Has WNYPBA released any figures for its most recent pledge drive a few weeks ago? It appeared that some programs reached their pledge goals while others fell short. Did the programs that now occupy the slots of former Saturday and Sunday blues shows generate as much as the blues shows which are now heard Saturday evening with Jim Santella and Sunday evening with Anita West? For the past two weekends former WNED-AM jazz host Al Wallack has been heard handling the Sunday night blues show. Have changes already been made?
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WBFO and AM 970
- Thread starter Element9
- Start date
For some reason, the programmers at WNYPB were convinced that the reason WBFO outpaced them in both dollars and ratings was because WNED AM was hampered by a less desireable signal. So, big changes were made, both during the week and on the weekend.
The result? I find myself listening a lot less, both during the week, and especially on the weekends. Sorry, but the Saturday afternoon programming is virtually unlistenable. "Day 6" is essentially Can-Con. Now, I like my neighbors to the north, but it's already on CBC radio out of Toronto, and is also available via podcast. The content is of limited (at best) interest to WNYers.
"Peoples Pharmacy", "Zorba Pastor", and "On the Media" are simply not going to draw as much audience or donations as The Blues. And shifting The Blues to evenings will cost WNYPB both listeners and money.
WNYPB is missing a golden opportunity to expand its audience by doing a 24/7 simulcast. Why they don't use 970AM for niche programming, and WBFO-FM for more mainstream programming is beyond me. Yes, I can see the simulcast for major winners that were formerly on both stations, like Morning Edition, Weekend Edition, Talk of the Nation, On Point, and All Things Considered. Why not use 970 to reach out to other ethnic or special interest groups?
There seems to be an overabundance of hubris in the waterfront palace. Of course, radio dollars pale in comparison to TV dollars, so they may simply not care.
The result? I find myself listening a lot less, both during the week, and especially on the weekends. Sorry, but the Saturday afternoon programming is virtually unlistenable. "Day 6" is essentially Can-Con. Now, I like my neighbors to the north, but it's already on CBC radio out of Toronto, and is also available via podcast. The content is of limited (at best) interest to WNYers.
"Peoples Pharmacy", "Zorba Pastor", and "On the Media" are simply not going to draw as much audience or donations as The Blues. And shifting The Blues to evenings will cost WNYPB both listeners and money.
WNYPB is missing a golden opportunity to expand its audience by doing a 24/7 simulcast. Why they don't use 970AM for niche programming, and WBFO-FM for more mainstream programming is beyond me. Yes, I can see the simulcast for major winners that were formerly on both stations, like Morning Edition, Weekend Edition, Talk of the Nation, On Point, and All Things Considered. Why not use 970 to reach out to other ethnic or special interest groups?
There seems to be an overabundance of hubris in the waterfront palace. Of course, radio dollars pale in comparison to TV dollars, so they may simply not care.
If you were listening at the end of the WBFO/AM 970 fundraiser on May 8th, you would have heard that the six-day fon-air campaign raised a total of $137,000. It's difficult to compare that with the "old" WBFO. At UB, money raised by mail was added to listener pledges on "Super Tuesday/Thursday" and was part of the overall on-air goal. That wasn't done in this fundraiser. Mail and over-the-air contributions are kept separate. I will say everyone seemed pleased with these first-ever fundraising results for the combined stations. I feel comfortable sharing the overall number, since that was announced on air. I will defer to management for any further comment on how specific shows fared.
Yes, Sir Rox, in a perfect world, it would be great to hear separate programming on 88.7 FM and AM 970. Do you have some extra cash on hand to contribute to help make that happen? Here's the thing. At this point, the radio department at Western New York Public Broadcasting was built to house two stations, not three. WBFO is now using the old AM 970 studios. Next door is WNED-FM. It would take a significant cash investment for renovations to add a third on-air studio. There would be other engineering costs as well. Plus, there would be the cost of staffing and paying for the programs that would air on AM 970.
I think it's rather unfair to accuse WNED management of hubris and not caring. Afterall, they just spent $4 million to essentially save WBFO as a public station. UB was selling it, make no mistake. Administrators wanted out of the radio business. The alternative could have been UB putting the station out to the highest bidder. It could have been gobbled up by a religious broadcasting group. That would have been devastating to public radio listeners. So, I would argue Western New York Public Broadcasting should be applauded for stepping up by making a significant investment in tough economic times to keep WBFO as the region's NPR news station.
Rox, you might find the Saturday programs "unlistenable." But that doesn't mean all listeners feel that way. You'd be surprised by the loyal following Zorba Pastor and the People's Pharmacy have among AM 970 listeners. Yes, yes, yes, the Blues were popular on WBFO on weekend afternoons. But we've been through this, Rox. WNYPBA is branding WBFO as an NPR news station. And what does this kind of station, both here and in every major city across the country, present on weekend afternoons? The very programs you're hearing right now. You can vent all you want. But the weekend schedule is not going to change back. And as I've said before, at least the new owners listened to audience input by finding a place to keep the Blues.
And who in their right mind is investing in AM radio these days. I'm not inclined to review every post you've ever made, Rox. But I'm sure you're in line with most broadcast professionals on this board who don't see much of a future for AM radio. Young listeners (and even some older ones in my personal experience) don't even know the band exists. So yes it's easy to say AM 970 should feature some niche programming. But the real question is whether it's affordable and a judicious use of listener dollars.
In answer to Element Nine's query, Anita West will be back hosting the Blues this Sunday night!
Yes, Sir Rox, in a perfect world, it would be great to hear separate programming on 88.7 FM and AM 970. Do you have some extra cash on hand to contribute to help make that happen? Here's the thing. At this point, the radio department at Western New York Public Broadcasting was built to house two stations, not three. WBFO is now using the old AM 970 studios. Next door is WNED-FM. It would take a significant cash investment for renovations to add a third on-air studio. There would be other engineering costs as well. Plus, there would be the cost of staffing and paying for the programs that would air on AM 970.
I think it's rather unfair to accuse WNED management of hubris and not caring. Afterall, they just spent $4 million to essentially save WBFO as a public station. UB was selling it, make no mistake. Administrators wanted out of the radio business. The alternative could have been UB putting the station out to the highest bidder. It could have been gobbled up by a religious broadcasting group. That would have been devastating to public radio listeners. So, I would argue Western New York Public Broadcasting should be applauded for stepping up by making a significant investment in tough economic times to keep WBFO as the region's NPR news station.
Rox, you might find the Saturday programs "unlistenable." But that doesn't mean all listeners feel that way. You'd be surprised by the loyal following Zorba Pastor and the People's Pharmacy have among AM 970 listeners. Yes, yes, yes, the Blues were popular on WBFO on weekend afternoons. But we've been through this, Rox. WNYPBA is branding WBFO as an NPR news station. And what does this kind of station, both here and in every major city across the country, present on weekend afternoons? The very programs you're hearing right now. You can vent all you want. But the weekend schedule is not going to change back. And as I've said before, at least the new owners listened to audience input by finding a place to keep the Blues.
And who in their right mind is investing in AM radio these days. I'm not inclined to review every post you've ever made, Rox. But I'm sure you're in line with most broadcast professionals on this board who don't see much of a future for AM radio. Young listeners (and even some older ones in my personal experience) don't even know the band exists. So yes it's easy to say AM 970 should feature some niche programming. But the real question is whether it's affordable and a judicious use of listener dollars.
In answer to Element Nine's query, Anita West will be back hosting the Blues this Sunday night!
I'm willing to wait for a book or two to determine which Saturday afternoon programming is more effective at gaining an audience for WBFO, and for raising funds. Just because other NPR stations program talk on the weekend doesn't make it right for the Buffalo market, which is used to a higher standard of programming.
If WBFO simply becomes a repeater for NPR, then the day is coming when NPR won't need WBFO. Most of their content is already on-line, either live or as a podcast. In essence, WNYPB is creating an audience for content that it won't control. That may not be the smartest programming decision in the long run.
I find it hard to believe that there's a shortage of space in the Waterfront Palace. And didn't all the WBFO equipment come along as part of the purchase deal? It sounds to me like all that's missing is will on the part of management and engineering. And, yes, I've built and wired radio studios before. That job is even easier now than it was in the old analog days.
My contribution to WNYPB reflects my listening habits, and I'm listening less, both during the week and on the weekend.
If WBFO simply becomes a repeater for NPR, then the day is coming when NPR won't need WBFO. Most of their content is already on-line, either live or as a podcast. In essence, WNYPB is creating an audience for content that it won't control. That may not be the smartest programming decision in the long run.
I find it hard to believe that there's a shortage of space in the Waterfront Palace. And didn't all the WBFO equipment come along as part of the purchase deal? It sounds to me like all that's missing is will on the part of management and engineering. And, yes, I've built and wired radio studios before. That job is even easier now than it was in the old analog days.
My contribution to WNYPB reflects my listening habits, and I'm listening less, both during the week and on the weekend.
One more observation, Rox.
Many of us in our industry, and in other industries, are so focused on new technology that we fail to see the advantages of what we have. Now believe me, I'm not saying we should ignore the way a segment of the population is now consuming media. Indeed, I spent part of my afternoon on my patio, listening to WBFO HD-2's Jazzworks on my Nook. But interestingly, I couldn't read the Nook because the outdoor glare made it impossible. I hear the same is true with the iPad. So, I resorted to old technology, a print magazine. No glare problem there. So much for the new technology, huh?
Still, you bring up a very real concern, Rox, about the viability of local public radio stations bringing listeners NPR content. We have discussed that. Someday, that may be an issue. But that day could be ten, 15 or 20 years -- if not longer -- in the future. Why? Because I will submit that most listeners still prefer the convenience of radio. You listen to podcasts. I listen to podcasts. But I rarely come across many others who do the same. Oh yes, most of my friends have their iPods or other MP3 player. But they're using these devices strictly for music.
I think the average American is so involved in their everyday lives that they don't have time for all the new technology. I have two sisters in their early to mid 50s. They're both computer literate. They're constantly checking email. But when it comes to listening to news or music, they're still dependent on the radio. I know they're not alone here!
The technology point was driven home for me during the recent WBFO fundraiser. Nearly three-quarters of the donors made their pledge by phone. That astounds me! Pledging online is clearly the better and easier option. Whenever we give the phone number, we give the web address. Yet, just 24 percent of listeners gave online. The rest used the old standby -- their telephone -- to make a pledge.
I have no studies or research to back me up here. But I think this fact tells me that people will use what they're comfortable with -- in this case, a telephone, their radio and TV, and yes, their computer. But there's a limit on how they use the latter. They'll check their email or Facebook status. They may read the latest headlines on Google or Yahoo. But in the morning, they're tuning in Morning Edition on WBFO, John and Susan on WBEN or Shredd and Ragan on the Edge. And even during the weekend programming, Rox, they're getting weather updates and occasional local newscasts that aren't available when listening to podcasts of those shows.
So, that's why I think WBFO will survive just fine by being a conduit for NPR programming for now and into the foreseeable future. Because that's what most listeners are comfortable with. And I'm not even introducing some of the barriers to some of the new technology such as a lack of bandwidth or providers charging more for those who download too much data and throttling those on unlimited plans. Radio is there at the touch of the on button. AND IT'S FREE! (Though, yes, we do ask public radio listeners to contribute a few bucks.) Again, I'd be foolish if I did not admit public radio may lose some people like you who have discovered the convenience of the podcast. But the rest seem happy with what they hear on the radio.
Many of us in our industry, and in other industries, are so focused on new technology that we fail to see the advantages of what we have. Now believe me, I'm not saying we should ignore the way a segment of the population is now consuming media. Indeed, I spent part of my afternoon on my patio, listening to WBFO HD-2's Jazzworks on my Nook. But interestingly, I couldn't read the Nook because the outdoor glare made it impossible. I hear the same is true with the iPad. So, I resorted to old technology, a print magazine. No glare problem there. So much for the new technology, huh?
Still, you bring up a very real concern, Rox, about the viability of local public radio stations bringing listeners NPR content. We have discussed that. Someday, that may be an issue. But that day could be ten, 15 or 20 years -- if not longer -- in the future. Why? Because I will submit that most listeners still prefer the convenience of radio. You listen to podcasts. I listen to podcasts. But I rarely come across many others who do the same. Oh yes, most of my friends have their iPods or other MP3 player. But they're using these devices strictly for music.
I think the average American is so involved in their everyday lives that they don't have time for all the new technology. I have two sisters in their early to mid 50s. They're both computer literate. They're constantly checking email. But when it comes to listening to news or music, they're still dependent on the radio. I know they're not alone here!
The technology point was driven home for me during the recent WBFO fundraiser. Nearly three-quarters of the donors made their pledge by phone. That astounds me! Pledging online is clearly the better and easier option. Whenever we give the phone number, we give the web address. Yet, just 24 percent of listeners gave online. The rest used the old standby -- their telephone -- to make a pledge.
I have no studies or research to back me up here. But I think this fact tells me that people will use what they're comfortable with -- in this case, a telephone, their radio and TV, and yes, their computer. But there's a limit on how they use the latter. They'll check their email or Facebook status. They may read the latest headlines on Google or Yahoo. But in the morning, they're tuning in Morning Edition on WBFO, John and Susan on WBEN or Shredd and Ragan on the Edge. And even during the weekend programming, Rox, they're getting weather updates and occasional local newscasts that aren't available when listening to podcasts of those shows.
So, that's why I think WBFO will survive just fine by being a conduit for NPR programming for now and into the foreseeable future. Because that's what most listeners are comfortable with. And I'm not even introducing some of the barriers to some of the new technology such as a lack of bandwidth or providers charging more for those who download too much data and throttling those on unlimited plans. Radio is there at the touch of the on button. AND IT'S FREE! (Though, yes, we do ask public radio listeners to contribute a few bucks.) Again, I'd be foolish if I did not admit public radio may lose some people like you who have discovered the convenience of the podcast. But the rest seem happy with what they hear on the radio.
I think what is being ignored in this discussion is that the local NPR stations basically own NPR. Not the other way around. The minute an NPR CEO forgets that, their days are numbered, as was the case with Vivian Schuller.
NPR.org isn't designed to replace the local stations, but rather augment the programs listeners hear on the radio. Typically, an NPR listener hears the show in real time, but either wants to hear a specific piece again, or find out more information. That's what the online service is designed to do. NPR used to provide tapes of its shows to the public. Now they are available online. That's really the only difference.
NPR members are very loyal, and use radio differently than those of commercial stations. The concept of membership makes that possible. They feel they have invested in their local station, and therefore are a part of the organization. They don't get that feeling from a commercial station. The relationship that exists between them and the local station also doesn't exist between them and NPR headquarters in Washington. The local stations handle outreach to the members. That's where the rubber meets the road. And the local station also provides its own online content, and continues that relationship between the local station and the members.
NPR.org isn't designed to replace the local stations, but rather augment the programs listeners hear on the radio. Typically, an NPR listener hears the show in real time, but either wants to hear a specific piece again, or find out more information. That's what the online service is designed to do. NPR used to provide tapes of its shows to the public. Now they are available online. That's really the only difference.
NPR members are very loyal, and use radio differently than those of commercial stations. The concept of membership makes that possible. They feel they have invested in their local station, and therefore are a part of the organization. They don't get that feeling from a commercial station. The relationship that exists between them and the local station also doesn't exist between them and NPR headquarters in Washington. The local stations handle outreach to the members. That's where the rubber meets the road. And the local station also provides its own online content, and continues that relationship between the local station and the members.
I agree with the idea that NPR listeners feel more invested in their local stations. That feeling can go away very quickly when listeners feel that their voice is being ignored.
Sorry, but to me it's quite obvious that WNYPB is going out of its way to court Canadian listeners at the expense of WNY listeners. "Day 6" in weekend prime time is an obvious example of this. I understand that WNED-TV does very well fundraising in Toronto & S. Ontario. I don't know if the same is true of WBFO.
Nice to hear that Phil has an HD radio. That means that I now know two people who are not station engineers that actually have one. And, yes, the other one is a radio geek too. That's one new technology that I believe is doomed to failure. I believe that on-line listening will grow because it's a relative low bit-rate service, and the government is determined to make universal high-speed Internet access available. The easiest and cheapest way to do this outside of highly populated areas is via wireless transmission of one sort or another, from 4G LTE to WiMax to WRAN using 802.22.
Local stations will survive if they're content providers, and offer something more than generic pap. The delivery system is not as important as the content, although radio still has some important advantages as a medium.
Sorry, but to me it's quite obvious that WNYPB is going out of its way to court Canadian listeners at the expense of WNY listeners. "Day 6" in weekend prime time is an obvious example of this. I understand that WNED-TV does very well fundraising in Toronto & S. Ontario. I don't know if the same is true of WBFO.
Nice to hear that Phil has an HD radio. That means that I now know two people who are not station engineers that actually have one. And, yes, the other one is a radio geek too. That's one new technology that I believe is doomed to failure. I believe that on-line listening will grow because it's a relative low bit-rate service, and the government is determined to make universal high-speed Internet access available. The easiest and cheapest way to do this outside of highly populated areas is via wireless transmission of one sort or another, from 4G LTE to WiMax to WRAN using 802.22.
Local stations will survive if they're content providers, and offer something more than generic pap. The delivery system is not as important as the content, although radio still has some important advantages as a medium.
SirRoxalot said:
I think Philip explained very clearly that the fact that the new owners kept some elements of the old station demonstrates that their voice was not ignored.
WBFO was only one of about five major college-owned stations that got sold to community licensees in 2011. All of the other new owners completely eliminated the previous formats, wiping out entire staffs. There were license challenges at two of the stations, and attempts to preserve the previous formats, and in both cases, the challenges were denied. At least an attempt was made to retain some parts of the old station.
There isn't an HD radio in my home or car and there's no compelling reason for me to drive to Best Buy and get one any time soon. FM, unless it's grime from an over-driven, ill-adjusted Omni or Orban, sounds fine to my upper-demo but quite astute ears.
As to the programming changes on WBFO. I get what's happening. It doesn't mean I'm in favor of it simply because I know the hosts, or a listener, former member and interim employee of WBFO. The message has been sent. This is a News Station that just so happens to feature Blues on Saturday and Sunday nights.
As to the recent line-up changes, "Day Six" appears to be an attempt to reach Canadian listeners, which doesn't surprise me in the least, given WNYPBA's desire to attract membership north of the border. However SirRoxalot makes a good point: The program is available in real-time on a Canadian carrier. It's a fine production piece, but it doesn't flip my switch. Pass.
I've come to occasionally listen to the Money Market programming on Saturday afternoon. It's exceptionally well put together and relevant. Zorba Pastor is an acquired taste. The man seems to know what he's talking about. He and his set-up man have a decent radio schtick equal to a medium market Classic Rock morning show or the Car Guys (who have, like the carpeting under the gas pedal of my seven year old mini-van, worn thin.) But I can't help thinking of Richard Simmons every time Pastor speaks.
More than a few of my professional friends have said, "Channel 17 didn't have to bring over the Blues when they bought the station from UB, so pipe down and give them credit because the decision makers could have cut it completely..." Fine, credit given. Point made.
Both Blues hosts and WNYPBA seem to be trying to make the new relationship work. I hope the Blues shows aren't being set up to wither on the vine, but personally, my Blues TSL has decreased. I don't throw many Saturday night house parties and Sunday night is "a school night."
NPR radio listeners are passionate and connected with their radio stations. It's a wonderful relationship not without entanglements. But in the overall ebb and flow of life, it shouldn't come as a surprise to many of us that radio isn't on people's priority lists. Groceries, kids, college, car payments and the mortgage might be a little farther up on the priority list.
WBFO could promote the Blues shows more heavily, especially Thursday through Sunday, but the point has been made (and received here) that WBFO, now more than ever, is a news station. It's 2012. The station is no longer owned by the University at Buffalo. WNYPBA has its own agenda. Like everything else in life, it's all about making adjustments.
As to the programming changes on WBFO. I get what's happening. It doesn't mean I'm in favor of it simply because I know the hosts, or a listener, former member and interim employee of WBFO. The message has been sent. This is a News Station that just so happens to feature Blues on Saturday and Sunday nights.
As to the recent line-up changes, "Day Six" appears to be an attempt to reach Canadian listeners, which doesn't surprise me in the least, given WNYPBA's desire to attract membership north of the border. However SirRoxalot makes a good point: The program is available in real-time on a Canadian carrier. It's a fine production piece, but it doesn't flip my switch. Pass.
I've come to occasionally listen to the Money Market programming on Saturday afternoon. It's exceptionally well put together and relevant. Zorba Pastor is an acquired taste. The man seems to know what he's talking about. He and his set-up man have a decent radio schtick equal to a medium market Classic Rock morning show or the Car Guys (who have, like the carpeting under the gas pedal of my seven year old mini-van, worn thin.) But I can't help thinking of Richard Simmons every time Pastor speaks.
More than a few of my professional friends have said, "Channel 17 didn't have to bring over the Blues when they bought the station from UB, so pipe down and give them credit because the decision makers could have cut it completely..." Fine, credit given. Point made.
Both Blues hosts and WNYPBA seem to be trying to make the new relationship work. I hope the Blues shows aren't being set up to wither on the vine, but personally, my Blues TSL has decreased. I don't throw many Saturday night house parties and Sunday night is "a school night."
NPR radio listeners are passionate and connected with their radio stations. It's a wonderful relationship not without entanglements. But in the overall ebb and flow of life, it shouldn't come as a surprise to many of us that radio isn't on people's priority lists. Groceries, kids, college, car payments and the mortgage might be a little farther up on the priority list.
WBFO could promote the Blues shows more heavily, especially Thursday through Sunday, but the point has been made (and received here) that WBFO, now more than ever, is a news station. It's 2012. The station is no longer owned by the University at Buffalo. WNYPBA has its own agenda. Like everything else in life, it's all about making adjustments.
I've made adjustments - both in my listening and my monetary support. Sorry, but ignoring the listeners - and moving the Blues programming (let alone cutting it) was ignoring the listeners - indicates to me that some people on the Waterfront simply aren't paying attention.
As I say, I'm willing to wait a book or two, but I already know what the answer is in my household.
As I say, I'm willing to wait a book or two, but I already know what the answer is in my household.
SirRoxalot said:
They were paying attention. You just don't like the results. You don't build a radio station around fringe programming on the weekends. If blues was so important, they would have expanded its footprint. But maybe they saw that blues was not as important to the overall mission as other things. So they kept the shows, but not the daypart. For every blues fan who goes away, they will attract five more news/talk fans. That's what they're banking on. So you can take away your membership money. That will just hasten the demise of blues completely from the station. Meanwhile, where else can you hear blues programming in Buffalo? And there are lots of newsies who'll gladly replace your money with their own, and you're out in the cold.
As I said, in other markets, the new owners blew the entire station up, and started over. These guys didn't. Ask the alternative rock fans in Houston who challenged the license transfer of KTRU. They lost. Now the station is KUHA, with 24/7 classical music. Same with the former listeners of KUSF, who were left out in the cold. Security guards came into the studios and escorted the staff out the door. Then the frequency became 24/7 classical. And people think Citadel was heartless. They have no idea. All of this was calculated before the station was bought. You threatening to withhold your membership money is an idle threat. The sooner the blues money stops, the sooner they can put something else in its place.
Like I said, we'll know very soon how well the new programming lineup draws - either listeners or dollars. BigA, you really need to see a Buffalo rating book before you call Blues on WBFO "fringe programming". As far as "For every blues fan who goes away, they will attract five more news/talk fans" is concerned, that's bull - and I believe that the ratings will prove it.
But, there's no point in arguing about it. What's done is done, and the ratings will tell the story. We'll see who's right.
But, there's no point in arguing about it. What's done is done, and the ratings will tell the story. We'll see who's right.
SirRoxalot said:
It's on the weekends. That makes it fringe programming. As I said, if blues was a big money-maker, they'd run it five nights a week.
Public radio listenership differs from commercial radio in that it's more about TSL than cume. Breaking format for a few hours on the weekends doesn't help TSL. You and others have said that Buffalo is hungering for a real news station. That's what they'll do with WBFO. If it follows the pattern of NPR stations in similar markets, it'll make more money with news than blues.
Thanks for your opinion about a market that you haven't set foot in since the '80s? '70s?
Last time I looked, mid-days on Saturday was on of the MOST listened to dayparts of the entire broadcast week. "Fringe", huh?
If there's any hunger here, it's for local news and local content. That ain't what WNYPB is providing in any substantially greater amount. Once again, if you had access to a book, you might know what you're talking about. It's obvious that you don't. But thanks for playing.
Last time I looked, mid-days on Saturday was on of the MOST listened to dayparts of the entire broadcast week. "Fringe", huh?
If there's any hunger here, it's for local news and local content. That ain't what WNYPB is providing in any substantially greater amount. Once again, if you had access to a book, you might know what you're talking about. It's obvious that you don't. But thanks for playing.
Yeah, but they are motivated by money. And the Blues shows always did a very good job of raising money.
You're right, I've never worked in public radio. But one equation is the same - listeners = money. No listeners, no money - either from donations or underwriting.
If anything, public radio has gotten a lot more like corporate radio in the last 10 years.
You're right, I've never worked in public radio. But one equation is the same - listeners = money. No listeners, no money - either from donations or underwriting.
If anything, public radio has gotten a lot more like corporate radio in the last 10 years.
SirRoxalot said:
If it's about the content, then those shows will continue to raise money. If it's about the airtime, then the shows that replaced it will do a good job of raising money. When I ran a public station, weekend middays were #2 to morning drive in fundraising. We used to run a bunch of specialty programming on the weekends. During fundraising, we expanded the core weekday format to weekends, and made more money. So we stuck the specialty programming Sunday nights after 7PM. That's exactly what these folks are doing.
PFFFT!! coughcoughcough, hack hack! Dude! Don't say stuff like that while I'm eating. I nearly choked to death laughing. :
EVERY market thinks they're used to a "higher standard" and it's inevitably a crock. If you think Buffalo listeners are magically more discerning than any other market, then I've got a bridge at the other corner of the state to sell you. More importantly, while pandering to the lowest common denominator is a bad idea for public radio - which depends on listener loyalty more than raw numbers - the reverse is also bad: pandering to a small but vocal minority that claims they are the "real" supporters of the station is inevitably a loser of a strategy, too.
TheBigA said:
How about if the Blues shows raise more money in the 7-midnight slots on Saturday and Sunday than the former programming, while the Saturday and Sunday Noon-5 programming raises considerably less money. That would indicate that moving the Blues hurt the audience and fundraising, but that the Blues was preferable to what's being programmed now from Noon-5 on Saturday and Sunday.
The folks at WNYPB might be following what others have done in other markets, but that doesn't mean it's a better idea. I'll bet that the overall totals for both dayparts are lower than they were before WNYPB took over - and I'll throw in the fundraising from WNED-AM as well. Right now, that's a wasted signal.
But, that would mean that you'd have to know something about the market, and not apply the cookie-cutter to what was a pretty successful radio station.
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