any progress?
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Submitted by Genie OBrien on Thu, 12/10/2009 - 17:23
Is there any positive news for those of us who miss the former format?
Every day now when I listen to WUFT while commuting (unless I get so disgusted that I play a cd), I hear multiple audio clips from people who state how delighted they are with the new all talk/ schmalk format.
Of course I never hear any sound bites from the frustrated masses who miss the music genres that were previously played.
Are there any developments?
The circumstances in Orlando
The circumstances in Orlando were a little different than WUFT:
1. They are a community owned station (as opposed to run by the university) that has several advisory boards for citizens and a Board of Directors composed of local community and business leaders.
2. Said advisory boards and the BOT had plenty of input in the WMFE change. This is quite different than the coup that occurred at WUFT with no input from the community or primary stakeholders whatsoever. You can actually listen to an interview here http://www.wmfe.org/site/DocServer/josefajardoaudio.wma?docID=1881.
3. Citizens were kept relatively up-to-date on the change; it has actually been a discussion that has been ongoing in Orlando for several years. Not so in Gainesville.
4. Orlando, and Central Florida, has seen a HUGE demographic shift in the 5-10 years (and even more so in the last 10-20 years). I was born and raised in Orlando, and even in the years I can remember, the demographics have greatly changed. Not so in North Central Florida.
5. HD Radio has been solidly established in Orlando for about 6-7 years. I remember still being in high school when one of the biggest commercial stations was doing their fine tuning of the HD transmitter they installed. Clearchannel and CBS Radio are huge contenders in the Orlando market (I believe it is a top 30 market as well, if not bigger), so new technology is rolled out all the time. Several commercial stations made the switch 6-7 years ago AND have kept their stations up. This has allowed HD radios to slowly gain market traction. This is quite different than what has happened in Gainesville: market penetration started 2-3 years ago with HD, Gainesville is not a big competitive market with big corporations pumping dollars into the stations, most commercial stations did not make the switch, and those that did dropped the service.
6. WUCF is still on the air and offers jazz music throughout the day, and could easily diversify to include some classical music.
Just food for thought. The changes are not really comparable in my mind, while I am disappointed that classic music is gone from the airwaves in Orlando, the change is 1. been talked about for several years, 2. the community (in some form or another) knew about the change and endorsed it, 3. the HD radio market is actually viable and well established in Central Florida, and 4. there are other public radio stations that could adapt to any market shortfalls. All four of those things are not applicable to Gainesville.
WUFT should follow the approach used at WUSF
WUSF shifted to talk some time ago, but rather than alienating part of their loyal listening audience, they put the talk programming on their HD channel. I haven't heard any complaints, and they are still programming classical and other music from 9 am - 4 pm on their main channel, as well as later in the evening. I wish WUFT had followed that model. Music and the arts are really important in the Tampa/St. Petersburg/Sarasota area, and I like to think that WUSF realized their role in supporting this.
Have the UF Faculty Senate, or the UF Board of Trustees been contacted yet regarding the WUFT format change?
I would hope that the College of Journalism's Senate participated in the decision to change the format, and if they didn't, am surprised that they are not more vocal about the change. To me, changing the format should have been more than an internal decision made in the College of Journalism. Classic 89 served the entire university community, as well as the public in north Florida. It promoted music and the arts through its programming, and the loss of these programs have got to have had an impact on the various arts and music academic programs across campus. Have faculty from those disciplines been vocal about the format change, and how it might affect not only their academic missions, but community outreach? Have they made their concerns known to the Senate, which represents their voice? What about the Board? Their role is to oversee university operations. While it is one thing for a private station to decide that it can afford to lose part of their audience while trying to win over another segment, WUFT isn't a private station - it is part of the University of Florida. From the petition comments that I've read, it seems that part of the audience lost with the format change were UF Alumni, and strong supporters of the arts and music at the university. I think the Board needs to be involved in determining which programming mix best serves UF, not just the College of Journalism.
Any progress
Well, this may not be progress, but I did hear that the "Public" station in Orlando has now also changed it's format to all talk. For awhile a good friend of mine would tease me when driving through central Florida, by calling me and blasting me with classical music from the Orlando station. He even went so far as to redirect his pledging to the Orlando station and away from WUFT. He clearly explained why he was doing so and they were happy to recieve his pledge. Then they promptly changed the format. Can you believe the gall.
Anyone out there still not willing to entertain the idea that public radio and the CPB are being highjacked to push a liberal political agenda on non-commercial airspace? If this is the case, then the truth is that they will simply be preaching to the choir, as I think it is safe to say the overwhelming majority of public radio listeners already slant to the left. Again, I'm not side picking here, just desribing a potential reality. Maybe the choir likes being preached to, maybe they'll fork out bucks to be preached to. I don't know I just want my good ol' Classic 89 back.