R.I.P. KTXT (1961 - 2008) Options

[blaarg]

KTXT is no more. Student Media Department didn't inform anyone on staff and changed the locks during the "final" broadcast before pulling the plug on the last day of finals.

http://www.kcbd.com/global/story.asp?s=9502063

[Mommy]

Let me clarify a few things.

Stephan, print and broadcast journalism are suffering big time, especially newspapers and radio stations. It is not too far fetched a notion that these start to disappear. CBS, ABC, NBC, and FOX are struggling as well. NBC is having big money problems this year, so much so that they are canceling all tv shows at the prime time spot 9:00 and moving Jay Leno to that spot 5 nights a week. Why? Because production costs of new television shows to fill those spots is too expensive for them to afford. He will now come on BEFORE the nightly news instead of after. Media outlets have to make an internet presence to stay afloat. That is why college radio is struggling. They need an internet presence. They need to make their programming available for Podcast. Yes, they need new advertising strategies, but they also need new programming outlet ideas. We are at a day and age where mp3 players and satellite radio are very popular and are overtaking local radio stations. At Texas State, they were expanding their student-run paper to include an internet presence. That means new advertising outlets and a broader readership. In fact, most papers are only staying alive because of their Web sites and the ad revenue the sites generate. KTXT needs to get with the times.

Secondly, SLBBT, I NEVER said that KTXT needed to start playing Top 40. It wouldn't kill them to play music that people actually liked. Whenever I listened to them, they were either playing dance and trance or some other funky type of music. In fact, I never even programmed them on my radio because nothing good was ever on. I have no problem with them playing more obscure rock or more obscure hip hop (not my fav, but I realize some out there like that kind of stuff). Hell, even Texas country. They don't need to play pop songs, but they do need to play popular GENRES of music.

Thirdly, free speech doesn't exist. To think that student radio stations help generate a student voice is nonsense. All it does is help move students' careers forward by giving them valuable experience at working at a radio station.

Finally, I don't care if the word "gay" offends you or anyone else.