Public Radio taking over Classical radio.

WGBH in Boston has announced that it has bought a classical music radio station in New England, WCRB on 99.5FM.  So what you say, broadcasters buy other broadcasters?  True, but the equivalent in the UK would be the BBC buying Classic FM!  WGBH is a public broadcasting station, which broadcasts a lot of classical music programming on 89.7, alongside NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and PRI’s The World.

This is not the first time this has happened either.  Earlier this year, New York public radio station WNYC, bought WQXR, New York’s only Classical Music radio station from its previous owners, The New York Times.  However, the frequency of 96.3 where WQXR broadcasted on, had been separately sold to Univision, in exchange for the 105.9 frequency.  So the frequency of 105.9 has been sold to WNYC along with WQXR.  Price tag, a mere $11.5 million. 

So from October 8th, WQXR moves to 105.9 in New York, and becomes a public radio station rather than a commercial radio station.  Now if such a move were to happen here in the UK with the BBC buying Classic FM , there would be TOTAL uproar from the commercial sector, claiming the BBC was looking to take over commercial radio, nationalise the whole broadcast sector etc.  I can just imagine it happening, so how come even the totally rabid and unreasoning right wing nuts haven’t jumped all over this claiming socialised broadcasting by the back door or some other similarly daft accusation.

Maybe it would be because the commercial talk radio sector has been nationalised by the back door over the course of the last 20 years.  Most talk radio stations have a local breakfast show, then everything from about 9am onwards is syndicated, or worse, syndicated and recorded from earlier.

Anyway, back to the story at hand, and WCRB’s sale to WGBH gives the public broadcaster a real mini broadcast network in New England.  It already has 2 TV stations, WGBH on Channel 2 and WGBX on Channel 44, plus the main WGBH FM broadcast on 89.7, with 2 relays, and the WCAI service in Cape Cod on 90.1 with two relays.  Adding WCRB on 99.5 gives WGBH a real advantage over other broadcasters.  Few public broadcasting operations in the USA are both on radio and television, and WGBH is by far and away the most well known.  In New York, WNYC is the big public radio service, with an FM service on 93.9, an AM service on 820 and the upcoming all classical WQXR on 105.9.  But WNYC has no TV station.  For that, you’d have to add the WNET operation which runs two stations, WNET on 13 and WLIW on 21.

But I am surprised that there hasn’t been a more public outcry from those on the extreme right decrying this obvious encroachment of public broadcasting into commercial territory, at least in terms of frequencies.  It had been the rule that Public Radio stayed in the 88-95 part of the FM band whilst commercial radio occupied the 95-108 part.  Methinks the wing nuts are too worried about to socialised medicine to have noticed.  Or it could be that they’re so busy bowing down to the “god of talk radio” that is Boss Limburger, Rush Limbaugh, and defending him from his own words played back to him that again it has escaped their attention.  Perhaps they are too busy attacking Air America and the BBC and Al Jazeera and any number of other broadcasters who actually do reporting rather than just parroting talking points, that again, it escapes their notice.  Or maybe its because they consider NPR to be an honorary member of the conservative media, that they give things like this a pass. 

Whatever the reason, it means a stronger public media is slowly emerging, a public media that is based primarily in Washington, Boston and New York.  Could be a very interesting time for public broadcasting in the US.  I know the BBC will be slightly envious of the lack of attention being paid to these moves.

Viewpoint: 9/11 +8

It was 8 years ago today when the world changed forever.  9/11 as it was to become known killed over 3,000 people in 4 separate attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York, the Pentagon in Washington DC and in Virgina.  Ian Beaumont looks back at a day that lives in the minds of all who witnessed it.

Top 3 stories: Thursday 10 September

These are the stories that have garnered my attention today.

3:  Republican Represenetative Joe Wilson of South Carolina last night shouted “You Lie!” at President Obama during his special address to Congress.  Today he apologised to the White House, and his apology was accepted.  He should be barred from the chamber for about 3 months or so.  In the UK, calling a politician a liar in the Palace Of Westminster is not allowed.  Offenders get named and shamed, ejected from the chamber, and then barred from returning for a length of time determined by his fellow politicians.  Joe Wilson got away lightly.  South Carolina’s electors should show their displeasure with him at the next election in Nov 2010.

2:  Another South Carolina Republican is in trouble.  Governor Mark Sanford held another press conference today in order to fight the growing calls for him to resign.  He even stated today that moves to impeach him should wait until an ethics investigation ends.  He will even take legal action to prevent a preliminary report from being given to state legislators.  HE could save all this trouble, and he should.  He should resign.

1:  The kidnapping of New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell was a story that the paper famous for “all the news that’s fit to print”, didn’t want to print, and didn’t want anybody else to report.  Executive Editor Bill Keller told NPR’s Talk Of The Nation programme that he had conducted a campaign to keep the story out of the news.  This is the first time I’ve heard of this happening.  Usually news organisations bite the bullet and report anyway.  Bill Keller needs to rethink that strategy for the future.

Obama’s address to Congress: The real keys.

Okay, here is the key points from President Barack Obama’s address to a special joint session of Congress.

1.  Obama proposes that his healthcare reform plan will be deficit-neutral.  In other words, it will not add one cent to the US national deficit.

2.  If you already have health insurance, you will NOT be forced to change your plan.  I repeat, you will NOT be forced to change your plan.

3.  Under Obama’s plan, it will be against the law for coverage to be denied because of a pre-existing condition.

4.  Under Obama’s plan, insurance companies will not be able to drop coverage or water it down when you get ill.

5.  A new insurance exchange will be created for those who change jobs, lose their jobs, and for small business owners.

6.  Tax credits will be provided to those who are most struggling to afford health insurance.

7.  All individuals will be required to have basic health insurance, in the same way that all drivers are required to have car insurance.

8.  The Public Insurance option must be self sufficient like any other business, and rely on the premiums they collect.

9.  Not one dollar of Medicare money will be used to pay for health reform.

10.  Medicare will be protected.

Those are the main points of an almost 60 minute long speech, interupted many times by standing ovations from the left and the right. 

I hate to say it, but knowing the Republican speech was actually written days in advance, long before we knew what was in President Obama’s speech, did seem to render it somewhat meaningless.  The fact that someone, we believe a Republican, shouted out “You lie!” at one point, obviously pointed out that some people in Congress have no intention of accepting any reform, even though the President said accepting the status quo is not an option.

This was a good speech, but I do wonder if the partisanship we have seen over the past month can be put to one side, and politicians actually do what they were elected to do, and that is to solve the real problems that America and the world faces.

CNN’s Freeview stream: don’t sell hours to others!

When CNN started on Freeview, they ran from 9pm to 1am.  Not a lot of time for a 24 hour news channel.  Then it got extended to 7pm to 2am, but then they sold on their last two hours to SuperCasino, then to Challenge Jackpot, and now to Rocks & Co. 

Last night, after the best of the Sitaution Room, we got treated to a lesson for broadcasters in why it is not a good idea to sell hours on to other broadcasters, when you already have the programming available to fill it.

Rocks and Co, who are currently timesharing the 7 hour CNNI stream on Freeview, have spent the whole time since midnight showing a very boring loop, stating that Live Auctions will begin at 8am.  Now that’s as well may be, but that’s of no use to us watching on Freeview Channel 84, which will switch off at 2am, 6 hours before the next set of live auctions is due to begin.

If this is going to keep happening then maybe CNN should forget about selling on the 2 hours from Midnight to 2am.  CNBC has all but given up on their 3 hour “Poker Channel Europe” slot, restricting it now to Saturdays and Sundays, whilst Asian market coverage gets aired the rest of the week.  Now, CNN should take a leaf out of the CNBC book, and forget completely about selling the two hours after Midnight.  Just air CNN Today on Freeview, and you’ll not only fill the hours, but when the US President speaks to the US, usually at 8pm ET, you’ll be on air in the UK for people to watch, instead of tuning to Sky or Cable.

Tonight’s after midnight debacle should be a lesson to all those who think broadcasting is about making money.  Nobody will have stayed tuned in during these two hours.  They will have tuned away almost immediately, because there was nothing to show.  Content is still king, and like it or not, will forever be king.  That’s why so many people are watching internet shows and podcasts, reading blogs and tweets, because that’s where the content is.

Viewpoint Original: The Plymouth Argyle situation.

There is a break for Premiership and Championship clubs this weekend as International matches are played.  Paul Sturrock of Plymouth Argyle must be happy to have the internationals take the attention away from the performance of Plymouth Argyle.

5 matches, 2 draws, 3 losses, no wins.  23rd in the Championship and currently in a position that would mean relegation at the end of the season.

Paul Sturrock has made a pledge to stay on and help Argyle turn the corner, rather than resign and move aside for someone else.

Now, it would very easy for me to say that Paul Sturrock should resign.  It would also be relatively easy for me to say that Paul Sturrock should stay and help Argyle turn it around.  But for me it’s never been about easy options, but about seeking and telling the truth.  So here it is.

Paul Sturrock, the only person who can make the decision when or whether to go from Plymouth Argyle is you.  Sure, fans like myself will say their piece, as they are perfectly entitled to do, but at the end of the day, only you, in your heart of hearts, will know if you CAN turn it around or not.  IF you know you can, then you will have my full support.  But if you know it is not possible for you to do this, deep down inside of you, then I would suggest that you step aside from the managerial role and make room for someone who can do it.

After the past few years of success that Argyle has enjoyed, this is the kind of start no-one likes to see.  Second from bottom is not where Argyle belongs.  We all know that.  There is still hope for an automatic promotion place.  But it has to start with the very next match, otherwise, even getting to a play off spot will be almost impossible.

Canadian phony Election has begun!

Oh boy!  Here we go!

Literally minutes after Michael Ignatieff, leader of Canada’s Liberal Party, announced that he would no longer support the Conservative minority government on Stephen Harper, Stephen Harper comes out and says that the decision goes against Canada’s interests in this economic downturn.

The phony election campaign has begun, and the government isn’t even out of power yet.  Whilst political instability is never a good thing, you could never call a minority government stable, given the fact it could get voted out at any time.

The fact is Harper’s Conservative government has been behind the curve on economic recovery from day 1 of this global recession, whilst other countries including the US, UK, France and Germany have been ahead of the curve.

Harper has been given too many chances to just limp on.  I’m glad that some decisive action will be taken.  Decisiveness is just what Canada needs right now, in order to catch up with other countries.  But whether that will be best served by Michael Ignatieff, Jack Layton, or a different prime minister is another question altogether.

Plymouth Herald seen in Truro

It’s been over 20 years since I last saw the Plymouth Herald on sale in Truro at all.  Back then, it was an “evening” paper, usually on sale in Truro by about 2.30 at the latest.  It was one of the few papers that I actually made a point of buying at all.  Most others actually didn’t interest me.  I used to buy the West Briton Argus when that was produced.  It was a Monday tabloid update to the Thursday broadsheet West Briton, and was very cheap.  I think when the Argus got absorbed into the main Thursday paper, The Argus would have been on sale for something like 15p on a Monday. 

Anyway, I was in town this morning, and what did I happen to see as I walked into a local newsagent this morning?  The Plymouth Herald.  Now a morning papers, as it has been since October 2006.  Still relatively cheap at just 36p, which is in fact cheaper than it’s sister paper, the Western Morning News. 

I’m hoping that this is a sign of a more permanent return to Cornwall’s newsagents.  Years ago, before my living memory, there was a Cornwall Evening Herald as well.  Perhaps the Plymouth Herald could also produce a separate edition for Cornwall, much like its sister paper does.  I for one would be all for it.