Bill Virgin's Radio Beat December 11, 2008

Includes archive of Bill Virgin's columns fromJ une 2006 - March 2009

Bill Virgin's Radio Beat December 11, 2008

Postby radiofan » Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:41 pm

NPR cuts affect local stations
By BILL VIRGIN
P-I REPORTER


Radio, like other corners of the media universe, has been rocked by declining ad revenues, so it wasn't too much of a shock when National Public Radio announced Wednesday it's joining the list of commercial radio stations and companies that are cutting personnel.

NPR said it is eliminating 64 jobs that are filled, and leaving vacant 21 open positions. NPR's work force currently totals 889.

Many of the cuts will come from eliminating two programs, and that will have a direct impact on public radio stations here. "Day to Day" airs on KUOW-FM/94.9 at noon Monday through Friday. "News & Notes" is carried by KUOW's sister station, KXOT-FM/91.7, at 11 p.m. weekdays.

NPR says the two shows will continue through March 20. "We have quite a bit of time to figure out what we're going to do" to fill those time slots, said KUOW program director Jeff Hansen.

Stations like KUOW could feel an indirect impact from the loss of reporters or contributors to other NPR shows they carry, he added.

"In the long term what we might see is an impact on what services NPR can provide to stations," said Paul Stankavich, general manager at KPLU-FM/88.5.

That could further inflame an already contentious debate in the public radio community over the resources NPR is devoting to new delivery channels. NPR has a number of experiments and initiatives in those technologies, but as Stankavich noted, "How much can we invest in that when we're cutting core services?"

NPR said that in July it expected its deficit for the fiscal year beginning in October to be a "relatively manageable" $2 million. Now, however, it's projecting a deficit of $23 million.

The increase in the deficit is mainly due to a tumble in the amount of corporate underwriting NPR receives; the public radio network says underwriting is the second-largest source of revenue behind fees paid by stations like KUOW and KPLU.

Stations around the country are watching their own budgets too. So far, Hansen said, "we haven't been affected by that -- yet. Things are looking about normal for us, so far."

As for contributions from listeners, Hansen says KUOW met its goal for its fall fundraising campaign, despite its coming in a week of bad economic news. That it met its goal is an indication, Hansen says, that "what we do is still of value to our listeners."

Stankavich said listener contribution totals have been flat for several years, at KPLU and across the country. Stations aren't adding as many new subscribers, although existing subscribers are increasing the amount they contribute.

Corporate underwriting at KPLU, meanwhile, is actually "gently increasing," Stankavich said. "Up to the end of November, we're still hitting our targets. If this recession continues, who knows?" The station is keeping discretionary spending in check, and holding one vacant position open until after Jan. 1.

In other radio notes:

Michael Kinsley, author of "Creative Capitalism: A Conversation With Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and Other Economic Leaders," is the guest on "Weekday" at 9 a.m. Friday on KUOW-FM.


The Metropolitan Opera has resumed its broadcasts on KING-FM/98.1; this weekend features Tchaikovsky's "The Queen of Spades," at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.


The Sunday edition of Jim French's "Imagination Theatre," heard at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday on KIXI-AM/880, includes a production of a prizewinning script from the show's third annual writers contest, "Whatever Happened to Santa Claus?"


Fans of Seattle radio veteran Mike West can catch him on the radio again, as host of "Breakfast With the Beatles" three Sundays a month at 8 a.m. on KZOK-FM/102.5

P-I reporter Bill Virgin can be reached at 206-448-8319 or billvirgin@seattlepi.com.

Bill Virgin's Radio Beat, Thursdays in the Seattle P-I
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who couldn't hear the music.
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