tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3295297961169603838.post6580280631710265932..comments2024-03-27T09:32:51.954-07:00Comments on Dialogue & Discourse: a blog by Donna Halper: Our Vanishing Local MediaDonna Halperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08709120386388369898noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3295297961169603838.post-17669556089847774092020-05-14T14:25:39.704-07:002020-05-14T14:25:39.704-07:00I was at my mother's home in North Carolina wh...I was at my mother's home in North Carolina when the news came that McClatchy filed for bankruptcy. Her newspaper was one of them. It is still alive, but still shrinking.FWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17185848099015061306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3295297961169603838.post-42839067826680647832020-03-01T17:12:17.885-08:002020-03-01T17:12:17.885-08:00As for why this happened, obviously, Entercom didn...As for why this happened, obviously, Entercom didn't include me in their deliberations (!); but the sense I get is that many companies over-extend themselves, and then when they are not generating enough revenue to service the debt they have, they decide to unload some stations (or cut some personnel) to save money and/or get a fresh influx of cash. It's a bottom-line decision, and even if some fans are disappointed, the corporation gets the money it needs, and that's the only calculation they seem to make. Donna Halperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08709120386388369898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3295297961169603838.post-77062041682663342852020-03-01T16:30:50.343-08:002020-03-01T16:30:50.343-08:00John, I have been up in Portsmouth and happened to...John, I have been up in Portsmouth and happened to tune across your LPFM quite a while ago. Can you give me the web site and frequency that you guys are on? Do you stream? I am not in your coverage area when I am at home but I go to Portsmouth from time to time. In truth, I would prefer to just stream and not worry about coverage issues. Thank you and I hope you had a good weekend. Best of luck with your LPFM. 73<br />Scott Currierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12637699849169027419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3295297961169603838.post-18381947905826826072020-03-01T16:28:29.916-08:002020-03-01T16:28:29.916-08:00Any idea why the station was sold? Is it possible ...Any idea why the station was sold? Is it possible for a local fm outlet to pay for local talent and still make money? It seems to me that part of the problem has to be the new options that allow listening to music in the car, streaming over the internet and satellite radio. I am guessing that ad revenue has been dropping but that may not be the case. It seems that the FM outlets have been shedding costs since at least the 90s. One of those costs unfortunately has been local talent. Is anyone aware of any internet radio stations that are made up of former local talent? There is an advantage to internet radio, you don't have to worry about an FCC license or the expense of maintaining your own transmitter. Your range is not limited either like it would be with your own FM outlet even if you are a 100kw powerhouse like WBLM in Maine or WHOM up on Mt. Washington you can still get better coverage with internet radio. I have to use internet streaming to listen to WBLM even though they used to be loud and clear in N.E. MA. The LPFMs have infringed on their coverage area. I called them about it and they are not protected all the way down here. So until I get near Maine I stream them in the car. The LPFM is an interesting idea but it really has to be backed up with internet radio streaming due to the lack of coverage. If you are a mobile listener you can drive out of the coverage area quite quickly. I am wondering if an internet radio station that will sell enough advertising to support local talent is a possibility to bring back the talent on lost stations such as WAAF, WBCN, who can forget WCOZ 94.5 kick ass rock and roll? Is the FCC making a mistake allowing stations to not hire local talent? Maybe we need to require that if you want to use RF you need local talent and you cannot be part of a network. If you want to cover the entire US with your programming, use the internet. The last issue is what is going to happen with the spectrum no longer used by TV stations? Is the FM broadcast band going to be expanded from 88 mHz down to at least 82 mHz? If so, what kind of emission makes sense? Clearly FM is probably not optimum. Digital would allow for more stations in the same amount of radio spectrum. But, it appears to me that the spectrum in the VHF-Low band, up to 88 mhz , basically from 54 to 88 could be used to enhance the VHF radio broadcast band. I hate to see the loss of jobs and the loss of local talent. I wonder if the local talent from WAAF had considered continuing their operation via streaming audio? Most people at work, or many at least would listen via streaming anyway since they're working at a computer. The amount of data used for streaming audio isn't that much so streaming using your phones data plan isn't a problem, and in many cases wifi can be used or will be used automatically when it is available. For me, I would be happy to continue to listen to WAAF via streaming audio. Another nice thing about streaming audio is that if you move, you take your home radio station with you. If you are on an airplane on the other side of the world you can listen to your home radio station. There is a lot to like about streaming audio including the audio quality, it can greatly exceed that of FM radio if you want it to. If you want to stream 16 bits at 44.1 khz the CD standard, you can do it. Also you get the advantage of adding video to the stream if you want to. I can't believe that a station like WAAF couldn't survive and thrive being delivered by streaming instead of a VHF RF link. They would need to get used to the fact that their listeners will be spread out more. But the potential for a very interesting <br />"radio station" is there. Scott Currierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12637699849169027419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3295297961169603838.post-80029366381963269552020-03-01T15:09:03.273-08:002020-03-01T15:09:03.273-08:00I completely agree! 50 years of providing for muc...I completely agree! 50 years of providing for much of Metrowest and beyond, WAAF covered a lot of ground, playing deep LP cuts in the 70s to breaking bands over recent years. <br /><br />I'm so happy to be at an LPFM which supports creativity,localism,and gets the word out regarding other non-profits in the area. We work hard to provide local voices, support local bands, and be an outlet for the Greater Portsmouth, NH area.John "Supersport"http://wscafm.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3295297961169603838.post-36769781097860899142020-03-01T08:38:01.881-08:002020-03-01T08:38:01.881-08:00So Sad to hear of a good local radio station foldi...So Sad to hear of a good local radio station folding along with local newspapers too <br />Awful <br />Let's hope a crowd funding can set set up a local community station Paul Traynorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07679499566517780200noreply@blogger.com