Updated 9/9/09 SYRACUSE -- If you're a fan of "The Funk Show" on Syracuse University's NPR affiliate WAER 88.3, bad news. Last weekend's show was the final show. The hosts say they were notified by management -- via e-mail -- that they're being replaced by NPR network programming.
Our thanks to an observant CNYRadio.com reader, who pointed out "Funk Show" hosts Adam Gold and K Matthew had their own website for the show at syracusefunk.com -- and they actually posted the termination e-mail they received from WAER programmer Ron Ockert the day after their final show:
Gentlemen,
After much consideration and thoughtful analysis of the Saturday evening time slot, we have decided to make a programming change effective September 5, 2009.
There are many reasons why we believe that it is time for the Funk Show to end.
1. Consistency is very important to our listeners and the show no longer provides that. The program changes from week to week and thus fails to meet listener expectations.
2. We must try to maintain market share by serving our core listeners. The Funk Show is fringe programming and appeals to a fringe audience. We need to try to stabilize this day part and retain the Saturday afternoon listeners.
3. Listenership and support have been declining over the last year.We will be adding the long running public radio program Mountain Stage. We are seeing ever increasing listenership to World Café and Common Threads and believe that Mountain Stage will appeal to this same audience.
I want to thank you for all the time and dedication that you have given the station.
Ron Ockert
Director of Programming & Operations
WAER - FM 88.3 FM, HD, HD2
Music, News & NPR from Syracuse University
795 Ostrom Ave.
Syracuse, NY 13244
Phone: (315) 443-3538
Fax: (315) 443-2148
Email: rgockert@syr.edu
Web: waer.org <http://waer.org>
Following the note, the hosts thanked listeners, apologized for not having the chance to do a "farewell show" and added, concerned listeners could contact Ockert at the address in his e-mail.
Updated on 9/9/09: Interestingly, our tipster (who is not one of the hosts, if you were wondering) points out that the replacement show, Mountain Stage, is already carried in the Syracuse market by one of WCNY's HD subchannels. WCNY Program Director Pete McElvein confirms, the show airs Saturdays at midnight on WCNY-HD3. (We had previously passed along incorrect second-hand information that the show was carried on WCNY-HD2.)
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Beige. I think I'll paint the country beige.
Help me understand why a program (The Funk Show) averageing less than 500 listeners per hour being taken off the air constitutes news. Some might call it good business practice.