WCVE MAKES A BOLD MOVE IN RICHMOND • WENDE PERSONS IS RETIRING • PAUL INGLES ENDS HIS WORK AS INDIE-NPR LIAISON

Richmond’s WCVE-FM is about the get two new sister stations. Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corp., the owner of WCVE TV and radio, opened the wallet in late December to purchase two commercial FM frequencies for $1,950,000.

According to a report in the Richmond Times Gazette [link] WCVE’s plan is expand service and focus formats on all three stations. Following FCC approval of the deal (which is expected), the changes will happen in Spring 2018.

When the acquisition is completed, Commonwealth will switch WCVE 89.1 FM to full-time news/talk programming. One of the two new stations, likely the one at 107.3, will begin airing Classical music 24/7. The other new station at 93.1 FM is slated to air full-time Jazz music.

WCVE’s strategy involves more than expanding service, they are making the move to defend their turf. WVTF, Roanoke, has become very aggressive in the Richmond market with two channels, one that is all news/talk and a second channel that combines NPR News with Classical music.

In the most recent Nielsen Audio survey from Spring 2017 (chart on the left), repeaters of WVTF and WFFC each gained more estimated weekly listeners. 

WCVE also has been adding weekly listeners, but at a slower pace.

(Note: We will begin reporting data from the Fall 2017Diary markets next week.)

Another important reason Commonwealth is making the move now is because they have the money in the bank. According to the Times Dispatch report, Commonwealth received almost $182 million in proceeds from the sale of broadcast spectrum as part of a national effort conducted in 2017 by the FCC.

Bill Miller

Bill Miller, WCVE’s manger for radio, commented:

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“It is a rare opportunity for new frequencies to open up in Richmond. We are just happy to be in a position at this point, thanks to the spectrum auction proceeds, to take advantage of this.”

WENDE PERSONS SIGNS OFF AT CLASSICAL MUSIC RISING

A friend to many, many people in the music and radio biz, Wende Persons, Managing Director of Classical Music Rising (CMR), announced in the latest CMR newsletter than she is retiring. She described her change this way:

"This is the last newsletter I’ll be writing for CMR. I turned 65 in late November, and have been promising my partner and my sister more time to play. With the advent of the New Year I am now attempting to retire.

"I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with all of you − and I have terribly mixed feelings now about leaving what we’ve only just begun. I love this project and the chance to focus together on the concerns and strengths and future of classical stations – all of which, rest assured, SRG is continuing.

"Thank you for being such incredible colleagues. I miss you already, but I know our paths will continue to cross, and that your stations are only an “Alexa” request away."

Persons has done such remarkable work during the first two years of CMR. She has created a wonderful “sense of community” within the Classical music industries. We wish her well.  Plus, I have the feeling we may see her back in the biz in the future. She is always welcome around here.

AFTER ELEVEN YEARS, PAUL INGLES ENDS HIS TERM AS LIAISON BETWEEN INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS AND NPR

Paul Ingles announced via the AIR message list that he is moving on after his long tenure as NPR's Liaison to Independent Producers. Ingles work as the entry point for indies at the network has led to more independent voices appearing on NPR, a wider diversity of stories and deeper storytelling.

Things were not always so harmonious between independent audio producers and NPR. Some decision makers at the network didn’t understand why they needed to expand their reporting resources. Ingles opened that door. Public media listeners, viewers and readers are the beneficiaries. 

Ingles said in his message to AIR members:

PAUL INGLES

“I've been devoting 8 hours a week to [the liaison role] for the past 11+ years. A few years ago, when I tallied the number of different producers and reporters with whom I'd engaged going back to 2006, the number was about 600 and probably has hit the 700 mark in the 3 years since that count.

“It's been an honor to play a role in helping that many hard-working independents in our community.”

Ingles plans to concentrate on new creative projects. You can read more about his work at his website [link]. 

Until a new liaison is chosen, Ingles recommends folks contact Stacey Foxwell at sfoxwell@npr.org.