General Discussion

no_hypocrisy

(46,169 posts) Sat Jan 18, 2020, 07:27 PM Jan 2020

Rudy Giuliani wanted to sell the license of NYC's only public radio station when he was mayor.

There were whimsical discussions about finding a replacement license of a nonprofit radio station, but no true alternative ready to go with the sale. It would have had the effect of shutting down WNYC which was more than classical music. There were programs that were openly critical of Giuliani and his policies.

https://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/10/nyregion/giuliani-plans-license-sale-of-wnyc.html

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Rudy Giuliani wanted to sell the license of NYC's only public radio station when he was mayor. (Original Post) no_hypocrisy Jan 2020 OP

I remember that. There was a very powerful clique of old money that organized itself... TreasonousBastard Jan 2020 #1

WNYC did get sold. mwooldri Jan 2020 #2

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)

1. I remember that. There was a very powerful clique of old money that organized itself...

Reply to no_hypocrisy (Original post)

Sat Jan 18, 2020, 07:40 PM

Jan 2020

to save the station. Giuliani had no chance and had to go back to harassing windshield washers.

Some even remembered the many times when WNYC hosted Mayor LaGuardia.

https://www.wnyc.org/story/laguardia-fiorello-h-talk-to-the-people-last-broadcast

mwooldri

(10,303 posts)

2. WNYC did get sold.

Reply to no_hypocrisy (Original post)

Sat Jan 18, 2020, 07:53 PM

Jan 2020

The AM/FM got sold to the WNYC foundation (now NY Public Radio) and the TV station got sold to Dow Jones & ITT (station now owned by Ion Media as WPXN).

WNYC had always had political struggles with its municipal owners - to have broadcasters structurally independent of government in my mind is best. Though government should contribute to public media.

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