Friday, January 27, 2017

IS TRUMP TAKING OVER VOICE OF AMERICA? • LA STATIONS ADVANCE IN PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY MARKETS


A “perfect storm” may be developing that will pave the way for the Voice of America (VOA) to become an American version of Russia’s RTRussia Today. Rachel Maddow reported on Wednesday (1/25) that the Trump administration is taking advantage of changes in the governance of VOA by installing senior management that reports to the White House.

According to Maddow’s reporting on MSNBC [link], there is concern among some VOA staffers and other observers about the organization’s new management scheme headed by a CEO appointed by the president. In December 2016 the governance of VOA was changed from a non-partisan independent Board of Directors to new CEO management. The change was approved by the Obama administration. 

These changes, combined with the 2013 repeal of a law that had prohibited VOA’s programming from being widely heard within the United States, appear to be permitting a profound change in the purpose of VOA. VOA will now be controlled by an individual who reports directly the White House and will be able to transmit, even tailor, its programming to US listeners. Some observers fear that VOA is being morphed into a propaganda machine.

Maddow reported that President Trump on Monday (1/23) dispatched two aides to the $800 million broadcasting entity that includes VOA, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcast Networks.

So you connect the dots. Speaker Ryan works to eliminate CPB.  President Trump builds his own State Radio.

FALL 2016 NIELSEN AUDIO RATINGS: SANTA BARBARA, OXNARD-VENTURA & SAN LUIS OBISPO

I call the three markets just north of Los Angeles on US 101 the “Pacifica Coast Highway” (PCH) markets because all three are linked to LA by that freeway. If you take the PCH out of the San Fernando Valley of LA, you will pass through Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.  Each city has its own unique character but local stations face competition from nearby LA stations.


On the left is an informal composite of weekly listeners in the three markets combined. Only KCLU-FM is holding steady.  Los Angeles stations, in most cases via local repeater stations, registered notable gains in estimated weekly cumulative listeners compared to Fall 2015. KUSC was up 9%; KCRW was up 16% and KPCC was up 35%.



 Moving from south to north on the PCH, is Oxnard-Ventura. LA stations increased the number of weekly listeners to all three LA stations.






Continuing north to Santa Barbara, the “ears on LA” trend continues.  KCLU was an exception.   

San Luis Obispo’s KCBX was hit particularly hard, losing 23% of their weekly listeners. Note the Classical KDB’s listeners are now combined with KUSC because KDB now repeats KUSC nearly 100% of the time.


KCBX’s downward trend continues in its home market, San Luis Obispo. As we reported in July [link], KCRW has added a full-power repeater station, KJRW, which is certain the be a factor in future rating periods.


Thursday, January 26, 2017

NONCOM STATION IN LOUISVILLE HIJACKED FOR ANTI-TRUMP SONG • SIGN OF THE TIMES OR “WOBBLE” IN COLORADO



The Louisville Courier-Journal is reporting [link] that Louisville noncom station WCHQ [link] was hijacked last Friday (1/20) and broadcast an anti-Donald Trump song with profane lyrics. 

The hack occurred around 2:30pm.
 
WCHQ Program director Gary Sampson posted on WCHQ Facebook page:

"OK, not funny. Someone has hacked into out transmitter tower, and the FM was playing…repeatedly the song  “FDH – F*** Donald Trump."


The song is by rap artists YG & Nipsey Hussle.  Check out the YouTube video: 



According to Sampson, the protest tune played on a loop for over 15 minutes until station manager Kathy Weisbach managed to shut down the feed. Sampson said the unknown hacker likely gained access to the airwaves via WCHQ’s Emergency Alert System (EAS) software.  The EAS software is intended to interrupt station programming at the transmitter for urgent public safety announcements.

The hack did not interrupt WCHQ’s streaming audio. Because of the profanity in the song, Sampson said WCHQ is filing a report about the incident with the FCC.

KEN SAYS: Yikes! Every broadcast station in America is required to use the EAS software. Is there a flaw in the software?

FALL 2016 NIELSEN AUDIO RATINGS: FORT COLLINS, TUCSON & FORT WAYNE


All five Nielsen Audio rated stations in the Fort Collins-Greeley metro had fewer estimated weekly listeners in Fall 2016 compared to Fall 2015. 

Without seeing more detailed information, it is hard to say if the decline in listeners was caused by people feeling radio, diary placement or simply a coincidence.

Both KUNC and KJAC, Triple A 105.5 The Colorado Sound, have considerably more weekly listeners in the adjacent Denver-Boulder metro, a PPM market.
In the Fall 2016 PPM ratings, KUNC had 89,300 estimated weekly listeners and KJAC had 70,200.


Things are going better In Tucson. Though NPR News stations KUAZ AM & FM were down a little bit compared to Fall 2015, they still have over 100,000 weekly listeners. Nice to see KXCI adding weekly listeners.


Peter Dominowski’s NPR News station WBOI had an unusually down “book.” But Classical music was rising at co-owned WBNI.





Wednesday, January 25, 2017

ON THE MARKET TODAY: SMARTPHONES WITH FM RADIO CAPABILITIES


UPDATE - We received a very useful comment from Aaron Read about this topic:

Unless and until the iPhone comes with an FM enabled, then it doesn't matter...AT ALL...how many other phones do.

The iPhone might only command a comparatively small percentage of the total smartphone market (esp overseas, but even in the US it's only like 15%) but because the rest of the market is so fragmented across hundreds of different makes/models of Android phones (not to mention the incredible inconsistency between versions of the AndroidOS itself) it's still the iPhone that drives the conversation.

And, of course, Apple will NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NOT EVER put an FM radio in the iPhone. It makes absolutely no sense for them to do so, so they won't.

Accordingly, all the talk about FM radios in smartphones is basically mouse farts.
-- Aaron Read


ORIGINAL POST:
Everybody knows it is imperative that the maximum number of Smartphones be capable of receiving FM station program streams. Manufacturers and retailers have been  slow in including FM into many Smartphone menus.

However, there are quite a Smartphones on the market now that have FM radio access. Recently Slashgear [link], a digital media review and retail site, provided an overview of Smartphones to “get” FM. This is story is partially based on that report.

According to Slashgear many people already have Smartphones that can tune in FM.  The device owners just don’t know about it. The major reasons cited for this lack of knowledge are the perceived lack of interest by consumers and the lack of promotion for the feature. It would appear these reasons are directly related. The consumer has to bring it up.

If you wonder whether your device has FM radio capabilities, download the app NextRadio from Google Play and it’ll check for you.  Here are some of the devices and  add-ons that Slashgear recommends:


• BEST OF THE BUNCH #1: LG G Flex and G Flex 2

Amazon price: $259.00*

Other good choices are the LG G Stylo, LG Stylo 2, and LG Realm. The LG Tribute 5, LG Tribute HD, and LG X Power.






• BEST OF THE BUNCH #2: Samsung Galaxy Express Prime, Galaxy Express 3, and Galaxy Grand Prime 

Amazon price: $119.95*

Other good choices are the Galaxy J3, Galaxy J7, Galaxy MEGA on Boost Mobile and Sprint and The Galaxy ON5.








• Alcatel Idol 4S, ONETOUCH Conquest, ONETOUCH Elevate, and ONETOUCH Pixi 7

Amazon price: $349.00*








• HTC One M9, One M8, One M8 Harman/Kardon edition

Amazon price: $328.00*















• Huawei’s “Union” device is available at Sprint, Virgin Mobile, and Boost Mobile.

Amazon price: $599.99*













• Kyocera Hydro ICON, Hydro REACH, and Hydro VIBE

Price not available












• Motorola Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus, Moto G (XT1031 and XT 1548), Moto E (XT1526), and Moto G (3rd Gen)

Amazon price: $149.00*








Some Android devices also offer access to their FM Radio hardware, including those made by BLU: Studio G Plus, Energy M, Energy Diamond Mini, Grand 5.5, Diamond M, Studio C 8+8, Pure XR, Dash L2, Studio G HD, and Studio G. BLU also makes the following devices with FM radio activated and available: Studio C HD, Vivo 5, Vivo XL, Studio Selfie 2, Grand 5.5 HD, and the BLU Life XL 3G.

* Prices vary because of call-in plans and rebates




Tuesday, January 24, 2017

ANCIENT OLDIES FIND A NEW HOME IN ERIE • CURRENT PLANS VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR • CPB FUNDING WATCH: SEN. LARRY PRESSLER VERSUS CPB





If you are concerned about future funding for CPB, please scroll down to see a true story about what happened when Congress tried to eliminate CPB in the 1990s.



ERIE NONCOM OLDIES STATION GOES COMMERCIAL   

Mercyhurst University’s WMCE 88.5 FM [link] is transferring its current oldies format (but not the station license) to an Erie, Pennsylvania commercial broadcaster. Erie Radio Company is acquiring the “intellectual property” of WMCE and is moving the format, including the air staff to 100.9 FM. The deal will be completed when a series of other Erie area frequency changes are finalized. According to press reports, the changes will happen over the next 12 to 18 months.


WMCE has performed pretty well as a noncommercial station. In the Fall 2016 Nielsen Audio ratings, WMCE had a 6.9% AQH Share and an estimated 25,600 weekly cumulative listeners.  WMCE bills itself as a Classical Rock station but looking at their playlist on the left it looks more like Ancient Rock.  Expect lots of Polident commercials on 100.9.

Mercyhurst will announce the new format for 88.1 soon.

CURRENT HOSTING “VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR” ON FEBRUARY 9th

Pubmedia news provider Current has announced it will be hosting a “Virtual Career Fair” on February 9th from 12pm-3pm ET.

The event is happening online. Qualified job seekers will be able to chat and exchange information with potential employers. Participating companies and organizations will set up virtual booths. During the live event, recruiters will connect directly with job seekers in one-on-one chats to discuss job opportunities.

Participants include WHYY, Philadelphia and PBS’ National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA)

Registration is available at [link].

SENATOR LARRY PRESSLER VS. CPB

We originally published this story just after the election in November. It has increased relevance since it was announced last week that President Trump and congress will be attempting to eliminate funding for CPB.

ORIGINAL STORY

As Donald Trump’s resurgent Republican Party plans an aggressive and sweeping program to systematically dismantle much of the federal government, memory of an incident two decades ago provides an example of what can happen in a new era of conservative governance.

Today’s story has a positive ending because the 1990s incident failed because of overreach.  It provides lessons about what public media may face from the new administration and GOP Congress.

In the fall of 1994, Congress came under the control of Republicans promising a new “Contract With America.” The Contracts’ many targets included the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The leaders of the effort to erase funding for CPB were House Majority Leader Newt Gingrich (R-GA) and Senator Larry Pressler (R-SD), the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee.

Pressler was a true believer in unrestrained private business. For instance, he author of Telecommunications Act of 1996, that opened to door to hyper consolidation of the ownership of broadcast station. Pressler also disliked public broadcast and sought to “privatize” by defunding CPB.

Pressler expressed high-minded rhetoric about deficit reduction but he really thought public broadcasting was too liberal and it threatened his conservative agenda. It became a witch hunt that led to Pressler’s downfall.


THE PRESSLER QUESTIONNAIRE

As part of the Commerce Committee investigation of public broadcasting, in early 1995 Pressler sent a a 16-page, 168-point questionnaire into the financial, editorial and political workings of public broadcasting.

Pressler’s questions included:

• What is the commercial value of the current public broadcasting system? That is, what is the comparative value of the hardware–satellite transponders, transmitters, studio, etc.–and software–library of programs belonging to system producers, goodwill, etc.?

(CPB answered that it "does not own the assets of public broadcasting.)

• Please provide a list of all political contributions over $250 made by individuals employed by or working under contract for CPB-funded entities

• How many members of the staff at National Public Radio, if any, had “previously worked for Evangelical Christian associations or the Pacifica Foundation.

• What are the salaries for public radio "celebrities” such as All Things Considered host Robert Siegel (answer: $97,805) that year; Morning Edition host Bob Edwards, ($95,337), "ATC's" Noah Adams, ($90,9940), newscaster Carl Kasell ($90,953), ATC host Linda Wertheimer ($90,921) and Senior news analyst Daniel Schorr, ($100,025 as a private contractor.)

• Because public broadcasting benefits from the sales of products related to its programming, what is the total gross sales figure for goods and services connected to public broadcasting? Please break down by radio or television and also itemize by program and product.

In 1992 Republicans on Capitol Hill–pushed through a statutory requirement that CPB enforce “balance and objectivity.”– Rather than protecting public broadcasters from government pressure, CPB’s job was seen in Congress as the enforcement of official ideological boundaries.

Many of the questions asked about editorial decisions were very specific:

• Please describe the changes PBS required in Michael Pack’s film Campus Culture Wars and give the reason for each change. Please describe the changes PBS is requiring in the second episode of Reverse Angle and the reasons for each change. (Campus Culture Wars and Reverse Angle were controversial PBS programs at the time.)

IMPACT OF THE COMMERCE COMMITTEE ON CPB

The inquiries threatened the founding concept that CPB would be a “heat-shield,” protecting public TV and radio from the control of elected officials and government bureaucrats. The role of CPB was been reversed. Rather than protecting public broadcasters from government pressure, CPB’s job was now seen in Congress as the enforcement of official ideological boundaries.

Pressler and the Commerce Committee failed in their objective to defund CPB, though they cut CPB’s budget. CPB had bi-partisan support in Congress and many members personally disliked Pressler.

WHAT FOES AROUND COME AROUND

Pressler was widely criticized for the nature of the survey's questions. Influential  conservative pundit William F. Buckley called the questionnaire "Orwellian persecution, pure and simple."

Back home in South Dakota, Pressler’s effort to defund CPB was a major campaign issue. Public broadcasting was (and still is) highly regarded in far-flung South Dakota where few things tie people together. Pressler was “privatized” by Democrat Tim Johnson in 1996.


Monday, January 23, 2017

‘SOPHIES’ CHOICE” IN DC • UVA SELLS WUVA-FM • LATEST PODCAST RATINGS


If you haven’t already seen it, I urge you to download Blueprint for Balance: A Federal Budget for 2017, available at [link]. The Heritage Foundation white paper is reportedly the game plan for draconian cuts in federal funding. Among the programs being proposed for cuts are CPB, NEA and NEH.

The 180-page list reads like the “greatest hits” of right-wingers for the past twenty years. However, this time things are different regarding CPB.  Past efforts to eliminate federal funding for CPB failed, in part, because they were “free standing.” Issues. The new version is tied to a larger narrative: These programs are no longer essential to life in America.

Keep in mind that the Heritage plan is a bargaining position and not everything scheduled for demolition will be demolished. Some agencies and projects will be traded for others. Our legislators will be faced with Sophies’ Choice dilemmas:

(A.) End Violence Against Women Act Grants ($480 million), versus (B.)  eliminate CPB ($445million). 

Or, (A.) delete funding for NEA ($151 million, versus (B.) end Small Business Administration Disaster Loans ($190 million).

Choices will need to be made. Will CPB be traded away as part of a grand bargaining package? Stay tuned because things are moving quickly in DC.

SIGN OF THE TIMES: U OF VIRGINIA SELLS WUVA-FM TO ENDOW DIGITAL NEWS PLATFORM

On Tuesday (1/17) the University of Virginia announced it is selling WUVA-FM, Charlottesville, and is investing the proceeds in the online platform WUVANews.com [link]. The buyer of 92.7 FM is commercial broadcaster Saga Communications.  The sale amount was not announced. Saga immediately put a Country music format on 92.7 via a LMA while awaiting FCC approval of the sale. 

The licensee is WUVA, Inc., a corporation owned and operated by University of Virginia students. WUVA began broadcasting on carrier-current AM in 1947 and acquired the commercial frequency 92.7 FM in 1978. WUVA, Inc. also owns WUVANews.com, a video and print news service that serves the University and Charlottesville communities. It was launched in 2011.

Kailey Leinz, the University student in charge of WUVA, said in a press release:

 “It certainly is bittersweet to transition out of FM radio.  But on behalf of WUVA’s student leadership, I’m very excited to focus on completing our transition to a digital-first news organization with expanded production capabilities – and now with an endowment to support our future. We will remain a strong, independent editorial voice at the University of Virginia.”

KEN SAYS: This sale is unique because WVGU-FM has a commercial license, which is worth much more than a noncom license. Though it is sad to see is the UVA will no longer have a broadcast station in their media portfolio, I agree with the logic behind UVA’s decision.

NPR’s HIDDEN BRAIN LEADS PODCAST GAINERS

In the latest Podtrac metrics, NPR’s acclaimed series Hidden Brain moved up seven places on the Top 20 Podcast chart, comparing December with September. Also showing gains in the thee month comparison were 99% Invisible, NPR’s Politics Podcast and StarTalk Radio (my personal favorite.)

The top nine podcasts remained in the same order as September. The newest entry on the chart was Crimetown from Gimlet Media.

Poctrac [link] typically releases two monthly charts: The Top 20 Podcasts and the Top 20 Podcast Publishers. I find the Podcast Publishers chart to be more useful because it contains usage data.  Today’s chart showing Top 20 podcasts has no metrics.  So, how much difference is there between #1 and #10? Podtrac doesn’t tell us.