Wow. So now they're importing someone from Fargo to take over this job, when Julie moravchick, who really knows this community, was doing a kick ass job? Sad.

mevdev, I think what's stopping them is the fact that they could not bring in enough money from doing that to be able to make a halfway decent show and also make a profit.

I would think that a public affairs talk show or variety program would have plausible marketability. But then again, maybe not.  Starting today, I guess KDAL cut back even further on local content and plugged in more Glen Beck or something, or so I heard here:  http://www.redandnater.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=77467

I guess these format changes and staff changes boil down to an effort to maximize profits and minimize losses.  In this market there could be a number of reasons for the changes: The audience is getting smaller as population declines, or if it is getting more fragmented and tough to sell "big" ads, or ... maybe it's management decisions that are causing this crisis. Maybe they are insisting on unsustainable profits from media companies, or maybe they have cannibalized themselves by offering way too many free packages or undervalued advertisements in an effort to undercut their competition.  I speak as a complete outsider there and I don't really know, but I do know that something similar with management strategies happened in my industry over the last decade.  AND apparently the whole economy collapsed last year due to similarly short-sighted management on the real estate, manufacturing, finance and basically every other American industry.  

Like I said before, respecting Claire's comment about local knowledge, I do wish the guy well.  I hope that he does an excellent job.  Obviously, a lot of people will be watching very closely and highly critically, even from within his own organization.  I wouldn't want that pressure in a hundred years.  

Rubber Chicken:  I think that your radio show with KUWS is a great concept and I wish you the very best in your new home.  I don't see why it wouldn't work to do it on TV or even commercial radio and maybe that could grow out of this reincarnation.  But public radio isn't such a bad home, look at Garry K - he's been doing it close to 40 years - the tickets for his upcoming show that is being beamed to theaters around the country came in at about $22 a head.  So clearly someone is making money there even if it is a non-profit enterprise, overall.  Also, one freedom that you have with subsidized and member supported public radio is freedom from interference by a management that is hungry for profits and profits alone.  In the national arena, at the very highest levels we saw over the last few months that no one is immune from bean counters jerking their chains. Just ask Conan.

I haven't had cable for many years - does anyone do any public access shows here in Duluth? A friend of mine in Mpls helped produce a show called the Prima Donns (hosted by 2 guys named Donn). They'd have bands, interview city councilors and other important people, discuss pro wrestling, do cheesy green-screen effects, all the stuff you need for a quality show. Not sure if that's still on or not.
I'm surprised we haven't seen more podcasts (besides Danny D. D.) with some local programming. Seems like that's the way to avoid many of the costs. Of course it also removes most of the revenue too.
The Hermantown Star launched a "TV" show on their website. I don't think it's officially started - the things they have up there are called trailers, and so far, they've discussed baton twirling and their furniture.

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mr. toot