Catching up on the News

It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged here.  My apologies!  I’ve been away from my desk for a couple of months, including two fascinating weeks in Indonesia. Here are some tidbits that came across the transom during that time: Edmond OK, from edmondsun.com: Classical Radio KCSC 90.1 FM has adopted new call letters, KUCO, to better reflect the partnership between the radio station and the University of Central Oklahoma, its licensee. KCSC was named for Central State College, the university’s official name when the station was created. “We have always felt … Continue Reading

The Continent’s Only Radio Orchestra Back in Business?

A year ago we reported on the demise of the CBC Radio Orchestra.  Now it looks as though the orchestra may have new life.  Time will tell, but the orchestra members have reunited with the help of  Montreal venture capitalist Philippe Labelle, and while they may not have their airtime restored (airtime is expensive real estate!) , they are at least collaborating with the CBC for a broadcast or two.  Instead, the old orchestra with a new name ( “National Broadcast Orchestra”) is going to be on YouTube and on its own website.

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A roundup of fiscal woes

Yet again, much of this roundup of happenings in the world of classical (and jazz) radio relates to money — or a lack thereof.

:: The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. announced this week that it will cut 800 jobs to offset a $171 million budget shortfall. And it could cut even more jobs if the Canadian government rejects a CBC plan to sell $125 million in assets. The CBC’s television arm, which makes up 83 percent of the network’s budget for English-language programming, will see proportionally more cuts, but radio will also take its share. “Repeats will become more frequent to fill the void,” reports the Toronto Globe and Mail.

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Could CBC cut more classical?

On this final day of 2008, I’ll just point out a few articles I turned up recently that might be of interest. First is a piece in the Toronto Star in which entertainment columnist Greg Quill (an ideal name for a journalist) cheers on the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.’s controversial changes to its Radio 2 format.

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