You will receive FY18 (July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018) rates from your Station Representative this month. There won’t be any big surprises and all increases are moderate. As you know, we’ve worked hard to bring more value to our program package than ever before and have a lot of momentum with audiences. There’s so much to be excited about right now!
Here are some things we want to make sure you know about as you begin planning your year:
- A Prairie Home Companion is a hit with audiences! Not only did we successfully transition a new host into the program, we also attracted amazing and diverse talent that aren’t typically heard on public radio. The result is a show that has retained much of its original audience, while attracting new ones. The median age of our website visitors is now 47 – 7 years younger than before!
- Marketplace is changing the nation’s economic literacy. That’s not just a tagline, they really are. Marketplace just completed an intensive business planning process that identified a myriad of ways to make real impact and strengthen its position as a leader in economic news. That’s exciting for you because we’re making a significant investment in your audience. Over the coming year, we’ll share our plans and provide you with lots of opportunities to engage your listeners across the portfolio of programs. It’s an exciting time to be partners!
- BBC Newshour and Topline are station must-haves. Since our BBC partnership began, we have seen Newshour audiences more than double and Topline has become an increasingly important part of stations’ mornings. More than ever, international news is vital to your audience. America’s relationship with the world is changing, people are suspicious of “fake news”, and the Trump administration is creating a contentious climate for journalism. Through it all, the BBC remains the largest newsgathering operation in the world, and continues to offer an essential, impartial and balanced global perspective that your audience counts on.
- The Splendid Table just announced Francis Lam as the new host. The Splendid team has had a big year. They’ve secured an important partnership with America’s Test Kitchen, recently announced Lynne Rossetto Kasper’s retirement this December, and Francis Lam begins hosting this month. If you haven’t already, check out Francis’ impressive bio on our website as The New York Times Magazine columnist and Top Chef Masters judge, among many other things. Audiences are thrilled with the news and we know you will be too!
- Performance Today is moving to where the talent is. Host Fred Child is moving to New York! For nearly 31 years audiences have relied on Performance Today to provide access to some of the most exclusive talent and performances out there. With Fred’s move, they’ll be immersed in the hub of classical music performances from around the U.S. and the world, and will have the ability to create unique opportunities as artists pass through the city. Get ready to hear even more unique moments from your favorite local musicians!
- The Dinner Party Download continues to see record growth! In fact, more than 64 stations added the program last year and we expect many more to this year. The show provides in-depth, and often unexpected, interviews with the most interesting people in the news, but isn’t a fluffy entertainment show. Hosts Brendan Francis Newnam and Rico Gagliano continually coax the most intriguing conversations and information from their guests, and are always looking for new ways to help you engage your audience. In fact, we’re planning a very special event for you to get involved in, so stay tuned!
I know that’s a lot, but there’s so much you need to know about. As always, we’re thrilled to be your partners and we look forward to an exciting year ahead with you!
Thank you,
Shona Koester
Interim Head, International and Affiliate Content Partnerships