For opera on WVPR, is the fat lady singing?

WVPR West Virginia Public Radio is facing what so many other public radio stations have faced in the past. The traditional programming model model of the 80's included NPR news in drive time with with some other format mid days and perhaps a third format in the evening. Weekends often included a potpourri of programming. I worked at a few stations that followed the same programming model. As funding sources changed, pressure increased to present programming that would generate listener and underwriter support. Decreasing support from taxes put more pressure on this situation.

Programs with declining or small audiences don't generate enough listener sensitive income to keep deficits away and offset declining government support.

An interview in Gazette Mail with WVPR's James Muhammad takes you through the reasons for his programming changes.

I've been through this several times. The changes can result in lots of negative feedback. In the instances I was involved with we rode out the storms. The result were a better community service. It doesn't always work out that way.

About 15 years ago Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) and West Virginia Public Radio tried to move The Met off the air. In both cases there was enough pressure brought about by listeners, major donors and legislators to pressure the stations into putting The Met back on the air. In WPR's case it was a majot contributor to the University that forced the station to reinstate The Met.

So far...published comments and responses to the news has been light

Have you been through similar changes? What was that experience like? What did you learn? What would you do differently?

For opera on WVPR, is the fat lady singing?  - A&E - The Charleston Gazette - West Virginia News and Sports -