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WBRU is being sold
- Thread starter RadioKing
- Start date
> http://www.motifmagazine.net/article/view/72
Hopefully "local privately owned media company" doesn't mean non English speaking programming. Spanish language would be the only one with enough of a population to warrant special programming & the market may be saturated with Spanish language programming as it is. There's only so much advertising to go around.
Now what will happen with staffing since BRU is all volunteer? I don't listen much but I do have them as a preset & stay with them once in a while. I heard them running an ad for salespeople for the "non profit" station within the last week. I can't see any group doing anything but modern/alt rock & expect to sell time successfully. I'd love to see triple-A & even real oldies, but sales might be a problem with an unproven record. At least with the current format they have something to continue selling.
Also, Peter George wanted some WBRU history in a response below so I'll post this link here I found a while back not to bury it down below. Hope it answers some questions.
http://bracksco.com/wbru/
Hopefully "local privately owned media company" doesn't mean non English speaking programming. Spanish language would be the only one with enough of a population to warrant special programming & the market may be saturated with Spanish language programming as it is. There's only so much advertising to go around.
Now what will happen with staffing since BRU is all volunteer? I don't listen much but I do have them as a preset & stay with them once in a while. I heard them running an ad for salespeople for the "non profit" station within the last week. I can't see any group doing anything but modern/alt rock & expect to sell time successfully. I'd love to see triple-A & even real oldies, but sales might be a problem with an unproven record. At least with the current format they have something to continue selling.
Also, Peter George wanted some WBRU history in a response below so I'll post this link here I found a while back not to bury it down below. Hope it answers some questions.
http://bracksco.com/wbru/
J
Joseph_Gallant
Guest
Could it also mean a nonprofit group who could convert WBRU-95.5 to a noncommercial NPR news/information station??
Rhode Island's two existing NPR stations are on AM (WRNI-1290 and WXNI-1230), both of which mostly simulcast and are owned by Boston University's WBUR-90.9 in Boston, and whose combined signals miss parts of Rhode Island, especially at night.
Were a noncommercial group to acquire WBRU to convert it to an NPR news/information station, it would have a strong, clean FM signal across all of Rhode Island.
Rhode Island's two existing NPR stations are on AM (WRNI-1290 and WXNI-1230), both of which mostly simulcast and are owned by Boston University's WBUR-90.9 in Boston, and whose combined signals miss parts of Rhode Island, especially at night.
Were a noncommercial group to acquire WBRU to convert it to an NPR news/information station, it would have a strong, clean FM signal across all of Rhode Island.
> Could it also mean a nonprofit group who could convert
> WBRU-95.5 to a noncommercial NPR news/information station??
>
> Rhode Island's two existing NPR stations are on AM
> (WRNI-1290 and WXNI-1230), both of which mostly simulcast
> and are owned by Boston University's WBUR-90.9 in Boston,
> and whose combined signals miss parts of Rhode Island,
> especially at night.
>
> Were a noncommercial group to acquire WBRU to convert it to
> an NPR news/information station, it would have a strong,
> clean FM signal across all of Rhode Island.
>
GOD I hope not, WBRU is by far the best alt rock station around
> WBRU-95.5 to a noncommercial NPR news/information station??
>
> Rhode Island's two existing NPR stations are on AM
> (WRNI-1290 and WXNI-1230), both of which mostly simulcast
> and are owned by Boston University's WBUR-90.9 in Boston,
> and whose combined signals miss parts of Rhode Island,
> especially at night.
>
> Were a noncommercial group to acquire WBRU to convert it to
> an NPR news/information station, it would have a strong,
> clean FM signal across all of Rhode Island.
>
GOD I hope not, WBRU is by far the best alt rock station around
W
webcastboy
Guest
> http://www.motifmagazine.net/article/view/72
>
That article doesn't give one SHRED of hard information and April Fools Day is three days away.
My money's still on that it's a prank.
If it isn't a prank, there will be some hellaciously pissed Brown alumni, though.
>
That article doesn't give one SHRED of hard information and April Fools Day is three days away.
My money's still on that it's a prank.
If it isn't a prank, there will be some hellaciously pissed Brown alumni, though.
B
BillHall
Guest
> >
> > Were a noncommercial group to acquire WBRU to convert it
> to
> > an NPR news/information station, it would have a strong,
> > clean FM signal across all of Rhode Island.
> >
> GOD I hope not, WBRU is by far the best alt rock station
> around
>
Not just in RI... 'BRU is one of the best in the country (IMHO), and one of the most successful in terms of ratings.
> > Were a noncommercial group to acquire WBRU to convert it
> to
> > an NPR news/information station, it would have a strong,
> > clean FM signal across all of Rhode Island.
> >
> GOD I hope not, WBRU is by far the best alt rock station
> around
>
Not just in RI... 'BRU is one of the best in the country (IMHO), and one of the most successful in terms of ratings.
J
Joseph_Gallant
Guest
Yes, WBRU-95.5 is a successful rock station, but rock radio is in a serious decline on a nationwide basis.
While Providence still is a relatively healthy rock radio market, and in fact WBRU is (in 12-plus) doing better in the ratings than they did a year ago, I suspect both it and WHJY-94.1 probably had higher numbers two or three years ago.
I'm sure WBRU's ownership gets offers for the station on a regular basis. I would think the "big" groups have all made offers to buy the station at one time or another.
While Providence still is a relatively healthy rock radio market, and in fact WBRU is (in 12-plus) doing better in the ratings than they did a year ago, I suspect both it and WHJY-94.1 probably had higher numbers two or three years ago.
I'm sure WBRU's ownership gets offers for the station on a regular basis. I would think the "big" groups have all made offers to buy the station at one time or another.
> Could it also mean a nonprofit group who could convert
> WBRU-95.5 to a noncommercial NPR news/information station??
PLEASE, not THAT! Rhode Island is already well served by several NPR affilated stations in Rhode Island, Connecticut and in Boston INCLUDING the 100,000 watts of WGBH-FM (89.7).
>
> Rhode Island's two existing NPR stations are on AM
> (WRNI-1290 and WXNI-1230), both of which mostly simulcast
> and are owned by Boston University's WBUR-90.9 in Boston,
> and whose combined signals miss parts of Rhode Island,
> especially at night.
>
> Were a noncommercial group to acquire WBRU to convert it to
> an NPR news/information station, it would have a strong,
> clean FM signal across all of Rhode Island.
Much as I don't think much about the music that WBRU plays, it still serves a dedicated audience throughout Southern New England (I know my son LOVES 'BRU!). Nobody plays "alt-rock" BETTER than WBRU. The last thing we need is yet another repeater for "All Things Considered" on 95.5 FM. NPR has enough coverage as it is.
> <P ID="signature">______________
Peter Q. George (K1XRB)
Whitman, Massachusetts</P>
> WBRU-95.5 to a noncommercial NPR news/information station??
PLEASE, not THAT! Rhode Island is already well served by several NPR affilated stations in Rhode Island, Connecticut and in Boston INCLUDING the 100,000 watts of WGBH-FM (89.7).
>
> Rhode Island's two existing NPR stations are on AM
> (WRNI-1290 and WXNI-1230), both of which mostly simulcast
> and are owned by Boston University's WBUR-90.9 in Boston,
> and whose combined signals miss parts of Rhode Island,
> especially at night.
>
> Were a noncommercial group to acquire WBRU to convert it to
> an NPR news/information station, it would have a strong,
> clean FM signal across all of Rhode Island.
Much as I don't think much about the music that WBRU plays, it still serves a dedicated audience throughout Southern New England (I know my son LOVES 'BRU!). Nobody plays "alt-rock" BETTER than WBRU. The last thing we need is yet another repeater for "All Things Considered" on 95.5 FM. NPR has enough coverage as it is.
> <P ID="signature">______________
Peter Q. George (K1XRB)
Whitman, Massachusetts</P>
L
Les
Guest
One of the other links posted in response to this topic mentions Bruce Rayner as having built some of the original WBRU equipment. After he left Providence Bruce came out to Grass Valley, California where I worked with him at The Grass Valley Group, maker of TV studio equipment. Bruce was the principal design engineer on the Effects Memory (E-Mem) system. Those in TV will know about that....
I'm long since retired and have seen Bruce once or twice in recent years but am not certain of his present location.
If I have the sequence right, the history of the WBRU frequency is quite
tangled. It started out as WJAR-FM and was donated by Outlet (FM clearly
had no future) to Providence/Barrington Bible College. It was sold to a group headed by Judge Harold Arcarro and was run out of an old house on Smith Hill. Tower was self-supporting, in the back yard. I believe the building was consumed by urban renewal. It was inside the WPFM transmitter where an engineer was electrocuted while a Sunday Morning Mort Blender Narrated version of Verdi's
"Requiem" played on! Not all that many years later it was sold and became WBRU with the original transmitter location on a building (engineering?) on The Brown University campus.
I vividly remember visiting Bob Stone when he was announcing at WPFM; vividly because the side-curtains were ripped off my MG-A while I was parked in front of the station!
<P ID="signature">______________
When you're done impeaching the prez, keep on going; recall every member of congress and lock 'em up! Let's try NO govt. for a while.</P>
I'm long since retired and have seen Bruce once or twice in recent years but am not certain of his present location.
If I have the sequence right, the history of the WBRU frequency is quite
tangled. It started out as WJAR-FM and was donated by Outlet (FM clearly
had no future) to Providence/Barrington Bible College. It was sold to a group headed by Judge Harold Arcarro and was run out of an old house on Smith Hill. Tower was self-supporting, in the back yard. I believe the building was consumed by urban renewal. It was inside the WPFM transmitter where an engineer was electrocuted while a Sunday Morning Mort Blender Narrated version of Verdi's
"Requiem" played on! Not all that many years later it was sold and became WBRU with the original transmitter location on a building (engineering?) on The Brown University campus.
I vividly remember visiting Bob Stone when he was announcing at WPFM; vividly because the side-curtains were ripped off my MG-A while I was parked in front of the station!
<P ID="signature">______________
When you're done impeaching the prez, keep on going; recall every member of congress and lock 'em up! Let's try NO govt. for a while.</P>
> Yes, WBRU-95.5 is a successful rock station, but rock radio
> is in a serious decline on a nationwide basis.
>
> While Providence still is a relatively healthy rock radio
> market, and in fact WBRU is (in 12-plus) doing better in the
> ratings than they did a year ago, I suspect both it and
> WHJY-94.1 probably had higher numbers two or three years
> ago.
>
> I'm sure WBRU's ownership gets offers for the station on a
> regular basis. I would think the "big" groups have all made
> offers to buy the station at one time or another.
>
While WHJY usually does top WBRU in the ratings, maybe about a year or two ago WBRU actually topped HJY 12+. WBRU usually does have pretty solid showings in the ratings and have a very dedicated audience. It would be terrible to see them go.
Jacko<P ID="signature">______________
I live for my dream,
And a pocket full of gold.
</P>
> is in a serious decline on a nationwide basis.
>
> While Providence still is a relatively healthy rock radio
> market, and in fact WBRU is (in 12-plus) doing better in the
> ratings than they did a year ago, I suspect both it and
> WHJY-94.1 probably had higher numbers two or three years
> ago.
>
> I'm sure WBRU's ownership gets offers for the station on a
> regular basis. I would think the "big" groups have all made
> offers to buy the station at one time or another.
>
While WHJY usually does top WBRU in the ratings, maybe about a year or two ago WBRU actually topped HJY 12+. WBRU usually does have pretty solid showings in the ratings and have a very dedicated audience. It would be terrible to see them go.
Jacko<P ID="signature">______________
I live for my dream,
And a pocket full of gold.
</P>
M
MissyC
Guest
> If it isn't a prank, there will be some hellaciously pissed
> Brown alumni, though.
>
Until we see how this all pans out (rumor, April Fool's prank, fact), the above stands as the most truthful statement posted on this thread.
> Brown alumni, though.
>
Until we see how this all pans out (rumor, April Fool's prank, fact), the above stands as the most truthful statement posted on this thread.
W
wxctintern
Guest
If Done right I believe they can do well with Hip-hop or Ryhthmic CHR format They have a full market Providence signal unlike HOT 106.3
> > >
> > > Were a noncommercial group to acquire WBRU to convert it
>
> > to
> > > an NPR news/information station, it would have a strong,
>
> > > clean FM signal across all of Rhode Island.
> > >
> > GOD I hope not, WBRU is by far the best alt rock station
> > around
> >
>
> Not just in RI... 'BRU is one of the best in the country
> (IMHO), and one of the most successful in terms of ratings.
>
Very true, and this "Jack" format, would never ever work here....
> > > Were a noncommercial group to acquire WBRU to convert it
>
> > to
> > > an NPR news/information station, it would have a strong,
>
> > > clean FM signal across all of Rhode Island.
> > >
> > GOD I hope not, WBRU is by far the best alt rock station
> > around
> >
>
> Not just in RI... 'BRU is one of the best in the country
> (IMHO), and one of the most successful in terms of ratings.
>
Very true, and this "Jack" format, would never ever work here....
> > >
> > > Were a noncommercial group to acquire WBRU to convert it
>
> > to
> > > an NPR news/information station, it would have a strong,
>
> > > clean FM signal across all of Rhode Island.
> > >
> > GOD I hope not, WBRU is by far the best alt rock station
> > around
> >
>
> Not just in RI... 'BRU is one of the best in the country
> (IMHO), and one of the most successful in terms of ratings.
>
> > > Were a noncommercial group to acquire WBRU to convert it
>
> > to
> > > an NPR news/information station, it would have a strong,
>
> > > clean FM signal across all of Rhode Island.
> > >
> > GOD I hope not, WBRU is by far the best alt rock station
> > around
> >
>
> Not just in RI... 'BRU is one of the best in the country
> (IMHO), and one of the most successful in terms of ratings.
>
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