Re: public media question on electoral-vote.com

[robert <http://dummy.us.eu.org/robert>]

Yeah, the Pacifica listeners don't like this.  And I suspect that most
stations would not be able to sustain this sort of model.

(V) & (Z) are right, 'tho, that the big stations are going to continue,
'tho maybe the underwriting will become more "enhanced".  So, our local
station won't have a prob, but smaller stations may go under.  Some of
those people may be able to listen directly over the internet, but I
suspect that the internet service in those places will be crappy and many
just won't bother.

BTW, using "dodo" is not a great analogy since the dodo bird was killed
off by humans.  Using the "horse buggy" analogy would be better.

 > From: Noelle <noelle>
 > Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:36:35 -0800 (PST)
 >
 > D.C. in Fayetteville, AR, asks: I greatly value public media, 
 > particularly PBS and NPR, for their commitment to fair and balanced 
 > reporting. There have been ongoing efforts by Republicans to defund 
 > these vital services. If such efforts succeed, what do you think 
 > will happen to NPR? Do you believe there is enough public support to 
 > sustain it, perhaps through increased contributions—like, if I were 
 > to double my current $10/month donation?
 > 
 > (V) & (Z) answer: NPR may have to evolve, but it's not likely to 
 > disappear.
 > 
 > As you point out, the NPR stations get much of their funding from 
 > non-governmental sources. Further, the organization has an endowment 
 > of more than $300 million. The interest on that helps pay the bills, 
 > and the principal gives them an insurance policy against rough times 
 > (even if they would really prefer not to use it). These things make 
 > it unlikely that NPR will go anywhere anytime soon.
 > 
 > However, it may well be the case that the NPR business model, with 
 > several flagship stations producing content, and the others paying 
 > to broadcast that content, doesn't make sense anymore. Broadcast 
 > radio is going the way of the dodo, in favor of apps and podcasts. 
 > So, it's plausible that the near future will see a more centralized 
 > NPR; something along the lines of network TV, where most of the 
 > programming is national, and is served up through an app of some 
 > sort, and just a few broadcast windows are blocked off for local 
 > content.
 > 
 > (this kind of sounds like what Pacifica listeners don't like)