WICHITA — Public radio station KMUW, 89.1-FM, has made some changes in response to previous and possible pending budget cuts.
“Cost savings is kind of what we’re all about these days,” says director of radio and general manager Mark McCain.
“We’re really struggling with the whole funding — the uncertainty of the future here.”
Since 2009, the station has lost $50,000 in state money and about $12,000 from Wichita State University, and more cuts are a threat.
The station is streamlining where it can, which includes the elimination of an accounting position and jazz show host Barry Gaston’s part-time job.
McCain says resources are being reallocated to news coverage.
“That local news piece is really what’s going to keep us distinctive,” he says of what he calls “that NPR style” of reporting.
The station also has eliminated its HD broadcasting for now, which includes 24-hour BBC streaming.
McCain says while there was an HD audience, it wasn’t big enough to justify the cost of operating that transmitter and paying an annual fee.
Gaston’s shows — “Jazz Cafe,” which aired weekdays from 7 to 9 p.m., and “Moonglow,” a jazz interview show that aired Sundays from 8 to 10 p.m. — will no longer air.
“We’re not really eliminating jazz,” McCain says.
There’s now a show called “Night Train,” hosted by KMUW’s Chris Heim, that airs from 10 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday.
Gaston has mixed feelings about the change, in part because of his day job producing radio and television commercials nationally through Gaston Marketing.
“It always would be an effort for me to get over and record and have the time I need to devote to my company,” he says.
When Gaston started at KMUW in 2000, he was a volunteer. Eventually, WSU officials said he had to be paid. Gaston says he didn’t need the salary and gave it away to charity.
When he was told this week that his position was eliminated, Gaston says he offered to return to being a volunteer, but he says he was told that wasn’t possible.
Gaston says he understands the station’s financial situation and hopes listeners continue to support it.
However, he says he doesn’t appreciate how his departure was handled.
“I felt kind of shoved out the door,” Gaston says.
“I never really got to say goodbye to the numerous listeners we had,” he says. “I didn’t want to just disappear on them.”
McCain says, “I can understand that, but at the same time we had to plan for the changes we needed to make and integrate those as we thought best.”
What Gaston calls the “less-important time position” of jazz at 10 p.m. shows the station is now not as committed to jazz.
He’s disappointed for himself and listeners.
“Yeah, it’s a sad deal.”