Ruth Tighe made it to today's Saipan Tribune headline reporting the prompting closure of the 10-year old public radio station in the CNMI--KRNM soon. I had the chance to speak with its station general manager before but then it was just mere cost cutting measures that shutting down was not in the picture nor an option. If this were true, I'd say that Carl Pogue has given a great fight to retain the station on Saipan. Believe it or not, I would say there are more listeners to this station than the mainstream ones.
For the complete report, read Ruth's article here.
The Reveler
6 comments:
They do have unique news and talk content and the music they play is not played on other mainstream stations, however, I've always wondered why they didn't incorporate the station as a more college oriented activity. By this I mean simply a "college station", where outside of the news and talk content, students produce and air their own shows and play their own "college" music. College radio is known for having cutting edge alternative music and is also known for having fierce public support - something KRNM obviously doesn't have.
Sure there's a small group out their who tune in for the Jazz and Classical, but the reality is, the majority of their listeners tune in for the news and talk programs.
I will be sad to see them go and will miss Car Talk, Harry Shearer and other programs.. but frankly, I'm amazed they lasted as long as they did.
that's true. im a communications major with minor in broadcasting and yes the community radio station there has lasted because the university has incorporated it with the students doing programs for the community.
i guess if there were student djs here, at least one to three shows a day, it would have gained more community support.
Having a reliable repeater transmitter and/or pumping more kilowatts through the existing sytem would have helped as well. Their signal is terrible anywhere north of the Capital Hill road intersection and equally bad in many places on the 'back side'. I would have been a more staunch listener but for the crappy signal. Perhaps others would have as well.
KRNM will be missed. They do broadcast on two channels, 88.9 FM and 89.1 FM. 89.1 FM is pretty clear even at the Last Command Post.
"more listeners.....than the mainstream ones." No way.
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