WDUQ is for sale

[Boss Radio]

So says the Post-Gazette:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10008/1026661-67.stm

 

[MsMusicRadio]

Now I know that Duquesne is "faith based", but wow! Maybe the folks that wrecked 98.3 or 106.7 can move in and make it all religion all the time. A few more and the dial here will look like the band in any city way down in Dixie! We need Spirit FM on a major signal, golly. And I can see Russia from my house.

 

[Parttimer]

Maybe a commercial operator can "buy" DUQ and swap it to the 106.7 people....

 

[Pratte4Life]

The need for public television has dried up with cable's diversity and I wonder if the need for public radio hasn't dried up with satellite radio.

Regardless, I want to ask if Duquesne has a student run station, a la Point Park's WPPJ and Geneva's WGEV, for students to learn their craft?

 

[Parttimer]

No, they don't. There might be some student intern-type positions at WDUQ.

When we started WPTS at Pitt, Dr. Posvar wanted a DUQ/QED type station. Instead, it remained student run and is one of the more infulential staions in the country on the college radio new music scene (which is what we wanted).

 

[cingram]

Maybe a commercial operator can "buy" DUQ and swap it to the 106.7 people....

From a purely commercial standpoint, that's not such a bad idea. Of course, essentially it would mean the loss of the
current programming on WDUQ (which is doing remarkably well in the ratings) and I'm skeptical that anybody would be
able to come up with the money for such a transaction at this point...unless K-Love would like 50,000 watts, in which
case 98.3 might be freed up again for commercial use.

C.

 

[argentarius]

...and Ron Morris is buying, or at least very interested. He said this afternoon on his 1360 show that he is definately going to look at it.

 

[hypwr]

It cannot be operated as a commercial station since it is in the reserved portion of the FM band. I guess you could air paid programs and rather than charge for air time, the producers could make a "contribution" to the station.

If the buyer plans to drop NPR, there will be Hell to pay. Efforts will be made to block the sale.

 

[Parttimer]

...and Ron Morris is buying, or at least very interested. He said this afternoon on his 1360 show that he is definately going to look at it.

Someone needs to explain the non-commercial band to Mr. Morris.....

 

[cingram]

Somehow, I can't imagine Ron Morris buying WDUQ, but if someone had told me that WAMO would go dark for five
months and then return as a Catholic station, I couldn't have imagined that, either. Truth is stranger than fiction.

C.

 

[apostate]

The need for public television has dried up with cable's diversity and I wonder if the need for public radio hasn't dried up with satellite radio.

Regardless, I want to ask if Duquesne has a student run station, a la Point Park's WPPJ and Geneva's WGEV, for students to learn their craft?

Satellite radio still has very few listeners. It also doesn't offer the local content that any good public radio station should offer.

Duquesne has a student station. It is leaky-cable WDRS.

 

[Parttimer]

Satellite radio still has very few listeners.

Yeah, only 17 million.

 

[MsMusicRadio]

I like WDUQ . The play real jazz and this is rare in most medium markets. WUSF in Tampa plays it overnights 7 days a week. I would hope that maybe Pitt or Tech (fantasy) could buy it and run it as it is. Could WQED buy it and run it like the two NPR stations in Norfolk? How about Pacifica? What could an promoter like Ron Morris do with a noncommercial station? If he is so rich, why didn't he buy WAMO? How about MOYL on FM like in North Carolina?

Or this: Renda (or someone) buys it and swaps with the owners of WAMO. Then 106.7 is reclassified as commercial and they start a WDUV type station. They could use the WJAS FM calls too !

 

[TheBigA]

I would hope that maybe Pitt or Tech (fantasy) could buy it and run it as it is.

All colleges are in the same boat as Duquesne. I doubt any other college will be able to pay millions of dollars for a radio station.

Could WQED buy it and run it like the two NPR stations in Norfolk?

Not sure about their financial situation, but that is the best option. Although the folks in Boston are unhappy about WGBH buying WCRB.

Pacifica is broke. So is Renda. Most of the major commercial broadcasters have no money. How about some fresh blood? Aren't there any cultural institutions in Pittsburgh that could benefit from owning their own radio station?

 

[Parttimer]

I've heard a rumor about Heinz family money possibly being in the picture somehow.

 

[hypwr]

Perhaps the Duquesne University people understand that the future of over-the-air radio as we know it will not survive, and they hope to pick up a few dollars as a result.

 

[TheBigA]

Perhaps the Duquesne University people understand that the future of over-the-air radio as we know it will not survive, and they hope to pick up a few dollars as a result.

You give them way too much credit. This is a matter of simply needing money, because their endowments are still in trouble, and seeing this as something that is easier to sell than an asset that is more directly related to their core mission.

The future of OTA radio is actually very good, but its funding structure is changing due to increased competition. Right now, the public wants everything for free. Whoever delivers what they want for free will get audience. OTA radio is best equipped to do that, because of the current royalty situation. Digital media is hurt by oppressive music royalties. OTA isn't.

 

[Parttimer]

Perhaps the Duquesne University people understand that the future of over-the-air radio as we know it will not survive, and they hope to pick up a few dollars as a result.

This is entirely about the Catholic administration of the university objecting to some of NPR's content.

 

[xmusicmatt]

EMF could buy it.. Move KLove to it then put Air1 on 98.3

 

[MsMusicRadio]

Why can't someone buy it and keep it jazz? Or Urban AC and /or some mix? Maybe something like WMNF in Tampa? Anything but K-Love or Spirit FM, or whatever