Radio news wasteland
In what I suspect is the karmic reward for our groaning over pledge drives, it's official--you can't get talk public radio in DC on Sunday mornings.
For years now, WAMU (88.5 FM) has frustratingly broadcast a steady stream of bluegrass morning 'til night on Sundays. I got nothing against bluegrass. But a little Weekend Edition Sunday would be nice, maybe? How about This American Life or somethin'? Mix it up a bit?
Until recently, those craving Liane Hansen's dulcet newsvoice on Sundays could still tune in to WETA (90.9 FM), the Virginia-based NPR affliate, to get Weekend Edition and other shows. But now 90.9 has gone all classical. Hourly NPR news only. WTF?
I am sure that DC's classical music lovers are grateful to WETA. The station switched its programming back to classical after DC's only classical station shut down in January. (WP) And I wouldn't be surprised if the type of people who listen to a lot of classical radio are also the type of people who pledge big bucks to public radio stations, so it makes business sense.
But what about the unserved market of Sunday morning radio news junkies? Who's looking out for us?
For years now, WAMU (88.5 FM) has frustratingly broadcast a steady stream of bluegrass morning 'til night on Sundays. I got nothing against bluegrass. But a little Weekend Edition Sunday would be nice, maybe? How about This American Life or somethin'? Mix it up a bit?
Until recently, those craving Liane Hansen's dulcet newsvoice on Sundays could still tune in to WETA (90.9 FM), the Virginia-based NPR affliate, to get Weekend Edition and other shows. But now 90.9 has gone all classical. Hourly NPR news only. WTF?
I am sure that DC's classical music lovers are grateful to WETA. The station switched its programming back to classical after DC's only classical station shut down in January. (WP) And I wouldn't be surprised if the type of people who listen to a lot of classical radio are also the type of people who pledge big bucks to public radio stations, so it makes business sense.
But what about the unserved market of Sunday morning radio news junkies? Who's looking out for us?
Labels: NPR
posted by Waage on Sunday, February 25, 2007
3 Comments:
Tut, tut, it's not like you're missing A Prairie Home Companion. Now, that would be so truly sad.
You obviously have an Internet connection, so just find KCRW or another west coast station and you can listen to Weekend Edition on line. I've done just that since WETA went back to Classical music. Any number of online public stations carry the NPR schedule and its easy to find one for your best weenend listening time - or any other day\night of the week.
It's a good call, anonymous, and that is typically what I do with any number of public radio shows--esp. This American Life. Unfortunately, no internet at home currently. But don't you think it's a little *weird* that in DC of all places there's nowhere to get Weekend Edition Sunday on the radio?
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