UPDATE: KUSP GETS
DOWN TO BUSINESS
KUSP,
Santa Cruz, is continuing its very impressive conversion to Triple A music, now
scheduled to debut on November 1, 2015. Check out the changes at KUSP’s website
[link].
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| LEE FERRARO Photo credit: Santa Cruz Sentinel |
Interim
GM Lee Ferraro confidently and clearly updated KUSP’s listeners about the
changes in a recent statement on the KUSP site. Here is a portion:
Much thought and
consideration is given to the question “how do we best serve the audience in
our coverage area with high quality, well supported public radio programming?”
Our programming mission
evolves daily in response to many exploratory conversations. It is driven by an
eclectic music vision, arts and cultural affairs, local voices, community stories
and predominantly locally hosted. Fortunately there is much existing talent at
KUSP and in our region. We can do this and do this well.
KUSP is changing to
serve and to serve we must survive. You’ll hear many familiar and favorite
programs but you may also miss one or two as we make this transition. Some
changes won’t be easy but we believe KUSP will serve and will survive.
You
can see Ferraro’s complete statement at [link].
KUSP
is concluding its fall pledge drive this weekend. According to a report on 10/22 [link] in the Monterey County Weekly, the
membership drive has raised about $53,000 from about 500 donors. This is a very
small portion of KUSP’s $850,000 debt. The report says that many local
listeners are taking a wait and see approach about KUSP’s new Triple A format.
QUESTION: WXPN MOVES
INTO NORTH JERSEY WITH PURCHASE OF WNTI [link]
John
Herald asked:
Curious as to how
this was consummated without any prior public notification.
KEN: The FCC is reviewing
WXPN’s purchase of WNTI, a process that will take 60 to 90 days. Folks can
comment about the license transfer now. No
one has raised any issues so far that might derail the purchase. Centenary College, licensee of WNTI, and WXPN
are not required to make public notification prior to announcing the deal.
QUESTION: WHAT HAPPENED
TO WNKU, CINCINNATI
From
an anonymous reader:
I just started
reading your blog and enjoy it very much. What is going on with WNKU. It seems
as though they are getting rid of everything that makes left of the dial radio
great. [From what I’ve heard] they are playing "canned" music and the
dj has little control anymore and they have taken away the great Friday night
blues show. I contacted the station and they said they were trying to increase
listeners. Something just does not seem correct with this. They now sound and
act like a commercial Triple A station.
KEN: WNKU is now consulted by
Paragon Media Strategies [link], a Denver company that specializes in commercial and
noncom Triple A stations. Paragon’s advice is partially responsible for the
success of 89.3 The Current and KXT in Dallas. Though WNKU is playing
more “hits” their playlist is a much, much larger and deeper than commercial
Triple A stations. I recommend seeing how WNKU fine-tunes its approach. Continue
to let WNKU know what you think – your opinion matters to them.
COMMENT: YOU DIDN’T TELL THE WHOLE STORY ABOUT WDUQ’S DEMISE [link]
An
anonymous reader said:
Ken, all I'm gonna
say is that this isn't even one tenth of the whole story. The WDUQ saga was an
ocean of backstabbing academic politics, primarily to please one
highly-conservative major donor to the college who was also a fan of WYEP.
KEN: I’ve heard many stories
about behind-the-scenes dirty dealings regarding the end of WDUQ and the
transfer of the station’s license to WYEP.
I decided not to mention these rumors because they don’t matter
know. WESA is now the NPR News station
for Pittsburgh. Get over the past and
focus on what is happening now.
QUESTION: WHO IS THE FUNDER OF NFCB [link]
From an anonymous reader:
[NFCB
Executive Director] Sally Kane said she had a new funder but didn't identify
it. Why? Is it some far left leaning foundation? And why didn't she name it?
KEN:
I wondered the same thing. I checked the NFCB website and blog and didn’t see anything
about the new NFCB funder. I inquired with Kane via email and have not heard
back from her. If/when she replies, I will update this item.
You sure it's entirely in the past?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2015/06/15/wesa-gm-resigns.html
500 donors raising $53,000 is indeed a small fraction of their total debt. But that's an average of about $106 per donor which is usually a healthy number. It's very difficult for most pubradio stations to drive that average per-donor amount up much higher than that.
ReplyDeleteAccordingly, the key KUSP's survival will be to increase listenership and reduce costs. The format change seems like it ought to accomplish both, if done properly.
I imagine also the key will be to diversify revenue sources and increase major giving as well as increase underwriting support. Obviously neither of those are easy to do, but there certainly is good capacity for major giving in that region. The question is whether or not that capacity is of the type likely to be good prospects for supporting public radio. I have no idea if that's the case or not.