Goodbye to WETA’s radio news
DC public media outlet WETA accepted an offer from radio conglomerate Bonneville that they just couldn’t refuse. Now the radio format, which used to be news from the BBC, NPR, and some local issue talk shows, will be replaced by 24-hour classical music. This is apparently the result of an agreement between Bonneville and the public radio station to pick up Bonneville’s WGMS classical radio material and format, which was losing money.
While I’m definitely in favor of classical music and think public radio might be the best place for it, giving up the news programs will mean a critical loss for the DC radio-listening public. It’s pretty sad when the seat of our government and the home of intelligent, diverse people and cultural resources can’t keep alive more than one public news radio station. I guess I’ll be getting my NPR stuff from WAMU now. It’s a decent station but it caters more to the academic crowd, doesn’t do as much local interest programming, and doesn’t carry some of the shows I’ve grown to really like.
The only other radio station I listen to sometimes is WTOP, which is a local independent outlet. Unfortunately, other than providing decent traffic and weather coverage, WTOP is a steaming pile of crap, with stories and features that cater pretty much exclusively to white people living in the Virginia exurbs.
January 25th, 2007 13:02
The entire staff of the American Association of Museums (63) wants to express its gratefulness for bringing back classical music to the D.C.area!
January 25th, 2007 13:05
I am thrilled to have classical music back on the air ! Keep the beautiful music coming!
January 28th, 2007 14:47
Sunday morning today with Morning Edition Sunday was pretty bleak. WAMU had bluegrass, WETA had standard classical, and WTOP I can only take for the 2 minutes of weather and traffic. It was CDs then CSPAN for me. It will be interesting to see how this shakes out. That said, WAMU’s Saturday line-up is pretty good now..
January 28th, 2007 20:32
Yeah, I started listening to WAMU and it’s actually better than I remember it being. And it looks as though they’ve suddenly picked up a bunch of new shows - BBC Newshour, Fresh Air, and Prairie Home Companion. I had also forgotten how much I like the Kojo Namdi show at lunchtime. Too bad about Rebecca Roberts’ show, I thought it was kind of upbeat and made DC seem like a fun and interesting place.
January 28th, 2007 20:37
Oh, and also, having classical music on the radio is a great thing - I wouldn’t want it to be completely unavailable! I hope that WETA does more than play the same old “Top 40″ of classical music over and over again, which is what they had on WGMS. You know what station I love? WBJC 91.5 out of Baltimore, which comes in pretty well at my house. Now that is a station where true lovers of classical music come together to party.
January 29th, 2007 17:46
First we lost my favorite jazz station: WPFW. Now, we’re losing WAMU’s great programming as well? Don’t get me wrong: I love a good classical station. But, my brain needs food. It craves variety, insight, information, broadened interests. WAMU and WETA do that for me. I can find other alternatives for my classical fix - WBJC - for instance - but WAMU’s current programming is not so easily replaced.
I’ll miss Prarie Home Companion,however, I’ll continue to listen to WAMU. Actually, I don’t have much choice. My home and car radios are stuck on WAMU, WETA and WTOP (gotta have that weather and traffic). My TV long ago became ashamed of itself and only turns on long enough to air “Mad Money”.
January 31st, 2007 11:23
Don’t worry, WAMU is staying alive - it’s WETA that’s gone over to the classical music format. And I’m glad to see that WAMU is adding some new shows to its lineup, ones that I used to listen to on WETA.
I like your comment about your TV becoming ashamed of itself
What a great characterization. I am currently being spoiled by ReplayTV (a Tivo-like service) which allows me to pretty much exclusively watch the Gilmore Girls and the Daily Show.
January 31st, 2007 12:10
I’m surprised no one is talking about “All Things Considered”. This has been a favorite for many years. How do we get it now? Ditto Car Talk.
February 1st, 2007 10:43
WAMU has both ATC and Car Talk. Hooray! here is some more information about how WAMU is changing their lineup to include some things that were previously on WETA.
February 10th, 2007 20:29
I was one who was sad to see the loss of classical music when WETA switched originally. Boy was I surprised with what they did!
I loved the news and talk programming.
Now, I can’t believe they got rid of all those wonderful programs we couldn’t otherwise hear from PRI and NPR: Intersections, Day to Day, the around town shows. They really made a first-class station out of it. They out WAMUed AMU. In addition if I missed part of a program on one station, I was assured to be able to catch up with it on the other. I can’t believe they scrapped all that. Diversity is the key and that’s gone. In addition, Sundays are bleak. Where are we going to hear LeAnne Hanson? It’s a travesty to allow Mary Cliff only two late hours. Thank the Lordy for Tom Cole on ‘PFW!
-MMoser