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WNED Signs Agreement to Acquire WBFO

I wish Jeff Simon would read the eloquent postings here from Lee Rust, the Big A and Jim Pastrick about WHY jazz is not a viable radio format in a market the size of Buffalo-Niagara. Simon is at it once again in today's "Snooze." This time, he's calling on readers to show up at tonight's community meeting at WNED to voice their support for jazz. WNED might need a couple of extra chairs to handle that. ;)

First of all, I'm starting to hold News editors accountable for allowing Simon to advance what is clearly a personal agenda in the columns of their newspaper. My opinion of the News is starting to diminish. Imagine if I used the airwaves to advance a personal interest of my own? I would never be allowed to do that, even if I wanted to. Secondly, as has been stated here, there is not enough of an audience in Buffalo to sustain a jazz radio station. Is Simon saying WNED should remove such programs as Talk of the Nation, Fresh Air, Car Talk and Wait Wait, if not Morning Edition and All Things Considered, from the WBFO schedule so that some music host can spin jazz CDs? Really?

Again, the switch from midday jazz to NPR talk has finally given WBFO one identity as a news-talk radio station. WBFO has enjoyed two of its most successful fundraisers since making the change. And right now, the task for WBFO listeners is convincing WNED management that there is strong support for Weekend Blues and that Jim Santella and Anita West should continue in their respective roles once the WBFO sale is finalized. Jazz is NOT part of that conversation. But Jeff Simon will probably not give up and will turn his petty attacks to WNED management once he sees that they won't be making jazz a priority.
 
WBFO does plenty of jazz - about 7 hours a day from 10PM to 5AM weekdays, with more on the weekends. If the jazz programming isn't to Mr. Simon's taste, perhaps he needs to volunteer his talents as a host or programming consultant. Since Marion McPartland is retiring, there's a potential opening for his broadcast talents.

The facts are these:

1. Toronto has a very good jazz station that's readily available on the radio in Buffalo at 91.1 FM. It doesn't show in the 12+ numbers in Buffalo.

2. The jazz programming in mid-days on WBUF was a failure in the ratings. Period. The hour-by-hour dropped off a cliff when Morning Edition ended, and listeners didn't return until the jazz programming ended.

The current programming on WBFO during the week has strong and weak points, but I find it much more engaging and listenable than the previous programming line-up. My strongest objection is that there's so little local programming included. We have issues in WNY that need to be explored and discussed. I'm hearing very little of that on WBFO.
 
Keep in mind that the success of a public radio station isn't simply measured in ratings, but in memberships. This is listener-sponsored radio. If they can attract a lot of membership dollars to the station by playing music that doesn't get big ratings, that's fine. Jazz is being played at a daypart that doesn't hurt the station. The only replacement for it would be NPR's national overnight news service. They're not going to spend money on local news or talk from 10PM to 5AM. So the choice is local jazz vs. syndicated news.

As I said earlier in this thread, fringe music formats like jazz and blues are on life support. Commercial stations gave up on them long ago. Their only chance is on stations paid for by the public. That's what public radio is. Leave the ratings rat race to the commercial stations. Public stations focus on serving their members. All this newspaper columnist is attempting to do is energize those who might support this kind of programming that now is the time to show that support. Nothing wrong with any of that.
 
"As I said earlier in this thread, fringe music formats like jazz and blues are on life support" BigA


I strongly object to The BigA's lumping together his opinion that both jazz and blues are on "life support." WBFO's blues programming is alive and well as demonstrated by audience numbers, elevated pledge goals and acknowledgements by respected radio veterans like Jim Pastrick.

As far as the role of jazz in WBFO's future, the days of John Hunt's high profile as WBFO's jazz guardian, unfortunately, have long passed. The blues on the other hand are enjoying a renaissance.

I feel I can speak with some expertise about the roles of both of jazz and blues. I have had a foot in both American music forms. Not many people know that I was a jazz drummer and got my start in radio as a jazz DJ. BTW have you noticed the use of both "Green Onions" and John Lee Hooker's "Boogie Chile" on TV ads?
 
TheBigA said:
Leave the ratings rat race to the commercial stations. Public stations focus on serving their members. All this newspaper columnist is attempting to do is energize those who might support this kind of programming that now is the time to show that support. Nothing wrong with any of that.
Click to expand...

I agree with you to a point, A, that public radio shouldn't be concerned with ratings. But we do need a benchmark to determine whether we are serving an audience, and ratings, in part, provide that. Please know that even with NPR, WBFO has a 2.5 share. So, we're far from dominating Buffalo radio. But we do know we're serving an audience with our NPR programming and the Blues. That's just not the case with jazz anymore.

Normally, I wouldn't have a problem with a columnist energizing his readers. But after 25 years of non-stop bashing about jazz and WBFO, I've personally had it. He's attacked people (good friends and colleagues) who are radio professionals. They made informed decisions on what's best for the radio station and its listeners. And I'm finally fighting back -- in personal email threads, on Facebook and here. And I hope you find nothing wrong in that either.
 
Jim Santella said:
I strongly object to The BigA's lumping together his opinion that both jazz and blues are on "life support."
Click to expand...

You took my quote out of context. Here's my next sentence:

Commercial stations gave up on them long ago

That's what I was talking about. Not WBFO. As my post clearly states, I believe the place for fringe formats like jazz and blues is public radio, like WBFO. I lumped them together because neither of them are available on commercial radio any more. Not because they should be abandoned altogether.

I've been involved with successful public stations that have not only featured jazz AND blues, but actually incorporated the blues side of jazz. And, by the way, it worked. Perhaps the problem with jazz on WBFO is it needs some freshening up. That's not for me to say. But my point is simply that a publicly supported station shouldn't give up on a format just because of ratings, especially when that format is stuck in overnights.
 
Philip_Airtime said:
...I'm starting to hold News editors accountable for allowing Simon to advance what is clearly a personal agenda in the columns of their newspaper. My opinion of the News is starting to diminish. Imagine if I used the airwaves to advance a personal interest of my own? I would never be allowed to do that, even if I wanted to...
Click to expand...

You would if it appealed to listeners. Any number of high-profile mornings shows around the country have adopted pet charities as on-air causes.

But that's limited, too. One of the important distinctions in what's appropriate in a newspaper is that it's not an exclusive or public resource. Anyone can start a new newspaper anytime he wants, and there could be 200 daily papers in Buffalo if 200 people could pay to run them. Radio spectrum, however, is a finite resource considered to be owned by the public, which leads to the requirements that it be used to serve the public interest.

(Stop the snickering.)

I think Blues could be a great commercial HD Radio format. It might even sell some receivers, which hasn't been going well so far. I could see Clear Channel creating a national HD Blues network to feed HD2 channels. They might even be big enough to sell the avails. I suspect qualitative would be very good.
 
I don't see this as a "Jazz vs. Blues" battle. I see this as a local content vs. additional replays of syndicated content issue. I listen to WBFO in my car much of the time. That means I get roughly 30 minutes a day of NPR during the week. If I hear a topic of interest on Morning Edition, or On Point, or Capitol Pressroom, I go to their websites and download the podcast. I get to listen to the topics I'm interested in on my schedule. In essence, WBFO serves more as an advertising medium for those shows than an actual delivery service.

I tune in 7-8 hours of weekend programming on WBFO because I'm a fan of Car Talk, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, and the Blues shows. I can't get the Blues shows via podcast, so they're appointment listening for me. That means that I have to tune in WBFO, not bypass them for an on-line source. When I make my donations to WBFO, it's because of the Blues more than any other programming.

The powers at WNYPB need to realize that the content creation business is what is going to make them relevant as time goes on. If they're simply an NPR outlet, ubiquitous wireless Internet access is going to make them an anachronism for more and more listeners. Several studies have shown that upcoming generations are Internet-centric, and see radio and TV as "old-fashioned". Government is determined to bestow the "blessings" of ubiquitous, affordable wireless Internet access on the populace. Radio had better be postioned to compete as a content provider if they want to stay in the game. If you're not delivering timely, relevant local content, you're going to be in trouble.
 
SirRoxalot said:
The powers at WNYPB need to realize that the content creation business is what is going to make them relevant as time goes on.
Click to expand...

I think most NPR stations see themselves in the membership services business, regardless of where the content comes from, and they fight very hard to retain an exclusive on the NPR originated content. But to them, the NPR brand is worth more than the WBFO brand. It's more like a network TV affiliate, that brands itself ABC7. What makes them relevent is how well they identify themselves with the NPR brand.
 
You need to read some recent research on how millennials are leaving network TV for on-line viewing. The TV networks are struggling with the issue of how to attract viewers, and how to monetize on-line viewing.

Local stations who rely solely on their network content are losing viewers, and revenue. Stations that invest in local content are generally more successful. We see that effect in Buffalo. WIVB has the largest new staff, and the best ratings. They're also tops in revenue. They supplanted WKBW TV several years ago when Channel 7 stopped investing in their local news, and ratings started spiralling downward. WGRZ invested in their news product, and moved from a distant 3rd into 2nd place.

A great example is early morning programming. WIVB dominated mornings locally even though their programming got no help from the CBS morning show. They reduced their commitment, and Channel 2 increased theirs - actually picking up talent released by Channel 4. Channel 2 now beats WIVB in the morning, and the numbers for the Today show are stronger than ever. Channel 7 sank to 3rd, even though GMA on ABC trounces the CBS morning show.

Local programming and content make a difference. Investing in product makes a difference. WIVB has the greatest committment overall, and generates the most profit. WKBW-TV stripped away local talent, and went from 1st to 3rd in the last decade.

WNYPB needs to take a hard look at what works here, and what will engage listeners both now and over the next few years. There are plenty of examples where radio companies have stripped away local content, only to see revenue fall far more than was "saved" by turning to syndication. Running "On Point" twice a day doesn't bring in twice as many listeners. Replacing the repeat of "On Point" with local content like the "On the Border" series attracted a whole new set of listeners to the station. If WNYPB is more successful at selling that audience to underwriters, they will reap rewards in both the short term and long term.
 
SirRoxalot said:
WNYPB needs to take a hard look at what works here, and what will engage listeners both now and over the next few years.
Click to expand...

And as I said, they aren't as concerned with listeners, but members. The goal is to convert a large numbers of listeners to members, because they don't make money on freeloaders. The thing about the network shows is they build member bases even though they're not local. I know it's completely contrary to commercial radio, but that's part of the attraction of public radio. Click & Clack are better known that anyone on the local staff. That's the real world in public radio.

The other thing I've noticed is there's a real difference in free standing public radio stations, and those owned by groups that also own TV. Radio is the poor stepchild that carries the water for TV. So it wouldn't surprise me if at some point you see a lot of radio simulcasts of TV shows. WBFO never had to deal with that. But take a look at the TV monolyths. TV is the cash cow, and you must feed the cows.
 
How do you convert listeners into members? By convincing them that you have content that they value that they can't get anywhere else. NPR makes virtually all of its content available via the Internet. I can listen to it on MY schedule, on demand.

The Blues shows on WBFO are not recorded as podcasts. If I want to hear them - and I do - I have to tune in. If I want them to continue, I have to pony up and become a member - which I have. It's not unlike PBS putting a gun to Barney's head and saying "Pledge, or the dinosaur gets it".

Local stations face real challenges as more and more network content - both audio and video - becomes easily available through alternate channels. It's getting easier and easier to bypass the local affiliates. If they're not content creators, their reason for existence is dwindling.
 
Look, we can argue this thing all week, but neither of us are the ones making the decision. I'm telling you what I expect to happen based on what most public stations do. Take a look at WNED-AM. That's what you can expect, for the most part, at WBFO. My bet is that 10P-5A jazz will be replaced by the BBC. I don't know about the blues show. If it attracts member dollars, it will probably survive in some way.
 
After attending last night's public forum, color me optimistic that the Blues will remain on WBFO in the present Saturday and Sunday time slots. The Buffalo News story can be read at http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/buffalo/article582248.ece Jazz? Not so much. I concur with the assessment of my friend Jim Santella; this is not a Jazz vs. Blues issue.

Turnout, which The News generously estimated at 80 people, could have been better. But those who were at the meeting expressed themselves clearly and made their opinions known on behalf of WBFO's news-talk programming as well as Blues programming.

I paid particular attention to WNYPBA's Don Boswell, who will oversee WBFO once the FCC approves the sale. Given his comments regarding the possible sale of WNED-AM, the duplication of WBFO/WNED-AM NPR programming will likely cease and the WNED-AM and WBFO news departments consolidated. In this regard, public radio has taken on many of the qualities of commercial radio. Color me not surprised.

WNYPBA paid $4 million for WBFO (a bargain in my opinion) and the proceeds from the sale of WNED-AM might cover some of the cost of WBFO. Any speculation as to the value of a 5kW AM with a highly directional signal in this economic climate?

How might a sale impact Cumulus' WHLD 1270, which is diplexed on WNED-AM's array? As to market price, not too many years ago WECK-AM was purchased for $1.3MM, but that was before the market collapsed. More than one respected CE has opined that the WNED-AM transmitter site in Hamburg/Lakeview might have more value as development property than a transmitter site.
 
More than one respected CE has opined that the WNED-AM transmitter site in Hamburg/Lakeview might have more value as development property than a transmitter site.
Click to expand...

The start of a new thread? Foresight for the industry? A wake-up call for us "passionate" folks...still searching for the answer to the reality of this decade? Food for thought. :'(

HDBG
 
I think that there's a real opportunity here for WNYPB to increase service WNY, bring more people into their tent, and increase their donor base. Rather than sell off WNED-AM, focus it on the city, where it has a great signal, and on spoken-work content. Provide programming opportunities to some of the arts organizations, add some programming for various ethnic communities, and add some city-centered public affairs content, and you could open up new grant funding opportunities as well as add more donors from communities who felt no connection to public radio before.

WBFO has reduced their commitment to local programming in the last year. Part of that was justified. Let's face it, jazz in the daytime fell off the table when it came to ratings. WBFO lost more than half their audience when jazz came on, and it returned when jazz went off. The current talk line-up is much better. Jeff Simon blames it on bad jazz programming. I think it has more to do with bad demographics for jazz, and the availability of good jazz programming on 91.1 out of Toronto.

The "On the Border" series got WBFO a lot of attention with younger demographics. It went off when the original grant ran out. Their inability to fund it was, in my opinion, more of a reflection of their lack of fund-raising ability - possibly due to staffing issues - than their lack of audience. To be sure, some of the programming was weak, but they threw the baby out with the bathwater on that one, and the audience at last night's public meeting let them know it.

One of the scarier things expressed last night is Don Boswell's belief that HD radio is viable. He's thinking that they can dump the AM, and put alternate programming on FM-HD, and still get into Toronto with a listenable signal. The reality is that they'll be lucky if the CRTC doesn't put LPFM on first-adjacents to 88.7 in Toronto. Nobody in TO is going to buy an HD radio to get any alternate program stream. In fact, nobody in Buffalo is going to buy an HD radio to get an alternate program stream. The only way they'"ll access that content is on-line - which means that the content better be locally-generated or there's no reason to got to WNYPB to get the content anyway.
 
JimPastrick said:
I paid particular attention to WNYPBA's Don Boswell, who will oversee WBFO once the FCC approves the sale. Given his comments regarding the possible sale of WNED-AM, the duplication of WBFO/WNED-AM NPR programming will likely cease and the WNED-AM and WBFO news departments consolidated. In this regard, public radio has taken on many of the qualities of commercial radio. Color me not surprised.

WNYPBA paid $4 million for WBFO (a bargain in my opinion) and the proceeds from the sale of WNED-AM might cover some of the cost of WBFO. Any speculation as to the value of a 5kW AM with a highly directional signal in this economic climate?

How might a sale impact Cumulus' WHLD 1270, which is diplexed on WNED-AM's array? As to market price, not too many years ago WECK-AM was purchased for $1.3MM, but that was before the market collapsed. More than one respected CE has opined that the WNED-AM transmitter site in Hamburg/Lakeview might have more value as development property than a transmitter site.
Click to expand...

I can't see anyone investing big $$ in a new array for 970, 1270, or the two together out Hamburg way - or any possibility of triplexing or quadplexing nearby (if it were even feasible). IIRC, isn't the old 1270 site on Grand Island still intact? That would cover the 1270 daytime signal (with an adjustment for the ratchet rule), but we'd probably see the return of micro-power at night.

If the changes can't be made cheaply, I could see one of both of those stations going silent and turning in their license(s) to the FCC.
 
SirRoxalot said:
The reality is that they'll be lucky if the CRTC doesn't put LPFM on first-adjacents to 88.7 in Toronto.
Click to expand...

Actually, there already is a 1,800-watt signal on 88.9 in Toronto.
 
I don't see this as a "Jazz vs. Blues" battle.
Click to expand...

It isn't. The jazz-blues debate and "will blues survive after the sale" issues are butterfly farts compared to the real issue. This is a power grab, just another step in empire building on the part of Boswell and WNYPB. The jazz and blues hosts at WBFO and the news people at WBFO and WNED-AM are small change compared to the empire that WNYPB has built and hopes to expand upon. Read between the lines of the News story. Sales offices in Toronto. WBFO having a bigger footprint. Sure, to promote the TV station. Increase the pledge and membership base. Where's the local content? Aside from the local news breaks, most of the broadcast day on both WNED-AM and WBFO comes from syndication. The reality is, even if TV is in the driver's seat here and nationally, how much of a does it have? Younger demos don't give a crap about PBS. I've read the reports and surveys about how NPR is reaching a younger demo by way of net content, but it's not universal and the numbers are soft. Younger than what? 55+? The younger generation expects to get net content for free and does so by hook or crook. A majority of 12-34s aren't likely to pledge and join the community because they consider NPR, especially PBS to be old and boring. So the PBS TV stations will continue running its baby boomer Sha-Na-Na and Doobie Brothers specials hosted by classic rock DJs who turn up on some of the breaks during pledge drives. Very few 18-34s will give a rip about calling in a pledge. It's just not the way it works in their world. And besides, they have better, more self-centered things to do with their money.
 
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