According
to a promotional email from organizers of the upcoming Super Regional Meeting [link], the contentious issue of fees paid
by NPR member stations for NPR programs is on the agenda.
There
has been increasing friction between large and small stations over fees paid for Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
Some proposals call for large stations pay
more and small stations pay less for NPR programs.
Spark News examined this
issue in May [link].
For an in depth discussion of the issues from a big
station point-of view, check out the commentary – Who Is
The Boss? NPR Or Member Stations? – by WAMC CEO Alan Chartock [link]
l
At
the Super Regional, NPR officials
will discuss recommendations from NPR member stations voiced at a series of
regional meeting earlier this year. Here is how NPR describes the upcoming
sessions:
• “NPR-Member Station
Compact Conversation: The conversation around the next NPR fee model will
continue at the Super-Regional. NPR will share an update on the latest changes
to the draft fee model in response to feedback from station leaders.”
Other
topics NPR will be discussing at the Super
Regional include:
• Setting the Rules of
the Road for Collaborative Fundraising with NPR
• NPR: Owning the Digital
Future
NPR
Chief Digital Officer Tom Hjelm will discuss new frontiers and challenges in
audio distribution, strategies and tools for deeper engagement across
platforms, approaches to digital membership, and the rollout of the new
NPR-Member station content management system.
The
Super Regional Meeting is set for October
15 – 17 in New Orleans at the Jung Hotel on Canal Street in the spicy heart of NOLA.
More
information and registration is available here.
SMALLER STATION MANAGERS
ARE DISCUSSING COLLABORATIONS TO ADDRESS COMMON ISSUES
Issues
such as NPR program fees are being discussed by an informal group of smaller
station managers. According to an off-the-record conversation by Spark News with one of managers
involved, around 30 stations are participating in the discussions.
Our
source said the discussions might lead to a formal association, or continue the
be a conversation between smaller station managers about common issues. Also our
source said if a more formal association is pursued, the intent is not to
compete with other organizations.
The issue is clear. NPR knows that terrestrial radio is dying and soon to be dead. That's why they aren't officially National Public RADIO anymore. They have spend the last decade subsidizing their digital efforts on the backs of the small to mid size stations. They ought to give all public radio stations their content for free.
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