and the RATS, take another one in the.........HA ha!!!
Posted on 09/21/2013 7:27:44 PM PDT by Drango
The financial stranglehold on Pacifica is taking down Free Speech Radio News, a progressive news show that relied on the five-station network for the bulk of its operating costs.
The show, airing weekdays on 100 stations, will close production Sept. 27 and lay off its staff, a core of part-timers and an international network of nearly 100 stringers.
Owed nearly $200,000 in back payments by the California-based Pacifica Foundation, FSRN’s board of directors decided Sept. 13 to shutter the program, holding out hope that FSRN could be revived under a different production model.
“Our fortunes have always been closely linked to Pacifica’s fortunes,” said Russell Gragg, managing editor. “So when Pacifica hits problems, its troubles trickle down to us as well. And we just hit a point where there’s not enough money in the bank to produce the show past Sept. 27.”
Cash-strapped Pacifica also owes $2 million in back fees to the producers of another flagship program featuring progressive views, Democracy Now! In addition to its debt to producers, Pacifica can’t meet payroll and maintain facilities for two of its stations: WBAI in New York and WPFW in Washington, D.C.
According to a memo from FSRN’s board, Pacifica was contractually obligated to cover the bulk of the show’s operating costs. In 2008, Pacifica paid $50,000 per month to FSRN, but the foundation renegotiated its agreement twice this year to reduce its payments — to $25,000 and, more recently, $10,000.
The renegotiated contracts and absence of other funding made FSRN financially unsustainable. Its monthly production costs total $36,000.
According to the board’s memo, FSRN’s bank balance as of Sept. 13 was $32,000. The cost of closing down production, including related legal fees, will eat up $29,000.
The show’s demise doesn’t mean FSRN will disband, according to the memo. The board is considering alternatives, such as producing a headline news service, special features or a weekly news magazine.
“We’re not throwing in the towel,” Gragg said. “Everyone involved with FSRN remains committed to the idea behind it. In one fashion or another, it will continue to go forward.”
Good riddance
Liberal radio always ends up this way because no one wants to listen to a bunch of whiny a-holes complain about how much this country sucks!
When I get exceptionally bored and am feeling rather cynical I will turn on KPFA in Berserkely...to see how much more WACKED they have become since my last...”visit”
the home to shows discussing the Legacy of deceased thug TOOKIE WILLIAMS ...it deserves anything but OUR TAX MONEY
Funny. Every time liberals try to emulate conservatives in nearly any activity relating to politics, the result is like something from John Carpenter’s “The Thing”, horribly mutated with not long to live. They fail every time, especially when they try their hand at any kind of associated money-making venture.
I am not speaking of someone like Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, I am talking about liberal talk shows that compete with the likes of Rush Limbaugh.
Wait....what would a liberal know about free speech? They spend all their time trying to prevent it.
how can they not be beating rush limbaugh? the socialefts scream about how the country is so progressive and liberal.
I too sometimes listen to KPFA in Berserkely. They have a killer zydeco program that gets your foot stomping. For the most part I have to bleach my ears out however.
Ahhhhh....Too bad. Soooo sad. /s
$36K a month ain't much of a payroll, not to mention overhead for opening an office door and turning on the lights.
Whoof! I'm guessing these people aren't MBAs or haven't run commercial kitchens.
/johnny
the programming has seemingly always been real sketchy hasnt it.
on the one hand they have had programs that play music ya just dont find anywhere else...and on the other they have had thoseweek long tributes to WInnie Mandela.../s
they were the first radio station in the bay area to play -[c]rap “music” and on the other hand they have had show featuring zzydeco Old TImey Country Music..and on the rare occasion less than well known Classics
but ....the socio political stuff is MIGHTY TOXIC
Remember none of these filthy deadbeats listeners work so $36,000 via fundraising is a bridge too far. I’m discounting the trust-fund babies that give ‘em some funding.
We talking hard core slackers here.
How incinvenient - why don’t the big libs like algore just write the check?
Pacifica decided to spend tons of cash they did not have on on-air “talent’ and thought their supporters would pick up the tab if they begged endlessly - which caused them to lose some of their public funding too.
LOL
ha ha!
I used to listen to SW a lot. One of the commercial SW stations would run a Pacific program or two on during the week. I could only take so much of the lies and BS and brain-dead policy wishes and stances.
There’s all too many of those that would probably listen.
Just not many advertisers willing to blow ad money on that type of consumer.
You must be outdated...or something.
Pacifica: The horse & buggy whip of radio.
they gotta pay for the Debbie Downer Show somehow...
I listened to the Watergate hearings on KPFK in Lost Angeles.
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