WBUR cancels "The Connection"

[Radio1968]

From boston.com (7/15):

WBUR will eliminate its popular morning show "The Connection" on Aug. 5 and host Dick Gordon will leave the station. "The Connection" is heard on 66 National Public Radio stations nationwide, Sterling said.

The call-in show "On Point" will be moved from evenings to mornings to expose it to a wider audience, and "Here and Now," a midday current events show, will be reformatted to have more of a New England focus.

Full Article here: http://www.boston.com/news/local/rh...rogramming_changes_cuts_back_on_fund_raisers/

 

[parklane]

Who noticed? Thought the show died when Chris left. Another disaster caused by the witch of BUR.


> From boston.com (7/15):
>
> WBUR will eliminate its popular morning show "The
> Connection" on Aug. 5 and host Dick Gordon will leave the
> station. "The Connection" is heard on 66 National Public
> Radio stations nationwide, Sterling said.
>
> The call-in show "On Point" will be moved from evenings to
> mornings to expose it to a wider audience, and "Here and
> Now," a midday current events show, will be reformatted to
> have more of a New England focus.
>
> Full Article here:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2005/07/> 15/wbur_makes_programming_changes_cuts_back_on_fund_raisers/
>

 

[weee]

As long as they don't mess with Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me LOL

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

"Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me" is not produced by or at WBUR.

Back to the topic: I think "The Connection"'s problems had to do with the fact that most NPR news/information stations were broadcasting "The Diane Rehm Show" (from WAMU Washington), which is broadcast live during the same hours (10 A.M.-12 Noon EDT/EST) as "The Connection"'s live broadcast.

Rehm's show does not air in Boston; I believe New Hampshire Public Radio and the CAI/NAN network on Cape Cod and the Islands are the nearest stations to Boston that do run her show.

I'm surprised "On Point" would be moved into that slot. With the show's live broadcast moving to 10 A.M.-12 Noon ET, and with at least some otehr NPR stations running it, "On Point" might face the same problem that apparently doomed "The Connection": Ms. Rehm.

The decision appears to be be an ecomonic one. WBUR, despite it's large listening audience, has had financial problems. There will be some layoffs as a result. As for what fills "On Point"'s old evening timeslot, it probably won't be local, unless it's a repeat of that morning's "On Point".

If WBUR decides not to repeat that morning's "On Point" in the show's former live timeslot, two options are for 'BUR to pick-up either Rehm on a delayed-broadcast basis, or fill part of the slot by picking-up CBC Radio's "As It Happens" (which is heard on many other NPR news/information stations in the United States, but as far as I know, nowhere in New England at the moment).

 

[raccoonradio]

I was picking up the new WZAI 94.3 (Brewster, Cape Cod) overnight recently here on the North Shore...coming in across the water. And they said "coming up next the Diane Rehm show" (rebroadcast)

> Rehm's show does not air in Boston; I believe New Hampshire
> Public Radio and the CAI/NAN network on Cape Cod and the
> Islands are the nearest stations to Boston that do run her
> show.

 

[weee]

> "Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me" is not produced by or at WBUR.
>
>

Yes, I know that Joe, I was making a joke.

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

WZAI Reception (Was: Re: WBUR cancels "The Connection")

Raccoonradio:

Do you get WZAI-94.3's signal on a regular basis where you are on the North Shore??

Where I live (Norwood, MA), I sometimes get better reception of FM stations on Cape Cod during the Summer than I do the rest of the year.

 

[raccoonradio]

Re: WZAI Reception (Was: Re: WBUR cancels "The Connection")

> Raccoonradio:
>
> Do you get WZAI-94.3's signal on a regular basis where you
> are on the North Shore??

Well the first time I picked it up was last week. And I can't go out and check it now because I'm in Ohio on vacation! But I will when I get back.

> Where I live (Norwood, MA), I sometimes get better reception
> of FM stations on Cape Cod during the Summer than I do the
> rest of the year.
>
yes some kind of pattern during these months (I'm not a tech whiz) which brings the Maine/Cape Cod/ RI/CT stations in. Stuff like KC101 in New Haven can come in, too