The Salisbury Daily Times reports this morning that the future of one Delmarva Public Radio’s signals -- WSDL -- is in doubt.
Jason Curtin, interim executive director of the Salisbury University Foundation, told the paper that there was the possibility of major changes at the NPR News/ Talk signal.
He noted that there are a number of news/talk formats on Delmarva.
Meanwhile he said that the classical music station WSCL is not a format provided by anyone else in area.
However, the Daily Times reports that there is a June 19th letter by Salisbury University President Janet Dudley Eshbach and SU Foundation Chair Charles Capute.
The paper reports that the letter says public radio is – what it termed – nice -- but not essential to the university’s operations.
It cites rising operating costs declining state support and few student listeners.
The consulting firm Public Radio Capital has produced a study of the stations for the Foundation but Curtin declined to make it public.
He said it would not be in – what he termed – the best interest of the stations.
Supporters of the stations are already lining up to demand a copy of the report and ensure their voices are heard.
Mike Pretl, a community activist and longtime financial donor to the stations, told the paper that he was concerned some decisions could be made and contracts signed without community input.
Delmarva Public Radio is heard by 45-thousand listeners across Delmarva who have contributed millions of dollars since its inception in 1987.
