WCBE struggling with large debt to NPR; station's GM placed on leave

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbu...gling-with-large-debt-to-npr-stations-gm.html

Local public radio station WCBE has fallen behind on its dues to National Public Radio, leaving those who oversee its operations "figuring out how to keep this station alive."

Columbus City Schools, which operates the nonprofit radio station, held an emergency staff meeting on Thursday with WCBE employees. One source familiar with the situation, who asked to remain anonymous, said WCBE owes as much as $800,000 to NPR in membership fees that have not been paid in full over the years.

WCBE General Manager Dan Mushalko has been placed on administrative leave, said Scott Varner, Columbus City Schools' head of strategic communications and public relations who oversees the radio station for the district.

"I can share that Mr. Mushalko has been reassigned away from the station. He will be out of the office indefinitely," Varner said in an email.

Varner would not comment on the station's finances or its obligation to NPR.

"The district is committed to ensuring that the station operates without interruption and continues to provide the same level of valuable broadcast services to listeners in Central Ohio," he said.

Columbus City Schools owns WCBE's license, though the station is wholly self-funded. The school district pays the annual membership fees to NPR, according to the source.

There's uncertainty if WCBE will keep their affiliation with NPR.

 

[TheBigA]

There's uncertainty if WCBE will keep their affiliation with NPR.

If the debt is $800K, I suggest the problem is much bigger than keeping their affiliation. That amount would cover several years of fees.

This sounds like total mismanagement to me.

 

[xmusicmatt]

ABC6 touched on it in their news cast.

https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/wcbe-general-manager-says-station-is-in-financial-crisis

Sounds like there is some explaining to do for them. That's a lot of back fees for NPR programming. From the sounds of it their having issues keeping the donations coming in - I wonder how much NPR 89.7 is hurting them as 89.7 airs things like ATC and ME and a few other programs - they also both run BBC overnight - It seems like WOSU is winning the NPR game in the market and WCBE is now in a serious hole. I hope they are able to turn around - musically they do have a format that isn't on the air in this market elsewhere.

 

[TheBigA]

It seems like WOSU is winning the NPR game in the market and WCBE is now in a serious hole.

That's correct, WOSU is a Top 10 station as far as the ratings goes. It's not uncommon to have multiple stations in a market carrying NPR programs. What I've found works is to counter-program and offer shows at alternate times. But the real key is establishing your own local identify. And as the GM says, they need to set up some kind of long-term strategy for funding.

 

[talkers]

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbu...gling-with-large-debt-to-npr-stations-gm.html



There's uncertainty if WCBE will keep their affiliation with NPR.

Wait? It says in the article that the Columbus City Schools is responsible for the NPR fees for the station...why haven't they paid it? It should be a part of the the school's budget every year, and not WCBE's budget.