WBFO cuts staff

[Rusty Bridges]

Side bar: WBFO about two months ago began actively and repeatedly using the tag line "Buffalo-Toronto Media." That tag line seems to be diminished if not totally missing these days.

(NB: It's widely known why the tag line likely came to be used. WNYPB derives a significant number of members/donors in Canada. No need to debate or re-state this point.)

 

[TheBigA]

"Perception Management" or BS is a valuable skill set. Grab all you can and "Let Them Eat Cake". This approach has helped make Radio the growing vibrant industry it is today...

Are we still talking about WBFO?

 

[TheBigA]

Here's more detail on the WBFO cuts. Only 3 actual employees cut. The other two were contracts with fundraisers based in Toronto:

https://current.org/2020/07/buffalo-toronto-public-media-cuts-three-staff/

They're expecting a 20% cut in state funding, combined with cuts in sponsorships and donations. If the state cut doesn't happen, they'll look into rehiring the laid off staff.

 

[Rusty Bridges]

Here's a very incisive perspective regarding cuts in other sectors. Delaware North, based in Buffalo, is one of the largest global companies in its field. The cuts made locally reflect the impact of the pandemic and also create a ripple effect with touches all media in this market. It's important to note that what's happening here is happening all over the country, and it isn't pretty.

There is a line in this story that jumps off the screen: "The rebuilding process will take years, not months as we had originally anticipated, and we will not reach pre-pandemic employment levels anytime soon."

Years, not months.


http://https://buffalonews.com/news/delaware-north-cuts-100-workers/article_c9a45408-c510-11ea-954e-773348ee8196.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=regions_covid_19_hospitalizations_at_highest_point_in_nearly_3_weeks&utm_term= Story may be behind a paywall.

A recent national trade reported that iHeart revenues in some markets had decreased more than 50%. Stunning, if true.

 

[TheBigA]

A recent national trade reported that iHeart revenues in some markets had decreased more than 50%. Stunning, if true.

The downturn has also hit public and non-commercial radio. One station in Seattle says underwriting revenue has dried up completely:

https://current.org/2020/04/seattle...ts-positions-as-underwriting-income-dries-up/

 

[ckg279]

The downturn has also hit public and non-commercial radio. One station in Seattle says underwriting revenue has dried up completely:

https://current.org/2020/04/seattle...ts-positions-as-underwriting-income-dries-up/

And that station is doing VERY well ratings-wise right now(it was 5.3 in the June trend; it's seen a 2.0 raise from the January trend).

 

[TheBigA]

And that station is doing VERY well ratings-wise right now(it was 5.3 in the June trend; it's seen a 2.0 raise from the January trend).

That's compared to other stations. Their audience has remained fairly constant, while the other stations have lost listeners.