Meetings & Discussions | How Did We Get Here? |
What Options Are You Considering?
New options being considered: Pine | Maple | Plum | Fig | Walnut | Elm
| Spruce | Cedar | Poplar | Chestnut
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Programming
- Primarily a music format with all volunteer program hosts; to a large extent the sound of each program is defined by the musical tastes of the host.
- Some news, talk and information programming, but little or no national content, so KUSP volunteers’ interests would be the main influence on what news is covered.
- With a large amount of air time to fill using the station’s own resources, partnerships with other local organizations would probably be essential to do outreach and recruiting – otherwise the “pipeline” of new and prospective volunteer programmers would not stay full.
- This approach would require a significant effort by staff and volunteers to develop digital capacity, as podcasts and other on-demand listening would need to be available to attract and retain program producers. This would also serve the audience better, especially over time as more listening shifts away from FM radio and towards Internet-connected devices like smartphones.
Signal
- Since the appeal of this format and revenue potential would be smaller than some other options, the Santa Cruz signal footprint might be a better fit than the 88.9 signal; relinquishing the 88.9 signal would make it possible to retire debt and stake this scenario to sufficient funds to get off the ground.
Personnel
- “All-volunteer” stations in fact typically have some employees for business administration, program coordination, and fund-raising. This scenario would also require staff for recruiting volunteers as well as management of kusp.org. The minimum paid staffing would probably be between 4 and 5 full-time equivalent employees; this is also the minimum threshold necessary to remain eligible for funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
- Significantly more volunteers would be necessary to execute this plan than KUSP has now, though probably not more than KUSP had in the 1980’s. Many community stations with similar methods of operation have difficulty with turnover; strong outreach and recruitment efforts (requiring paid staff) could compensate for shorter average tenure of volunteers.
Important questions/concerns
- It’s not certain a new frequency would be obtainable if 88.9 is sold.
- Would it be financially possible to make such a model work and retain the 88.9 signal?
- For listeners, this would be very similar to the format at KZSC and KKUP. KKUP has very little audience in the Monterey Bay area. The KZSC audience is, based on independent estimates, about one-third the size of KUSP’s current audience. KZSC has substantial direct and indirect institutional support from UC Santa Cruz through student fees. What mix of revenue would sustain KUSP in this scenario?
- Is there a philanthropic case that can be made to donors able to make large gifts, and offset the smaller potential for listener-contributors making relatively small annual gifts?
- Many community stations following similar operating models generate a large portion of their total revenue through fund-raising events (benefit concerts, food-wine-beer tasting festivals, etc.) What would be the potential for KUSP to thrive with such events, especially given the very large number of nonprofits per capita in the Monterey Bay region, and that those nonprofits already depend on such sources of income?
- From the standpoint of a public service mission, what would this operating model bring to listeners that does not duplicate services they already have?
May 25th, 2015 at 11:41 pm
As far as “shorter average tenure of volunteers” goes, I can speak from experience that the only problem might be for after-midnight volunteers. I don’t think there is any lack of qualified and willing volunteers wanting to share their knowledge, passion and experiences with listeners who want to hear more than the limited range of jazz and classical music that we already cover fairly well. There is also a precedent to have a volunteer programming committee at KUSP, which would save money.
May 28th, 2015 at 9:44 am
This option focuses on the opportunity created to provide more localism in broadcasting and development of new technologies. With additional input from interested parties, it most closely follows the precepts of Community Radio while still honoring the mission and vision of KUSP.
However, embedded within the option is an implication to sell the station license, which seems to be a common and ill-advised action for most of the currently presented options. Without the license, there is no community voice. Obtaining another license would be a difficult, expensive and time consuming event, with a low probability of success. Retaining the license is essential to continuing KUSP as a viable community asset for the Central Coast.
June 1st, 2015 at 9:01 am
Don’t sell the license! Get as many volunteers as possible to bring down overhead costs. Back to locally produced news/info like you have already – Geek Speak, Dr Dawn, etc….
Make it an eclectic music station once again, mid mornings and afternoons. Then I’ll tune back in and give financial support !
I don’t listen to internet while driving or working outside, I listen to the radio – it is not dead for those of us over 30 – its how we listen to our music, over the radio.
June 1st, 2015 at 9:38 am
FYI, if by “Santa Cruz signal footprint” this plan refers to K207CN, the 89.3 “FM Translator” repeater signal in Santa Cruz proper? Translators cannot originate programming. So KUSP could not continue to broadcast on 89.3FM without somehow obtaining access to a “primary” station that can originate the programming, and then K207CN could repeat it.
This is not impossible to do, but it likely will neither be easy nor cheap…mostly because it is impossible for KUSP to apply for and get a new, smaller, FM signal. The FCC only accepts applications for such things during “filing windows” that typically happen once a decade (the last was in 2007, but there’s no guarantee another will happen anytime near 2017).
One option would be to purchase an existing AM or FM signal, but the cost would largely offset any revenue obtained from selling KUSP’s main 88.9 license.
Another option would be to lease the HD2 channel from another license in or around Santa Cruz, assuming one is available to be leased. WMVY does this with Rhode Island Public Radio. Again, this might be reasonably inexpensive, or it might be very expensive, but it likely won’t be free.
June 1st, 2015 at 12:29 pm
Like Pine & Maple, unless large donors ($50K and above) are identified now the debt will not get paid off. This plan is starting to address the debt issue more realistically. Programming and volunteers are further down the priority list of decisions that need to be made.
June 2nd, 2015 at 8:50 am
Thank you for considering my opinion on the future of KUSP. The PLUM option is most aligned with my wishes for the station. I would suggest dropping NPR altogether and concentrating on local music and local public affairs.
The Monterey Bay Area is blessed with world class musicians, music, artists, and music DJs. With the talent we have, we should be syndicating programs and broadcasting them to the rest of the world rather than purchasing the NPR dribble out of DC and becoming an NPR translator. For a large part of my life, the Vinyl Jungle followed by Lance’s wonderful reggae show was an integral part of my Friday evenings. These programs also encouraged attendance at local African and Reggae shows which in turn encouraged more artists to play in the area. I currently host Celtic house concerts and am indebted to Cindy Odom’s Sat program that promotes the incredible Celtic artists that play in our house.
I understand the major funding issue with KUSP. I am wondering if nationally promoting some of the wonderful local DJs would help. Social media has increased communication and awareness throughout the world.
There may be examples of non profit organizations that seem to be successful in running a station that plays mostly music. wXPN in Phila seems to be doing very well. They heavily promote new artists and artists coming to Phila. Several of their shows have been syndicated on NPR including John Diliberto’s “Echos” and David Dye’s “World Café”. Gene Shay’s Folkshow and Cathy O’Connel Kids Corner have been a mainstay in the Phila. area for 25 years. In the past, KUSP as well has produced some great documentaries and some wonderful long lasting music and kids shows. I believe that the station could once again become a significant contributor to music and public affairs if the funding could be worked out.
Local broadcasting is also a safety issue. I was in Big Sur during the start of one of the big fires in the Watsonville area years ago. KUSP, via the local translator, was the only station we could get. But the only “news” on the station was the NPR story of the kid from Pugaloska who learned to play the flute.
Mark Conover
Santa Cruz
June 12th, 2015 at 9:59 am
Other than the fact that this option involves going off the air permanently by selling the license, it has real merit.
June 13th, 2015 at 6:35 pm
I like the format as long as we keep the 88.9 license!
June 16th, 2015 at 6:43 pm
We were told last night at the Board of Directors’ meeting at Louden Nelson Center that this and all the other proposals on the Participate blog are no longer being considered. There are new options being considered and there was an anonymous donation of $100,000 yesterday that will fund the station for approximately another 90 days with some staff cuts that the Board considered in executive session last night. I have no news on what happened. The Board should direct the staff to update the web site so we all know what’s going on.
You can send a message to the Board of Directors by using this link:
http://kusp.org/board-contact.shtml