not get that much money for a trade compared to what they would for a 50,000 directional AM signal, as outlined in the three scenarios above.

 

[TheBigA]

Re: WBAI Trade? (Was: Re: WBAI massive layoffs)

I could see three possible scenarios where an existing AM station could make a trade to move to 99.5 (with Pacifica getting some money for giving up the FM signal) and for Pacifica to get their current AM station:

Try to understand that they will NOT give up this frequency regardless of their financial situation.

 

[RBRadioWaves]

Re: WBAI Trade? (Was: Re: WBAI massive layoffs)

I could see three possible scenarios where an existing AM station could make a trade to move to 99.5 (with Pacifica getting some money for giving up the FM signal) and for Pacifica to get their current AM station:

Try to understand that they will NOT give up this frequency regardless of their financial situation.

Cumulus/COX/Disney/(insert your media conglomerate here) will have to have a bankruptcy court pry WBAI from Pacifica's cold, dead hands. This station ain't getting sold until Pacifica gives up the ghost.

This will be to 2013 what FM News was last year: an interesting, time consuming story that has the NY radio geeks hypnotized, even though it is absolutely brutal and has no happy ending in sight.

 

[FightingIrish]

Re: WBAI massive layoffs

If Pacifica absolutely would not consider selling WBAI's valuable license for 99.5 at this time, perhaps they could consider putting WPFW, their Washington D.C. signal on the market.

Absolutely not. For a politically-based organization, having a DC signal is very important. Houston is the weakest link.

I believe KPFT in Houston is in comparatively decent financial shape. So it is not clear why it would be considered Pacifica's "weakest link."
WPFW in Washington is not going to do much to advance Pacifica's political agenda in the nation's capital if together with WBAI it loses so much money that it pulls the entire organization down.

Interesting that WPFW is Pacifica's highest rated station, but it's most likely because they play a lot of music (namely jazz).

I've noticed that talk radio doesn't really do all that hot in D.C. All-news WTOP obviously is very successful, but aside from WMAL and the NPR stations, the rest are bottom-feeders.

 

[WNTIRadio]

Re: WBAI massive layoffs

Cumulus/COX/Disney/(insert your media conglomerate here) will have to have a bankruptcy court pry WBAI from Pacifica's cold, dead hands. This station ain't getting sold until Pacifica gives up the ghost.

This will be to 2013 what FM News was last year: an interesting, time consuming story that has the NY radio geeks hypnotized, even though it is absolutely brutal and has no happy ending in sight.

Annnnndddd just like FM News, nobody is listening!

 

[HHH]

Re: WBAI massive layoffs

WBAI should go back and look at their programming blend from back in the 1960s.

Jazz. Folk. Blues. Cutting edge rock. Drama. Readings. News. And yes, SOME political discussion/information/documentary programs, but not the whole day and not programs of microscopic interest.

There is almost no music of any kind during the week, and only a smattering here and there on the weekend.

Most of the programming is just endless, dull political talk. "Haiti: The Struggle Continues!", "Cuba in Focus", etc.

Who is listening to this stuff?

They could retain their position as New York's counterculture station, but much of what they run today is way, way off in the weeds someplace.

 

[Barry]

Re: WBAI massive layoffs

WPKN, a 10,000 watt community radio station broadcasting out of Bridgeport CT on 89.5 MHz (and receivable in parts of the NYC Metro area), offers primarily a very eclectic mix of music shows. They carry Al Jazeera news in the morning, and have a local newscast at night. There are a few other discussion programs. WPKN only has one paid employee. The rest are volunteers. They have been operating as an independent community radio station for over 20 years with relatively little financial drama.
According to their website, they amended their constitution in 2011 to allow carefully chosen corporate underwriting.
WPKN seems to be a more realistic implementation of community radio in 2013 than WBAI.

WPKN's Interesting History and Mission Statement: http://www.wpkn.org/about/history/