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Programming
- This is a news/information format primarily broadcasting BBC World Service.
- This schedule counter-programs mainstream NPR stations (like KAZU).
- If resources permitted, other international broadcasters with English-language services might be included. The editorial approach would apply fairly traditional principles of independence, so services like BBC, CBC, Al-Jazeera, and Deutsche Welle would be favored over broadcasters with more slant.
- Local production would be limited and seek to uncover local connections to international news/issues. Given the accelerating pace of globalization this might be a fertile area to explore and is not a point of view represented very frequently in other local media.
- With a small role for local content, kusp.org would be more static and less dynamic than it is now – serving as more of an aggregator for feeds (if available) from the international broadcast partners.
- Such a niche programming service would mean that all operating costs would have to be driven to an absolute minimum.
Signal
- Because the Monterey area already has a service with substantial BBC content (KSPB Pebble Beach), a Santa Cruz signal footprint is probably a better fit for the format than the relatively high overhead of the 88.9 footprint.
Personnel
- The operations aspects of programming (getting feeds, putting together local breaks, and so on) would be fairly intensive, so even with little station-produced content, overall staffing would probably have to be in the range of 4 to 5 full-time equivalent employees. Some care would be required to maintain eligibility for CPB grant funding, because you would be just above the minimums established for local stations like KUSP.
- Of this group of scenarios, this approach has the smallest role for community volunteers.
Important questions/concerns
- It’s not certain another frequency would be obtainable if 88.9 is sold.
- While some NPR news stations have launched stations with similar formats as a complement to their main NPR news service, a stand-alone station in this format entirely relying on its own financial resources is highly unusual.
- Do enough residents of the area care enough about international news to develop loyalty to such a service – to such a degree that they would donate to it?
- Is there any potential for business support?
- Is there any potential for grant support?
- Is there a sufficiently strong philanthropic case that such a station would be attractive to donors making large gifts?
- Are there any other opportunities to raise revenue, given the unusual mission and service model? Could partnerships be formed with higher education institutions that would meet some of the costs of local or acquired programming?
- Is this so far removed from the expectations we’ve built up for KUSP over 43 years of broadcasting than the community would reject it?
- Is the very limited role for community volunteers a rejection of a key part of KUSP’s mission?
May 28th, 2015 at 9:08 am
This suggestion implies the sale of the existing license (see “Signal” above). Ergo, the prospects for obtaining another broadcast license in the non-commercial band in the Santa Cruz service area makes this suggestion impractical.
Also, KUSP’s currently untenable situation is arguably a time-delayed result of shifting from local content to National content. Shifting to an International program focus would further remove the local appeal of a Community oriented station.
What evidence is there to suggest that there is a compelling demand for international news within a considerably smaller coverage area, or that this is financially more tenable?
June 1st, 2015 at 9:39 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 12:46 pm
The selling of 88.9 is mostly for paying off the debt. Needs to be determined how much would be left in the kitty to buy a new frequency. Most likely some large scale funding would still be needed to complete the purchase of a new signal. Programming could then be discussed once income sources are reasonably estimated.
A study would be needed to determine if going to International content is a viable plan for KUSP – would people be willing to donate to this new KUSP.
June 1st, 2015 at 9:07 pm
The station in Pebble Beach, KSPB, the student radio station at Stevenson School, reaches Santa Cruz; I listen to the BBC on it regularly as I drive around town. If it did not reach Santa Cruz, I could see a reason for picking up World Service programming to complement any locally generated newscasts or NPR newsfeeds. They do have a different perspective and tend, in their longer form programs, at least, to provide considerable detail and insight beyond that provided by commercial US news services and NPR, combined. That said, if duplication of programming available in the region is seen as a failing of KUSP, why embrace the duplication of programming of even more limited local appeal? Let the students have it, unless and until the KSPB signal isn’t receivable up here. I also think that the station footprint needs to remain regional, if possible, and that KUSP position itself as a regional community radio resource. So scaling back the signal strength or coverage pattern is not an appealing option to me.
June 2nd, 2015 at 10:25 pm
Anyone wanting international news can easily get it on the Internet radio. Just select your country. KUSP should not duplicate existing broadcasts, such as BBC. I don’t think this scenario satisfies the founding principles of KUSP, it isn’t local. It also seems foolish to sell 88.9 in order to pay off the debt which can probably be negotiated down or forgiven, and then hope to buy another frequency and start over.
June 3rd, 2015 at 9:54 pm
Strongly support this analysis.