Re: [Swprograms] Interesting BBC Article

["Richard Cuff" <richard@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

This was a small public radio station in Oregon run largely as a BBCWS relay
by its founder before the days of PRI.

This has been brewing for more than a year, I believe...

The founder for one reason or another wants to sell the station...I might be
able to dig up more info tomorrow.

Rich Cuff / Allentown, PA


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ulis Fleming" <ulis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Shortwave programming discussion" <swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2004 11:00 PM
Subject: [Swprograms] Interesting BBC Article


Thought you guys might find this one interesting.  Wonder if this has
anything to do with BBC stopping NA service on SW (probably not) or these
are just super devoted listeners?

From: http://www.times-standard.com/Stories/0,1413,127~2896~2107771,00.html#

Eureka Times-Standard

Friends of the BBC call on JPR to hold local public meeting
By Meghan Vogel The Times-Standard


Sunday, April 25, 2004 -

ARCATA -- A group trying to stop the sale of local radio station KZPN-FM to
Jefferson Public Radio is requesting the Oregon-based radio company hold a
public meeting in the area.

Friends of the BBC, so-called because KZPN airs British Broadcasting Company
World Service broadcasts, has been trying to stop the sale of the radio
station to JPR since December. Now the group is calling on JPR's Executive
Director Ron Kramer to organize a public meeting to listen to what the
community would like to see done with the station.

The group is in the process of appealing the Federal Communications
Commission's decision to transfer the local radio station's broadcast
license to JPR.

The Oregon radio station recently sent out a "frequently asked questions"
fact sheet explaining its purchase of the Bayside station. Questions JPR
answered include why they are purchasing KZPN, what will be broadcast on the
station after the purchase is complete and how those broadcasts will be
chosen.

In response, Friends of the BBC answered the same questions in a 10-page
e-mail alleging JPR is ignoring what the community wants done with the
station. The group claims JPR's planned broadcasts would duplicate what is
already being played by other local stations -- KMUD, KHSU and KHUM.

Friends of the BBC are also alleging JPR's original purchase of the KZPN
"may or may not be legal." JPR contends they received a call from KZPN's
board of directors asking them to purchase the radio station. Friends of the
BBC say the station's current owners neglected to tell their listeners the
station was for sale.

The most contentious issue raised about the sale is KZPN's broadcasting of
the BBC, the only broadcasts of their kind in the United States to air 24
hours, seven days a week.

JPR's fact sheet says KZPN airs the BBC under the authority of a letter
given to the current owner before the BBC assigned exclusive U.S.
distribution rights to Public Radio International. For that reason, the JPR
fact sheet states, the current BBC programming is not transferable to a new
owner. However, the current BBC broadcasts could be aired through a "far
more costly" licensing agreement with Public Radio International.

Friends of the BBC say the new licensing agreement would only amount to $500
per year. Currently, KZPN broadcasts the Caribbean feed of BBC World
Service, instead of the "U.S.-centric radio feed" offered by Public Radio
International.

"Our understanding is that BBC in London has been allowing this (the
Caribbean feed) to take place for many years," reads the Friends of the
BBC's response to JPR. "Who's to say whether they would or would not allow
it to continue with new owners?"

Ideally, the group would like to have the station for themselves to
broadcast World Service programs from around the globe. Friends of the BBC
have raised $15,000 in conditional pledges to purchase the station and will
continue to fight the FCC's approved license transfer to JPR.



--
**************************************************************
Ulis R. Fleming
Radio Amateur: K3LU (ex: WB3LUI & TI5NW)
Home Page:  http://www.radiointel.com
Maryland USA
**************************************************************
--


________________________________________________________________
$0 Bannerless Web Hosting, 10 POP and Web Email Accounts, & more
Get It Now At www.doteasy.com



_______________________________________________
Swprograms mailing list
Swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://dallas.hard-core-dx.com/mailman/listinfo/swprograms

To unsubscribe:  Send an E-mail to
swprograms-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe, or visit the URL
shown above.

_______________________________________________
Swprograms mailing list
Swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://dallas.hard-core-dx.com/mailman/listinfo/swprograms

To unsubscribe:  Send an E-mail to  swprograms-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe, or visit the URL shown above.