Thanks for your comments, Richard. You were always a very capable and listenable program host. And I wish you were back. But I understand why you are not.
I care a lot. Not enough to donate any of my diminishing funds to the current powers in charge. But I care a lot about classical music, and since moving to Green Valley almost 5 years ago, have anguished over the direction that KUAT-FM has taken. Don't the people-in-charge get it? The listeners are NOT happy with the departure of David Harrington, and most of the part-timers since then have not been worth - well, I won't say it.
You know a lot more than I do about the intimate operations of the station. But broadcasting of classical music in southern AZ cannot be allowed to die out. What needs to be done to stop this from happening? I am an accountant by profession, so know little about the technicalities of running a radio staion.
You are a pro: is there anything that can be done?
I first started listening to KUAT-FM in the 1990's when we came to visit. When WCAL-FM in Northfield, MN discontinued online services (we lived in Utah at the time) I switched my office online music to KUAT-FM.
Then, there was in-house programming all during the day, and well into the evening some days. There was an announcing staff of some 8-10 individuals, all of whom seemed quite knowledgeable about classical music - and all of whom could pass WFMT's announcing test!
Things have obviously changed - and NOT for the better. Now, there is one full-time announcer, and a bunch of non-descript individuals whose ability seems to range from barely satisfactory to somewhere below mediocre. I have repeatedly asked, via e-mail, for the station to publish information on its website regarding its announcers (I prefer to call them program hosts, since they are really professionals) with never a reply, and certainly no results on the web site.
The loss of David Harrington is, to me, tragic. He has the perfect voice for a classical music station; he is extremely knowledgeable about classical music; and he is no longer on the air. What a pity.
I have no way of knowing who is at fault for all this, although there is some insight in the previous posts.
I suggest the management of KUAT-FM check out the website of SaveWCAL; this group has filed against St Olaf College for selling the station to MPR, based on the fact that the accumulated donations to the station constituted a charitable trust, and that using these funds and any proceeds from them for any other purpose other than broadcasting classical music was a violation of the public interest. And I think they will win.
By the way, what is David Harington doing now? I would love to hear his voice on the air again. If it is available online, and anybody knows, please let us know.
And Richard Hetland, you were great when you were on the air a couple of years ago. Wish we could hear you again.
Recent Comments
I care a lot. Not enough to donate any of my diminishing funds to the current powers in charge. But I care a lot about classical music, and since moving to Green Valley almost 5 years ago, have anguished over the direction that KUAT-FM has taken. Don't the people-in-charge get it? The listeners are NOT happy with the departure of David Harrington, and most of the part-timers since then have not been worth - well, I won't say it.
You know a lot more than I do about the intimate operations of the station. But broadcasting of classical music in southern AZ cannot be allowed to die out. What needs to be done to stop this from happening? I am an accountant by profession, so know little about the technicalities of running a radio staion.
You are a pro: is there anything that can be done?
I first started listening to KUAT-FM in the 1990's when we came to visit. When WCAL-FM in Northfield, MN discontinued online services (we lived in Utah at the time) I switched my office online music to KUAT-FM.
Then, there was in-house programming all during the day, and well into the evening some days. There was an announcing staff of some 8-10 individuals, all of whom seemed quite knowledgeable about classical music - and all of whom could pass WFMT's announcing test!
Things have obviously changed - and NOT for the better. Now, there is one full-time announcer, and a bunch of non-descript individuals whose ability seems to range from barely satisfactory to somewhere below mediocre. I have repeatedly asked, via e-mail, for the station to publish information on its website regarding its announcers (I prefer to call them program hosts, since they are really professionals) with never a reply, and certainly no results on the web site.
The loss of David Harrington is, to me, tragic. He has the perfect voice for a classical music station; he is extremely knowledgeable about classical music; and he is no longer on the air. What a pity.
I have no way of knowing who is at fault for all this, although there is some insight in the previous posts.
I suggest the management of KUAT-FM check out the website of SaveWCAL; this group has filed against St Olaf College for selling the station to MPR, based on the fact that the accumulated donations to the station constituted a charitable trust, and that using these funds and any proceeds from them for any other purpose other than broadcasting classical music was a violation of the public interest. And I think they will win.
By the way, what is David Harington doing now? I would love to hear his voice on the air again. If it is available online, and anybody knows, please let us know.
And Richard Hetland, you were great when you were on the air a couple of years ago. Wish we could hear you again.