WGBH, long a national powerhouse in public television, took a step this week to becoming a national force in public radio as well.
The Boston station said Thursday that it has acquired Public Radio International, the Minneapolis company that distributes some of the best-known public radio programs, including “This American Life,” to nearly 900 affiliates across the country and on satellite radio, reaching more than 16 million listeners. PRI also produces its own programs.
Comments
It is becoming more and more obvious that WGBH's management is attemting to push WBUR out of the public radio spectrum in Greater Boston. Instead of being satisfied with a high quality television flagship role, the current GBH management thinks they belong at the wheel of NPR/PBS. The inbred casting of some of the featured WGBH tv programs - especially Greater Boston - prove that there is small coterie of personalities who seem likely in a leadership role of a group that is trying to seize the public radio situation. With WBUR's strong news and talk programming such a narrowly focus, perhaps GBH will be force to revert back to its mixture of music, news and talk instead of tryng to take over all.
In the past when I operated my own business I was a "major" contributor to WBUR. As such I was offered a tour of the station. As my guide showed me around she said, "Oh, there's Bill Littlefield. I'm sure you want to meet him." Well, yes and no. I REALLY wanted to meet Robin Young, one of the finest reporters and interviewers I've ever seen or heard. Her velvet intelligence and respectful (but now fawning) treatment of people and points of view, make her a true star. My first reaction to this news was that somehow she and "Here and Now" would be threatened. That would be a catastrophe. Especially with the Fox News trained Emily Rooney sitting in the GBH anteroom. Ms. Rooney's main and not to be ignored contribution to radio has been to bring like Callie Crossley and Kara Miller along, neither of whom share Rooney's snide, gossipy, faux-everyman and anti-intellectual manner. I am still seething at her scurrilous treatment of James Levine. WBUR is always the first choice on the radio, occasionally supplemented by GBH, split between music and talk. 90% of our TV watching is on WGBH...including "Greater Boston" on Fridays only. And if The Daily Show was on GBH...it would be 98%. My wife and I make monthly contributions to both WBuR and WGBH...but for different reasons.
I am in complete agreement with 'nahantjim'****** Emily "Rooney's snide, gossipy, faux-everyman and anti-intellectual manner" is like someone scraping their nails on a chalk board. This announcer cannot even articulate her words. It is bad enough mumbles Menino is Boston mayor - but - having Emily Rooney host 'Greater Boston' is an insult to the average viewer's intelligence. How in God's name did this woman get this job? Now, that is the $64,0000 question.