With the decision by Congressional Republicans, endorsed by President Trump, to “claw back” previously designated federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting — now defunct — two big noncommercial educational FM stations with listeners across Southern Ontario and Western New York faced a pressing financial dilemma.
Annual funding of $2.2 million through CPB evaporated. Listener donations from Canada and the U.S. alone couldn’t sustain initiatives including the recent launch of Adult Alternative-fueled offering “The Drive” on the station’s HD2 signals.
For Buffalo Toronto Public Media President/CEO Tom Calderone, a risky and innovative solution was solidified. One of the two FMs, with a commercial-band frequency dating to June 1960, will be converted from non-commercial status — allowing BTPM to take a cue from Toronto-based Zoomer Media, JAZZ.FM91, and even the CBC.
