“After years of trying to meet the competing demands of its radio listeners, the Maine Public Broadcasting Network plans to launch a separate classical music service on May 9,” writes Ray Routhier in Wednesday’s (4/20) Press Herald (Portland, Maine). “The new service will offer more classical music, nearly 24 hours a day, but for many MPBN listeners, including those in Portland, it may be harder to find. Maine Public Classical will be available over the air … as well as online and on HD radios statewide. The broadcaster’s regular classical offerings … will move to that network, making room for more news, information and entertainment on the seven-station Maine Public Radio network. MPBN management hopes to launch a Portland-area classical station soon, Chief Executive Mark Vogelzang said…. Its three stations will reach about 250,000 people over the air, compared to the 1 million people reached by Maine Public Radio…. Increasingly, public broadcasters are developing separate radio networks for specific programming, as they try to grow their audience and their potential fundraising base, said Tom Thomas, co-chief executive of the Station Resource Group, a membership organization for public broadcasters.” Click here to read Symphony’s Fall 2015 article about classical radio.
Posted April 20, 2016
