USF classical station well received

USF classical station well received by donors || Gulf Coast Business Review | Tampa Bay, Bradenton, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples

So much of what I've shared recently has been bad news. Well, here's something that seems to be working! During WSMR's  first fund drive, the station reached its goal of 1000 founding members and raised $117,000.

WUSF buys WSMR Splits Formats

WUSF buys WSMR, looks to programming format changes - Tampa Bay Business Journal

WUSF is joining the growing list of public radio stations who are willing to split out their news and classical formats. There is risk involved. WUSF bought WSMR for $1.3 million. WSMR will carry the classical format but the signal footprint does not cover the same geography as WUSF.

Those who will be in the WSMR signal area will be blessed with full-time classical music programming. The Tampa/St.Pete market will now be able to listen to NPR news and information programming all day. This strategy seems to be working in New York, Boston, Cincinnati and Minneapolis/St.Paul.

There are plenty of comments on the blogs and online news outlets.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/aug/04/041550/wusf-fm-switches-npr-format-moves-classical-progra/news-breaking/

http://blogs.tampabay.com/media/2010/08/tampa-public-radio-station-wusffm-to-purschase-wsmrfm-in-sarasota-for-12million-shifting-classical-m.html