On Thursday, WBFO-FM 88.7 became part of WNED Buffalo-Toronto, the largest distributor of public radio programming in the Buffalo region.
The Western New York Public Broadcasting Association announced the merger in July after UB agreed to sell WBFO to WNED for $4 million.
While nationally syndicated National Public Radio programs will remain, The Buffalo News reported Wednesday that four local programs from WBFO and 16 programs from WNED are scheduled to drop.
The merger also includes two stations serving the Southern Tier of Buffalo – WUBJ-FM 88.1 in Jamestown and WOLN-FM 91.3 in Olean. All three stations will retain their call letters and frequencies, and they will continue to provide radio and television services to their 90,000 weekly listeners.
"We have great services, but they are all independently budgeted, so we won't be taking money away from WBFO for WNED," WNED President Donald K. Boswell told The Buffalo News in an article on Tuesday. "They must each sustain their costs."
UB is set to use the $4 million proceeds on a number of scholarships and faculty positions, university officials have said. The school will use $1 million to set up an endowment fund supporting students majoring in the arts, humanities and social sciences, according to Joseph A. Brennan, interim station manager at WBFO-FM and associate vice president of university communications.
Local listeners have yet to seem too upset about WNED's purchase of WBFO, according to Brennan.
"WBFO's listeners have not raised many concerns," Brennan said in an email. "I think that's because all of the most popular programs are continuing, including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Fresh Air. Fans of blues music made it clear that they wanted the new owner to continue these programs, and that will happen."
One of the most popular local music programs in Buffalo is Jazz on WBFO, and it's set to retain its current schedule and content.
Discussion concerning the sale of WBFO began in 2009. Brennan said that "strengthening public radio in our community" was a major reason for the sale.
"We wanted to find ways to respond to the challenges facing public broadcasting in our community, which include a shrinking population, a sluggish economy, and declining taxpayer support," Brennan said. "UB agreed to [WNED's] offer because we felt that this provides the best opportunity for WBFO to grow and thrive in the future."
WNED's purchase of WBFO required FCC approval, which was granted in January. Since WBFO was state property under UB, the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the State Comptroller were needed to sign off on the purchase.
WBFO started in 1959 by UB students and faculty, back when the school was private and not a part of the SUNY system. WBFO became a charter-founding member of NPR in 1970. The Allen Hall studio on South Campus, which houses WBFO, will be dismantled.
Notable alumni of WBFO include NPR's Terri Gross, host of Fresh Air, and Ira Flatow, host of Science Friday. William Simmering, who went on to create NPR's All Things Considered, was general manager of WBFO through most of the 1960s.
Email: news@ubpsectrum.com
