NONCOM NEWS: LIVE FROM DC ITS NPR NEWS; MAINE BUILDING CLASSICAL FM CHANNELS

NPR NEWS RINGS THE “LIVE” BELL

 Perhaps you’ve heard a small change in the way NPR is introducing its hourly newscasts "Live from NPR News in Washington." It is part of a strategy for NPR programming, including Morning Edition and All Things Considered to insert live conversations and interviews that previously would have been pre-taped and edited.

Chris Turpin

Chris Turpin, VP for news programming and operations, said the "live" moments are "one small part of a broader strategy to try to reinforce one of terrestrial radio's greatest virtues, which is live-ness and a sense of immediacy."


NPR has also been adding live election specials recently, as the presidential candidate nomination process intensifies.

KBSU/KBSX SEEKING NEW GM/ED AFTER JOHN HESS RESIGNS

Boise State Public Radio, which serves almost the entire state with two program channels – NPR News & Classical, is looking for a new General Manager/Executive Director. Boise State has hired Livingston & Associates to handle the search.  You can learn more about the gig at [link]. 

  

Former GM John Hess resigned in December after almost 11 years on the job. Peter Morrill is the Interim General Manager and Paul Stribling remains Associate General Manager/Director of Programming. Boise State Public Radio is roughly a $2.5 million enterprise. The two stations had over 108,000 estimated weekly cumulative listeners in the Fall 2015 Nielsen Audio ratings.

MAINE PUBLIC RADIO BUILDING A SECOND PROGRAM SERVICE

Maine Public Broadcasting’s (MPBN) statewide radio service is building the capacity for a second programming stream airing 24/7 Classical music. MPBN’s main channel has had a dual format for a couple of decades.  In recent years more and more news programming has been added at the expense of Classical.

Full-time Classical has been available for several years on WMEH HD2. Both listeners reportedly enjoy it.

MPBN has acquired two FM properties since the first of the year that serve Portland and Bangor, the state’s largest population centers:

MPBN bought 91.5 WFYB, Freyburg, ME, from Light of Life Ministries for $37,500.

 In January MPBN, acquired FM translator W291CO – 106.1 for an unspecified amount.

Both stations will repeat Classical-24 from WMEH HD-2.

TRIPLE A NON-COMMVENTION HOTEL SELLS OUT

It looks like it is going to be a packed house May 18-20 at noncom radio's most entertaining conference: The 16^th Annual NON-COMMvention in Philadelphia. The primary hotel, the Sheraton Philadelphia University City has already sold out. Overflow hotels are Homewood Suites by Hilton University City and Club Quarters Philadelphia.

All of the hotels are close to WXPN World Café, where most of the NON-COMM events will be held.  For more information go to [link].