Quick Takes

Om-buddies? Not really.

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“Comments continue to drift in about the PBS program on the Armenian genocide,” CPB ombudsman Ken Bode writes in his latest column, which features remarks from several of his readers on the issue. One commenter: Michael Getler, public TV’s other ombudsman, who took exception to the way Bode, in his initial column on the matter, characterized the PBS monitor’s comments on The Armenian Genocide controversy. Replied Bode: “I am happy to have Mr. Getler state clearly, as I thought he did not in his original posting, his opinion that the events in Turkey, did indeed deserve to be considered as genocide. Anyway, I think that is what he is saying.”

Quick Takes

WNET eyes capital campaign to finance its expansion

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With the election of financier James Tisch as chairman of Educational Broadcasting Corporation — and Paula Kerger’s recent departure as executive v.p. of its flagship New York station — the pubTV licensee with a $100 million endowment is contemplating another major capital campaign, reports the New York Times. “In order for us to be what we need to be, we’ve got to have at least twice what we have in endowment,” says WNET President Bill Baker.

Quick Takes

Douridas charged for cocaine possession

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Chris Douridas, a deejay at KCRW-FM in Santa Monica, Calif., was charged yesterday with one count of cocaine possession, reports the Los Angeles Times. Douridas had been booked for poisoning and kidnapping as well, but the Los Angeles district attorney’s office was unable to support those charges. If found guilty of possession, Douridas could face three years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.

Quick Takes

Digital Distribution Consortium for pubradio convenes

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Todd Mundt writes that stakeholders in public radio have formed a Digital Distribution Consortium to map a shared digital infrastructure for the system. “Ultimately, we sense something bigger still — the opportunity to create new models for how networks, big stations, small stations and independent producers can relate to each other. That one piece alone could change everything,” say the consortium’s charter and principles. “Our effort, today and tomorrow, is to describe the services we want to create or enable — the ‘it’ that we’re aiming for,” writes Mundt in another post. UPDATE: The consortium now has a public wiki.

Quick Takes

KOOP rebuilds

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KOOP-FM in Austin, Texas, is building new studios after two fires destroyed the community station’s old home and knocked it off the air earlier this year, reports News 8 Austin.

Quick Takes

In Texas, Fighting to Keep Brahms on Air – New York Times

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Lovers of classical music are fighting to keep KTPB in Kilgore, Texas, on the air, reports the New York Times. “Just because we live out here in the middle of nowhere doesn’t mean we have to be a cultural void,” says a executive director of a nearby symphony orchestra.

Quick Takes

Study: Few consumers know that HD Radio offers multicast capability

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A radio audience research firm found that only one percent of respondents to a telephone survey knew that HD Radio can provide more channels of programming. “Our research reveals that radio needs to explain HD Radio and its benefits for listeners,” writes Mark Kassof. Meanwhile, Rob Pegoraro of the Washington Post writes that he returned his Boston Acoustics HD Radio out of frustration with the on-again, off-again status of a few multicast channels in the Washington area.

Quick Takes

Radio exec gets probation

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The Detroit Free Press reports that Michael Coleman, g.m. of WDET-FM in Detroit, was sentenced to two years’ probation June 22 for embezzling from Michigan Radio, his former employer.