Central Library
Questions Regarding KUT
RECEIVED Mon., July 16, 2012
Dear Editor,
So, now the suits running the show over at KUT 90.5FM have decided to buy themselves a whole new radio station to play with! According to an article on RadioInsight.com (dated July 7), and finally up on KUT's website on July 11, KUT has asked the UT Board of Regents to approve a $6 million purchase of KXBT 98.9FM. According to RadioInsight, if approved, KUT would shift all of its music programming to the new frequency and broadcast as KUTX. The original KUT 90.5FM would become an all news and talk format. The vote was supposed to happen on July 11 but, according to KUT's website, the regents tabled the vote because "the Chancellor said his office has received some questions about this proposal.” Questions indeed … in fact I have a couple myself. First, per the article, a $250,000 fee will be paid to Public Radio Capital for brokering the deal, with the money coming out of "local funds.” Will this come out of money pledged by listeners during fundraisers or the money drive in May? Second, considering all the talk during pledge drives about KUT being "your station,” shouldn't station members have been informed of the pending purchase and been allowed to voice their opinions? Or was it going to be like a $6 million surprise party, only with station members footing the bill?
So, now the suits running the show over at KUT 90.5FM have decided to buy themselves a whole new radio station to play with! According to an article on RadioInsight.com (dated July 7), and finally up on KUT's website on July 11, KUT has asked the UT Board of Regents to approve a $6 million purchase of KXBT 98.9FM. According to RadioInsight, if approved, KUT would shift all of its music programming to the new frequency and broadcast as KUTX. The original KUT 90.5FM would become an all news and talk format. The vote was supposed to happen on July 11 but, according to KUT's website, the regents tabled the vote because "the Chancellor said his office has received some questions about this proposal.” Questions indeed … in fact I have a couple myself. First, per the article, a $250,000 fee will be paid to Public Radio Capital for brokering the deal, with the money coming out of "local funds.” Will this come out of money pledged by listeners during fundraisers or the money drive in May? Second, considering all the talk during pledge drives about KUT being "your station,” shouldn't station members have been informed of the pending purchase and been allowed to voice their opinions? Or was it going to be like a $6 million surprise party, only with station members footing the bill?
Jim Vest
