Meet the Author Series

In its fourth year of operations, this ten-part monthly series provides listeners with opportunities to engage in stimulating dialogue with authors of contemporary, non-fiction books. Each event is a live broadcast that includes a reading by the author, a lively interview and questions from studio audience. Costs include:

• Promotion and advertising for the 10 events
• Set-up for remote broadcasts from including remote staffing, rental of facility and accommodations and hospitality for visiting authors.
• Station personnel to host and oversee all broadcasting aspects each event.
• Studio and facilities use includes upkeep of Allen Hall Theatre, including signage, sound equipment and staging costs.
• Accommodations and hospitality for visiting authors, includes meals and hotel.
• Salary replacement for the Executive Producer and Producer
• Post-reception for audience - a simple reception for attending audience while author signs books.

WBFO's Online Community

WBFO’s vibrant and active online community is growing, with nearly 40,000 unique visitors each month. The role of WBFO.org will expand, serving as a convenor and providing a trusted space where listeners can come together to discuss relevant issues affecting our community. This expansion will include:

• Increase usage of, participation and dialogue with WBFO on all levels via discussion boards and online chats with on-air hosts.
• Advanced statistical monitoring systems include web traffic trends, page visits, abandon rates, entrance and exit points, and open, click-through and unsubscribe rates.
• Increase depth and range of content, such as “Related Links,” and extended interviews, to appeal to more users
• Daily surveys, listener commentaries and highly personalized E-Newsletters to target specific listener interest.
• An e-commerce element, where visitors can purchase WBFO-branded items, as well as music and books featured locally and nationally.
• Enhancement of WBFO's electronic media's fundraising effectiveness.
• Incorporation of the station’s financial statements, personalized pledge forms, and dynamic, user-defined content that will help increase membership donations.
• Opportunities for enhanced podcasting, including special web reports and video

Talk of the Region

WBFO, in conjunction with the Institute for Local Governance and Regional Growth, proposes to air a 10-part radio program, Talk of the Region, that will engage the community in public discourse on topics of vital importance to the Buffalo Niagara region. The call-in show, to be modeled after the popular NPR show, Talk of the Nation, will air during the second hour of that national production, once a month from September through June. Guests panelists will provide expert commentary and answer questions on regional topics such as regional identity, civic leadership, tourism, youth, education, governance and immigration

HD Radio Conversion

WBFO is participating in digital radio conversion – a new radio delivery system that requires a new transmitter and new radio receivers for the consumer (listeners). The new format is expected to succeed in the marketplace over the next five years. Scores of seed markets have already moved into digital radio conversion. The digital transmission format is called HD radio or IBOC (In Band On Channel).

• Digital conversion is consistent with our overall goals, mission, and vision for WBFO. The integrity, values, strengths and quality of our service will be tested by such future ventures. WBFO wants to exploit the opportunities provided by new technologies and digital transmission.
• Terrestrial broadcasters need HD radio to succeed and compete with direct satellite radio delivery systems (Sirius and XM) and other audio delivery new media technologies.
• Digital radio promises to provide listeners with high quality audio with less interference than current AM and FM transmissions. This digital signal aids the public broadcasting’s mission to reach a wider audience and thereby provide more public service.
• Digital Radio offers the potential to provide audiences with innovative public service programming applications, such as a supplemental audio channel (SAC) on FM stations, and additional text-based program associated data (PAD), such as artist and title information in music programming.
• The new technology allows for two distinct digital program streams on our signal. WBFO could double its broadcast capacity.
• WBFO has currently raised approximately $163K from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the New York State Education Department, the Cameron Baird Foundation, and UB faculty and staff (in a special campaign for this purpose). An additional $37K is needed to complete the project.

Allen Hall as Public Square

WBFO, in conjunction with the Division of External Affairs, proposes the re-engineering of Allen Hall to create a “public square” that would help to strengthen cultural and business interactions, collaborations and connections between UB and the residents and businesses in the South Campus neighborhoods, including North Buffalo, Amherst, Tonawanda and Cheektowaga. The “public square” will serve as a place where the community can gather and access both facilities and services that meet their cultural, intellectual, educational and business interests; as a locus for engaging people in the issues and needs of their neighborhoods; and as a vehicle to link them to the rich resources available at the University at Buffalo. The project will help to ensure that the University at Buffalo has a strong and visible influence on the community in which it is located.

Revised: 7/19/07