markalot
26 Aug 2005, 09:51 PM
yay for WNKU!
Now if they would just cut back on the bluegrass I would be happy ;)
---
By Rick Bird
Post staff reporter
It would seem that WVXU's loss is WNKU's gain.
The Northern Kentucky University-owned station, WNKU-FM (89.7), has announced a significantly revamped format that will include more musical programming and more local news, talk and public affairs.
In the proverbial falling-dominos scenario, the changes have come about after the new WVXU-FM (91.7) launched this week when new owners Cincinnati Public Radio, Inc. assumed control of the station.
The deal was part of a consolidation that puts WGUC-FM (90.9) and WVXU-FM under one roof. WNKU announced it has picked up four local talk, information and advice shows canceled by WVXU, which has gone to a format driven by programming from National Public Radio. In the process, the new WVXU owners eliminated virtually all of its local block programming.
The WNKU changes mean the station will drop NPR's "All Things Considered" airing from 4 to 7 p.m. In its place the station will air local talk programming in the 5 p.m. hour and move "Fresh Air" from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. That adds three hours of music programming.
In the morning, WNKU will keep the popular NPR "Morning Edition," but will drop out of the show at 8 a.m. instead of 9 a.m., gaining another hour of music.
In short, the WNKU moves add more music, but also increase its local public affairs commitment.
"The strategy is to maintain the 'localness' of public radio as well as add some music which WNKU has been known for," said Ben Singleton, WNKU general manager. "So we have been able to do both all at the same time."
Singleton also announced that the station is maintaining its local news commitment planning to hire three full-time news reporters. WNKU's news department was decimated when its only two full-time news employees - Maryanne Zeleznik and Jay Hanselman - jumped to the new WVXU.
"We are going to have a larger news department than we have had in the past and focus on more long-form public affairs programming," he said. "We will continue to concentrate on both sides of the river. But the Northern Kentucky side still tends to get neglected, so we want to give it as much attention as we give to the Ohio side."
Singleton said the station has already hired Steve Hirshberg, a 20-year veteran of local public radio news at WGUC and WVXU. He was not offered a job at the new WVXU.
"We hope Steve's wealth of experience and his big fat Rolodex will come in handy," said Singleton.
WNKU has also hired two other laid off WVXU employees -George Zahn, a 25-year veteran of the station in production and operations and Bob Hanneken, the former WVXU development director, who will have a similar job at WNKU.
The new WNKU format will find a different hour-long news/talk show each weeknight at 5 p.m. starting in mid-September:
Monday the station picks up the BBC's "The Changing World," an international affairs magazine and documentary show.
Tuesday the station has developed a new show, "Business Matters," with local CPA's Crystal Faulkner and Tom Cooney, described as a tax, accounting and entrepreneurial call in advice show that will also feature local business news nuggets.
Wednesday revives the WVXU canceled "Real Live Real Estate" with Vena Jones-Cox and Drew White, a show that has aired for eight years.
Thursday features 10-year WVXU veterans Nathan Bachrach and Edward Finke hosts of "Simply Money."
Friday the station resurrects former WVXU show "Keep Antiquing" with Frank Farmer Loomis.
The new owners of WVXU have taken some criticism with their vision for the station de-emphasizing local programming in lieu of NPR-driven news talk. Singleton thinks WNKU could appeal to disenfranchised WVXU listeners by picking up the four local shows.
"It seems radio is becoming less and less local everyday, so we're excited to be heading in the other direction," Singleton said.
While WNKU is losing NPR programming in the afternoon, and an hour of "Morning Edition," Singleton said the moves are consistent with the station's reputation as the area's only triple-A musical format (adult, album, alternative). It has become the only station in the market that plays new adult pop music, but Singleton says listeners still seem to want information programming.
"Typically triple A (music) hasn't done that well in morning drive and public radio listeners still crave that information as they drive to work. We didn't want to lose everything we've been doing. We have developed a real loyal 'Morning Edition' audience. We think these changes represent the both of both worlds and what are station has become."
Publication date: 08-26-2005
Now if they would just cut back on the bluegrass I would be happy ;)
---
By Rick Bird
Post staff reporter
It would seem that WVXU's loss is WNKU's gain.
The Northern Kentucky University-owned station, WNKU-FM (89.7), has announced a significantly revamped format that will include more musical programming and more local news, talk and public affairs.
In the proverbial falling-dominos scenario, the changes have come about after the new WVXU-FM (91.7) launched this week when new owners Cincinnati Public Radio, Inc. assumed control of the station.
The deal was part of a consolidation that puts WGUC-FM (90.9) and WVXU-FM under one roof. WNKU announced it has picked up four local talk, information and advice shows canceled by WVXU, which has gone to a format driven by programming from National Public Radio. In the process, the new WVXU owners eliminated virtually all of its local block programming.
The WNKU changes mean the station will drop NPR's "All Things Considered" airing from 4 to 7 p.m. In its place the station will air local talk programming in the 5 p.m. hour and move "Fresh Air" from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. That adds three hours of music programming.
In the morning, WNKU will keep the popular NPR "Morning Edition," but will drop out of the show at 8 a.m. instead of 9 a.m., gaining another hour of music.
In short, the WNKU moves add more music, but also increase its local public affairs commitment.
"The strategy is to maintain the 'localness' of public radio as well as add some music which WNKU has been known for," said Ben Singleton, WNKU general manager. "So we have been able to do both all at the same time."
Singleton also announced that the station is maintaining its local news commitment planning to hire three full-time news reporters. WNKU's news department was decimated when its only two full-time news employees - Maryanne Zeleznik and Jay Hanselman - jumped to the new WVXU.
"We are going to have a larger news department than we have had in the past and focus on more long-form public affairs programming," he said. "We will continue to concentrate on both sides of the river. But the Northern Kentucky side still tends to get neglected, so we want to give it as much attention as we give to the Ohio side."
Singleton said the station has already hired Steve Hirshberg, a 20-year veteran of local public radio news at WGUC and WVXU. He was not offered a job at the new WVXU.
"We hope Steve's wealth of experience and his big fat Rolodex will come in handy," said Singleton.
WNKU has also hired two other laid off WVXU employees -George Zahn, a 25-year veteran of the station in production and operations and Bob Hanneken, the former WVXU development director, who will have a similar job at WNKU.
The new WNKU format will find a different hour-long news/talk show each weeknight at 5 p.m. starting in mid-September:
Monday the station picks up the BBC's "The Changing World," an international affairs magazine and documentary show.
Tuesday the station has developed a new show, "Business Matters," with local CPA's Crystal Faulkner and Tom Cooney, described as a tax, accounting and entrepreneurial call in advice show that will also feature local business news nuggets.
Wednesday revives the WVXU canceled "Real Live Real Estate" with Vena Jones-Cox and Drew White, a show that has aired for eight years.
Thursday features 10-year WVXU veterans Nathan Bachrach and Edward Finke hosts of "Simply Money."
Friday the station resurrects former WVXU show "Keep Antiquing" with Frank Farmer Loomis.
The new owners of WVXU have taken some criticism with their vision for the station de-emphasizing local programming in lieu of NPR-driven news talk. Singleton thinks WNKU could appeal to disenfranchised WVXU listeners by picking up the four local shows.
"It seems radio is becoming less and less local everyday, so we're excited to be heading in the other direction," Singleton said.
While WNKU is losing NPR programming in the afternoon, and an hour of "Morning Edition," Singleton said the moves are consistent with the station's reputation as the area's only triple-A musical format (adult, album, alternative). It has become the only station in the market that plays new adult pop music, but Singleton says listeners still seem to want information programming.
"Typically triple A (music) hasn't done that well in morning drive and public radio listeners still crave that information as they drive to work. We didn't want to lose everything we've been doing. We have developed a real loyal 'Morning Edition' audience. We think these changes represent the both of both worlds and what are station has become."
Publication date: 08-26-2005