WHOA: WGBH buys WCRB

Haven't we been reading breathy stories in the Globe about the
dire financial circumstances at 'GBH? Staff givebacks and
urgent pleas for donations?

And now they're BUYING another radio station?

Celtic Women me no more...if you can afford to buy another
station, you don't need my donation. And you don't need to
be shoving wage reductions down your employee's throats.

...Jupiter Bringer of Jollity and the Candide overture. WCRB had those on endless loop for awhile.

I stopped listening to WCRB two years ago when they began playing the same music day in and day out. They used to have a variety of classical music and arrangements by different groups. Listening to 'so sheep may safely graze in the fields' played four times a day every day doesn't cut it.

At some point they ceased playing opera too. How can one be a classical station without opera?!

I've rarely seen a news story provoke so many intelligent comments on the various sites that are talking about this sale. As many have said, WCRB could stand an improvement in its playlist and signal strength. We'll see what we get.

On Greater Boston, Dan Kennedy just blamed the Internet for decline in classical music listening, but the cause is much much deeper than that. There's a decline in interest in classical music across the US which has been goig on for years, and public radio may be the only way to keep it on the air.

I'm delighted if this means that Ted Jones dream of keeping Classical Alive will be fulfilled under the auspices of WGBH.

I am HOPING that WGBH will restore Ted's vison by:

1) Keeping WCRB classical 24/7.

2) Boosting the power of(or relocating) the transmitter. When WCRB was sold a few years ago, the new owners switched them from a transmitter in Waltham (102.5) to one in Haverhill (99.5). As a result, many WCRB listeners no longer get a clear signal.

3) Restoring variety to the playlist, since in recent years WCRB had generally resorted constantly replying the "Top 40 Classical Hits.

By the way, to those commenter who say "WGBH can afford to buy a station, but they are laying off people, so I'm never donating again. GIVE ME A BREAK! They can't cancel their donations, since they never gave in the first place. Also, if they were familiar with the status of classical radio and/or used their brains, they would know that WGBH bought WCRB for a song (figuratively), that WGBH has many subscribers who will INCREASE they're contributions to assure 24/7 classical broadcasts, and that WCRB will be funded by a special capital campaign.

Yet another reason to hate WGBH. Like we don't have enough NPR talk radio in Boston already with WBUR. I was a regular contributor to WGBH, but no more.

Blues and folk radio programs may be dropped
Blues fans may get the blues when they hear WGBH’s plans for programming changes. ’GBH spokeswoman Jeanne Hopkins confirmed to us yesterday that if the FCC approves the station’s purchase of WCRB-FM, a classical station based in Waltham, the station will cancel “Folk on WGBH’’ and “Blues on WGBH,’’ which air on Saturday afternoon and Saturday night, respectively. The blues show is hosted by Brendan Hogan, while folk is hosted by Naomi Arenberg and Brad Paul. Hopkins explained that WGBH wants to carry classical music on one station (WCRB’s 99.5) and news and information on the other (WGBH’s 89.7). She said that blues and folk fans have other ways to find their genres of choice in Boston, and that ’GBH wants to keep its programming unique. “We’ve carried both of these for many years and we’ve been proud do it. We’re very proud of the contributions,’’ she said. Hopkins said there will be no programming changes until the deal goes through.

WGBH ALL TALK,
What a shame.
It would be a shame for young families that would
like an alternative radio station.
I honestly believe that my 15 year old son has played his
Irish whistle and uilleann pipes in sessions and competed
from New York to Ireland because the culture that WGBH
has made available on its weekend music programing.
Talk is cheap.
Or maybe that is the reason for the roomers.
If that big building was not bought this kind of cop-out
would not have to taake place.

So...I get laid off from 'GBH and the station goes out and buys WCRB for 14 million dollars. What does this say? The staff are all taking furloughs (some have been asked to take a second one) and they have had salary freezes as well. The morale is at an all time low.

Shouldn't 'GBH be supporting their staff and trying to secure jobs and not spending money on a fairly low-wattage dying classical station?

For those of us in southeastern Massachusetts and northern Rhode Island, your new WCRB signal might as well be being broadcast from the dark side of the Moon. You've successfully deprived us of the last vestige of classical music on the airwaves. Congratulations.

And your suggestion that we should adjust our antennas, listen online, or buy an internet radio (currently listing at $599.99 - $6.99.99, financing available), here's a suggestion: take the deluxe model internet radio (largest size), and shove it where you keep your decision-making organs. Then wait for the donations to pour in. I'll be writing a check Real Soon Now - as soon as I can get that WCRB signal.

Oh, and smart move killing off blues and folk programming. I'd appreciate your suggestion on alternate radio stations for that sort of programming if I could RECEIVE any one of those stations.