Thanks to AMPPR President David Duff for pointing out this article on KPBS in San Diego. From the article:
KPBS is adding a classical music web stream to KPBS.org. Now classical music fans can access their favorite music 24-7 on KPBS.org instead of only during the evening hours on radio. While KPBS’ radio feed of classical is ending, the station will continue to frequently feature local classical music performances on Saturday and Sunday evenings. In addition, KPBS will continue to feature Classical-24 on our HD2 station. HD radio is becoming increasingly popular and more affordable. Many new car models feature HD radio.
“These are very exciting changes for KPBS radio and the organization as a whole,” said John Decker, KPBS Director of Programming. “The addition of these new programs, along with some of the time shifts will better cater to our audiences who like thoughtful news from a local, national and world perspective – and throughout the day and night.”
Decker has wanted to get rid of the classical programming for years, but the last time he attempted it the audience rebelled. Now that San Diego has the lite-classical station XLNC at 104.9, he has more justification for dropping the dual format and going to all news.
It’s not a good thing for music organizations in San Diego, though and XLNC is not the heavyweight classical music station that KPBS used to be years ago. KPBS’s web stream and non-local HD feed are just about useless to the arts community, and a light classical station can’t take the place of a fully-engaged partner in the arts. I hope XLNC will step up its community engagement.
This represents my personal opinion after years of trying to work with San Diego stations. In fact, I just got back from San Diego yesterday. I usually just end up trying to get a good signal from KUSC, where I know the programming will be intelligent.
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It amazes me that, in a broadcast spectrum full of talk, that some still believe we need even more. I listen to news, commentary, read newspapers, online news, etc. I certainly want to be informed…but where’s the balance if we continue to eliminate the opportunity to feed our minds and souls WITHOUT words, as well as with?
Regardless of what is available on XLNC, I hope San Diego listeners beat the drum loudly for the return of music to KPBS. Having a station which serves your LOCAL community is vital to the Arts. Hearing someone on the air who lives and works in your community and has a similar passion for your town makes all the difference.
Here in San Diego the options are few now for sophisticated classical music. KPBS will broadcast Classical 24 full time for HD radio listeners, absent any other programming such as Performance Today. For those researching the expense of purchasing an HD radio as compared to the overwhelming benefits of a wifi (Internet) radio, the answer is simple: wifi. Appropriately, donation dollars now will go to those non-local public radio stations which server listeners best. Once San Diego listeners are coerced to purchase advanced equipment for wifi radio, then become accustomed to it, the likelihood of returning to KPBS as a devoted listener will be low. KPBS will be nothing more than AM talk radio. Even if it rehabilitates itself, the damage is done. It will be competing with every other public radio station available over the Internet. I wish them well, while I truly wish our magnet donators to KPBS take a strong position where we trifle donators are as recognized as a common taxpayer.
Boyce,
I totally agree. I have been a supporter of KPBS, since Tom Karlo’s tenure as a parent of a Grossmont High School music program student. My son and his were in the music program together, so my support dates back to 1993 – I have enjoyed daytime news reports, commentaries, interviews, etc. and at the end of a long day, enjoyed relaxing to the “Mozart Effect,” with classical music. My ears literally weary of listening to talk, talk, talk “all” of the broadcast and end up tuning out the evenings . . . and am now turning off the broadcast. Sadly, my long time support of KPBS will also end.
Bring back the classical segment. I cannot believe “all” listeners support this change. The station WILL lose support and according to other listeners I have spoken to, their disappointment echoes mine. The change is a “huge” mistake!
Sharon L. Collins
After doing a keyword search related to my favorite Seattle classical radio station, King FM, I stumbled upon this post. And it is appropriate. For I currently live in what I call the “flip side of the 8” across from SDSU in Del Cerro.
For years I was astounded by the KPBS classical programming acuity during my moments before sleep. I would turn on the station and the music I would hear would be, in a word, magical.
I really don’t know how they did it. But at least 95% of the time, the music was out of the ordinary while at the same time truly inspired and at the “right place, right time”. Ethereal is another word that comes to mind. Whoever was responsible for those “front line” decisions of classical music programming choices was truly in touch with a timeless realm.
So when one evening I found myself listening to the latest BBC propaganda tripe instead of the inspiring sounds from another world I was sorely disappointed, and ever since…
And know I now the culprit: John Decker. A name right out of central casting.
Such actions usually are based on one of two things. The individual is either incompetent or evil, sometimes both, which explains a lot for the world we find ourselves in.
I don’t expect the music to return to my little bedside radio. Until I move out of the area, that is.
But I will consider it a blessing if one day it does. It will be a sign that the one who long ago reached their “level of incompetence”, John Decker, was fired, or as they say in the corporate world, both for “profit” and “non”, “resigned to pursue other interests”.
And I will smile.
I am sorry KPBS stopped carrying classical music, because they did it very well and the community came to depend on it. But I never would vilify John Decker. He is a good guy, smart, diligent, and cares about the station. He just seems to believe that news/talk radio serves more people. A lot of radio stations across the country have switched from classical music to all talk, especially if there’s another classical service in the area. You have XLNC in San Diego, which is not a full-service local station supporting the arts groups as KPBS did, but it’s better than nothing.
Why is KING-FM your favorite classical station? Just curious.