Article in the Wash. Post sez that WETA (90.9 FM) management is thinking of switching to public affairs format (news, talk, public affairs) and dropping classical music.
While I think this is unfortunate, I'll admit to tuning into WETA often for the public affairs programming that they carry. Much of it is similar to WAMU (88.5 FM). Programs like "On the Media", "Studio 360" and "Fresh Air Weekend".
If WETA does go public affairs whole hog, then I'd hope they'd do some local-oriented programming. Maybe they could resurrect the local arts show, "Around Town" (or whatever it was called).
There're some interesting Baltimore angles to the story. For example, the new program director came from WEAA (88.9 FM), the Morgan St. station. What's noteworthy, perhaps, is that he has little background in classical music.
The Post article says that if WETA drops classical, that would leave WGMS (103.5 FM) as the only DC classical station (and a commercial one, at that).
Actually, Baltimore's noncommercial, classical music WBJC (91.5 FM) reaches down into the DC area, and I'd expect them to pick up WETA's classical listeners, if they don't already.
Actually, WBJC can only be heard in the northern suburbs of MD and the northern parts of the district.
Posted by: Thom at February 5, 2005 04:07 PMI seem to recall, years ago, knowing a guy who would tune into WBJC during the day from his office in Alexandria, Va. (Don't know if the broadcast pattern has changed since then.)
Posted by: raacluse at February 15, 2005 10:58 PM