Real Cuts And Rumors Of Cuts
by Brian Maloney, December 19th, 2008 at 06:51pm
If I had a buck for every rumor of a broadcast person about to get the sack that has emerged over the past week, we could fund Deval Patrick’s Cadillac expenses for the next year. And that’s saying something.
Over the years, layoff and format change rumors have always tormented radio (and TV) people during the holiday period. The difference in 2008 is that they are now taken much more seriously, leading to unnecessary anguish. That’s why I generally don’t write about them here unless there is a compelling reason to do so.
Let’s face it: there’s not much left to cut in the devastated broadcasting business. But I do wonder (as have some in our comments section) whether some of these near-bankrupt outfits can still afford hefty talent contracts signed a year or two ago when the world was a very different place. It seems unlikely.
We’ve seen some weird moves in several cities over the past week, where programmers leave bankrupt or deeply troubled firms for others that might (emphasis on MIGHT) have a bit more time to spare. It’s all about buying some extra time to remain employed a few months, or perhaps a whole year longer.
Meanwhile, you know things are bad when the bloated public television stations are cutting staff, especially at WGBH, even if it is confined to the underlings. It’s just 12 out of 960 (!!!) employees, but the symbolic nature of any cutbacks in that arena is still significant.
I’ve long wondered how they were able to pay for that massive, sparkling new headquarters at Shoe Central in Brighton, right next to Entercom Boston’s dwindling operation.
Not enough government funding? Or the support of “viewers like you”?
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17 Comments Add your own
1. ChrisNH | December 19th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I generally abhor those pledge breaks where the hosts breathlessly describe the latest Yanni video their station is showing and gush over every nuanced note. Every ninth sentence or so they say something along the lines of, “So, pick up those phones now and make your generous pledge to support great programming like this!” I want to hear what it sounds like when people don’t pick up their phones and make generous pledges. They’re too busy making sure Deval and Obama get theirs. Normally cheerleaders for the Liberal side, PBS stations must be in total angst that their fortunes will plummet now that ‘their side’ is in total power.
2. Joe from Brighton | December 19th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
The building is amazing until you consider the contents of the place.
I wonder how many of those 960 moved out of the garage at noon, or even bothered to show up for “work” on Friday?
3. mojoe | December 19th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Since pledge time is the only time they play “Alone in the Wilderness” I’ll mute the incessant begging and deal with the breaks in the show.
4. NHradiofan | December 20th, 2008 at 12:07 am
mojoe
You are right about Alone in the Wilderness. It is the best show ever on PBS. I could watch it forever.
Did anyone else read about the new New Hampshire Public Radio’s digital studios? They just piss me off so much I can’t believe it. They operate virtually oblivious to the realities of the marketplace and look down their noses at those in commercial radio (AKA “the people in the radio business who are forced to subsidize their competition with their tax money”) Now they have new “digital broadcasts” which is misleading but, hey, that’s what the article said so I’m going with it.
I remember when I was covering the inauguration of NH Gov. Craig Benson at the Statehouse several years ago and I was set up next to the NHPR beautiful people. I had to listen to them talking about how much they loved their new studios and their state of the art equipment and how they were starting their new hires out at 30K per year. They really seemed to have no idea whatsoever what the real world of radio was all about. They operate in this insular, smug, chardonnay and brie world where dirty things like commercials and conservative political ideology are to be laughed at.
When is the government going to stop subsidizing Liberal propaganda masquerading as high brow news? I am pretty much sick of it.
5. Chris | December 20th, 2008 at 7:59 am
“When is the government going to stop subsidizing Liberal propaganda masquerading as high-brow news?”
Well, don’t look for it to happen in the next four years.
6. Celtic Frost | December 20th, 2008 at 9:16 am
I, for one, will enjoy the next 4 years (and likely 8 years)!
Multilateral foreign policy based on negotiation, marriage equality, universal health care, global climate change action, investing in a green economy, card check law, reaffirmation of affirmative action, etc. It all adds up to a progressive’s dream!
Off to Starbucks now…
7. bob | December 20th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Celtic Frost…
You just keep proving…with every post…what an idiot you really are. Thanks for providing a laugh for the rest of us! You clown!
8. ChrisNH | December 20th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
I also will enjoy the next four (not eight) years as Liberals wring their hands in angst when they don’t ‘get’ what they thought they were ‘promised,’ and when every single bad thing that happens to this country will properly and rightly be blamed on Democrats.
9. Jay-Z | December 20th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Everything Celtic Frost wants Celtic Frost will get - but at the expense of national security (reduction of military), morality (homosexual advocacy), health care (socialist healthcare [ever been to Canada for healthcare - ouch]), higher taxes (everyone has to pay for socialism), lack of choice (for the good of the planet) and racism (affirmative action is racism). Unfortunately, 70% of Massachusetts residents share CF’s goals.
The liberal kooks that were too young to understand or remember those great Jimmy Carter years will have an opportunity to experience them first-hand. Massachusetts has a lot of overpaid (single, renting) liberals that won’t feel the impact so much (18% interest rates are meaningless to these people because they have no interest in buying a home), but it’ll be interesting to see how many of them are still rooting for Democrats 4 years from now when they’re out of work for months, etc., or the companies they work for are out of business.
10. the real Barbara | December 21st, 2008 at 12:43 pm
But, but, but, ChrisNH, now that obamalamadingdong will be the new pres, we don’t have to worry about gas prices or mortgages or paying any of our bills cuz the big ZERO will take care of it……….the next four years are going to be worry free cuz the messiah will take care of us……………../sarcasm OFF
11. Chris | December 21st, 2008 at 2:32 pm
you’re going to have a ‘bear arms’ revolution if all this bail-out ‘mania’ leaves individuals behind. This ‘Magic Negro’ (so sayeth some LA Times hack columnist) loves throwing out the coy phrase, ‘American People,’ yet the bail outs are going to Liberal institutions…not to the ‘American People.’
12. Anti brian | December 21st, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Once agin Brian if you bothered to do a little research before you posted your mis-information you would know that:
1. The new GBH building was built with the funds from the sale of the 12 older building onn Western Ave to harvard and a seperate capital campaign, Not one cent of viewer funds of government money went towars the new building.
2. Do you have any idea how much money GBh gets from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting? I do why don’t you pretend to be a real reporter and look it up.
3. I take the quality programs with out commercial interruption like Frontline, American Experience and Nova over Cable shows any day.
4. As for all that liberal bias. It is funny that PBs ran William Buckley’s show for 25 years along with The Mclaughlin Group. The Newshour is the most unbiased new program on TV
13. Celtic Frost | December 21st, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Anti Brian, although I am one of the biggest libs in here, I don’t like you dissin’ my guy Bri.
Brian is a good egg and a smart guy. Plus, he’s not beholden to anyone (not even the vast right-wing conspiracy that frequents this blog).
So ease up, sparky, — might I suggest a nice cosmo to relax you? Merry merry!
14. BigBish | December 22nd, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Is PBS still on? Since there are 40 other better knowledge based channels on my cable system for me, kids and everyone else, I haven’t seen it for about a decade.
15. bob | December 22nd, 2008 at 6:51 pm
30+ years ago, PBS started stealing the minds of our children while we unwittingly sat them in front of Sesame Street so they could become indoctrinated into Liberal thinking. For instance, why was Sesame St. teaching American kids Spanish and Hispanic culture instead of helping the newly arrived Hispanics to assimilate into the American culture by learning English? Sound far out?? I don’t think so. TV is the worst type of parenting/babysitting, especially Liberal TV. PBS called it “embracing diversity”. Uh huh.
16. Jay-B | December 24th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Anti Brian: “4. As for all that liberal bias. It is funny that PBs ran William Buckley’s show for 25 years”
Perhaps, but they’d never let a show like that on the air now.
The only thing that would coerce me into sending money to PBS would be if Rush Limbaugh had a show on PBS. 3 hours of Rush on PBS would give a little balance to the 21 other hours of crap that is on.
17. agingcynic | December 28th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Jay B: the beautiful thing about being a “progressive” is that you get to start with your conclusion and end with your premise. Social programs fail only due to lack of “investment” by the taxpapyers. And they say WE are backward….
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