WETA may abandon classical music programming

[kwassa]

For those of you in other cities, WETA is the premier NPR station in our nation's capital.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55754-2005Feb1.html

WETA Considers Switch to All-News From Classical

By Paul Farhi
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 2, 2005; Page C01

WETA-FM, the Arlington public radio station that has been an outpost of classical music programming for more than a generation, is considering scrapping the sounds of Bach, Beethoven and Mozart for an all-news and talk format, people at the station say.

Although WETA officials say they have not finalized their plans, the station's management intends to present a proposal to overhaul daily programming to the board of directors next week. The station has called its employees to a mandatory meeting the day after the Feb. 10 board meeting.

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If WETA (90.9) changes format, it would be following other public radio stations around the country that have dropped classical for news. The primary influence has been money: News programming tends to keep public radio listeners tuned in longer, and as a result, attracts more donation pledges. Listener donations typically account for half or more of a public station's annual operating budget.
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more at the site)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. They did this at Oregon public radio in about 1997

There were massive protests, and the eventual compromise reached was that OPB kept Performance Today.

A small classical station licensed to the Portland Public Schools but recently turned loose to fund itself was the beneficiary of donations from disgusted former listeners of Oregon Public Broadcasting.

It's disgusting that we're losing classical music programming all over the country so that NPR stations can fill the airwaves with more Republican propaganda. :grr:

[CBHagman]

2. And it's all money-driven. too.

You'd think a public radio station would want to maintain a great relationship with listeners and fill needs the community has. So what did WETA do a few years back? Duplicate the morning programming on WAMU, another local NPR station. Thousands protested, but WETA basically told them all that the decision had been made.

Gradually they stuffed more talk and even a game show (!) into their programming, to the point where they even ran "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" on the radio. It is actually difficult to find the little music programming they have left.

I understand they are pleased at the donations they're getting, but the donations are from fewer people. Alienating thousands of faithful, long-time listeners was a really smooth move.

Now, apparently not content with the rape and mutilation of classical music at WETA, they are determined to kill it altogether. The community is poorer for it. Maybe someday the station will have decent leadership again, but I am not holding my breath.

By the way, I became a contributor to WETA as soon as I moved to the DC area. With the cuts to the classical programming, I decided not to give anymore and threw my support behind MPT, which at least shows signs of community spirit. I still get bitchy, whining letters from WETA on how it's unfair for me to watch their programming while not paying support. :eyes: