Comments on: On the death of BPP http://gravitymedium.com/2008/07/14/on-the-death-of-bpp/ Strategies for Public Media 2.0 Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:32:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: DesignNotes by Michael Surtees » Blog Archive » Link Drop for the Week Ending in Friday the 18th (July 2008) http://gravitymedium.com/2008/07/14/on-the-death-of-bpp/#comment-389 DesignNotes by Michael Surtees » Blog Archive » Link Drop for the Week Ending in Friday the 18th (July 2008) Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:01:22 +0000 http://gravitymedium.com/?p=148#comment-389 [...] On the death of BPP [gravity medium] EXCERPT: “Well, the Bryant Park Project has less than a month left. Literally. Was it too beautiful to live, perhaps? Hardly. I mean, can anyone really feign shock that well? Let’s recount the strikes against this endeavor:” [...] [...] On the death of BPP [gravity medium] EXCERPT: “Well, the Bryant Park Project has less than a month left. Literally. Was it too beautiful to live, perhaps? Hardly. I mean, can anyone really feign shock that well? Let’s recount the strikes against this endeavor:” [...]

]]> By: John Proffitt http://gravitymedium.com/2008/07/14/on-the-death-of-bpp/#comment-385 John Proffitt Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:07:29 +0000 http://gravitymedium.com/?p=148#comment-385 @Anthony, thanks for the comment. I do think Thomas' departure was a blow to the operation. She "got it." Kernis I know less about, though he's the upper-level exec that went from NPR to CNN, so I'm already not impressed (zing!). Okay, snarky, but still... CNN? Really? Anyway... I think you've hit the nail on the head for me when it came to BPP -- a program I liked in concept up it just didn't take off for me, mostly because it had that herky-jerky feel of being at NPR, but not being at NPR. It felt so separate and new, yet there were these elements that would pop up that made it feel like the old. It was awkward. That said, all that could have been worked out in time, especially if producers/managers recognized the differences between being a radio program and a community web program. I think a good example of what the BPP could have become was something like Buzz Out Loud, the daily tech news podcast from C|NET (now part of CBS). That's a show that lives on the web, on phones, on Skype, in a studio, in online forums, on video, on the road and so on but has a daily audio podcast with tons of committed listeners. While the style of Buzz Out Loud would not have been appropriate for BPP, the overall approach would make more sense. Anyway, I hope NPR changes course here before it's too late. And I think Paterson is right that if this is the way NPR decisions will be made going forward, then the beginning of the end is here. The platform will decline as the audience ages and dies, and resources will be aligned for self protection, not necessarily public service. @Anthony, thanks for the comment. I do think Thomas’ departure was a blow to the operation. She “got it.” Kernis I know less about, though he’s the upper-level exec that went from NPR to CNN, so I’m already not impressed (zing!). Okay, snarky, but still… CNN? Really?

Anyway… I think you’ve hit the nail on the head for me when it came to BPP — a program I liked in concept up it just didn’t take off for me, mostly because it had that herky-jerky feel of being at NPR, but not being at NPR. It felt so separate and new, yet there were these elements that would pop up that made it feel like the old. It was awkward.

That said, all that could have been worked out in time, especially if producers/managers recognized the differences between being a radio program and a community web program.

I think a good example of what the BPP could have become was something like Buzz Out Loud, the daily tech news podcast from C|NET (now part of CBS). That’s a show that lives on the web, on phones, on Skype, in a studio, in online forums, on video, on the road and so on but has a daily audio podcast with tons of committed listeners. While the style of Buzz Out Loud would not have been appropriate for BPP, the overall approach would make more sense.

Anyway, I hope NPR changes course here before it’s too late. And I think Paterson is right that if this is the way NPR decisions will be made going forward, then the beginning of the end is here. The platform will decline as the audience ages and dies, and resources will be aligned for self protection, not necessarily public service.

]]> By: Anthony Hunt http://gravitymedium.com/2008/07/14/on-the-death-of-bpp/#comment-384 Anthony Hunt Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:49:06 +0000 http://gravitymedium.com/?p=148#comment-384 One other factor for the demise of BPP is two VPs (Jay Kernis & Maria Thomas) who pushed web services and more Gen X programming are gone. What I have mentioned to some at NPR was I had hoped to see more cross-pollination and yet when BPP (occasionally) played stories from NPR News, it sounded out of place. A more informal program like BPP might have NPR reporters stop in and give live "reporter's notebooks" about the stories they are highly processing on the "main channel." Robert Siegel never stopped by BPP to talk about his experiences in China...he finally did that several weeks later on Talk of the Nation. I did like a lot of what I saw BPP do. They were building a good online (podcast) audience. I really liked the online conversations that occured between comments after each story (and participated in some). It was like having water cooler conversation with others around the country/world. One other factor for the demise of BPP is two VPs (Jay Kernis & Maria Thomas) who pushed web services and more Gen X programming are gone.

What I have mentioned to some at NPR was I had hoped to see more cross-pollination and yet when BPP (occasionally) played stories from NPR News, it sounded out of place. A more informal program like BPP might have NPR reporters stop in and give live “reporter’s notebooks” about the stories they are highly processing on the “main channel.” Robert Siegel never stopped by BPP to talk about his experiences in China…he finally did that several weeks later on Talk of the Nation.

I did like a lot of what I saw BPP do. They were building a good online (podcast) audience. I really liked the online conversations that occured between comments after each story (and participated in some). It was like having water cooler conversation with others around the country/world.

]]> By: BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » National Public What? http://gravitymedium.com/2008/07/14/on-the-death-of-bpp/#comment-383 BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » National Public What? Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:31:49 +0000 http://gravitymedium.com/?p=148#comment-383 [...] talked about the cost of it, as did John Proffitt. Radio’s also not cheap. And then Rob comes to the bottom line for National Public (Radio): [...] [...] talked about the cost of it, as did John Proffitt. Radio’s also not cheap. And then Rob comes to the bottom line for National Public (Radio): [...]

]]> By: Radio Sweethearts › the Forget Ferris Project, day 2: Bryant Park Project still cancelled. http://gravitymedium.com/2008/07/14/on-the-death-of-bpp/#comment-382 Radio Sweethearts › the Forget Ferris Project, day 2: Bryant Park Project still cancelled. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:01:42 +0000 http://gravitymedium.com/?p=148#comment-382 [...] John Proffitt is not surprised. [...] [...] John Proffitt is not surprised. [...]

]]> By: John Proffitt http://gravitymedium.com/2008/07/14/on-the-death-of-bpp/#comment-374 John Proffitt Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:16:02 +0000 http://gravitymedium.com/?p=148#comment-374 @MKinMotion Thanks for the comment. I think you're right that an "indie" podcast is much more supportable online. NPR was trying to build yet another national show based on the radio distribution framework and expectations of sustainability traditionally placed upon NPR programs. NPR's success over the past 20 years, and the nature of its codependent relationship with more than 500 stations around the country, blinds it to new opportunities and the new scales at which things can/should work in a networked economy. It's totally understandable. But still sad. And it suggests a very risky future for NPR. @MKinMotion Thanks for the comment. I think you’re right that an “indie” podcast is much more supportable online. NPR was trying to build yet another national show based on the radio distribution framework and expectations of sustainability traditionally placed upon NPR programs.

NPR’s success over the past 20 years, and the nature of its codependent relationship with more than 500 stations around the country, blinds it to new opportunities and the new scales at which things can/should work in a networked economy.

It’s totally understandable. But still sad. And it suggests a very risky future for NPR.

]]> By: MKinMotion http://gravitymedium.com/2008/07/14/on-the-death-of-bpp/#comment-373 MKinMotion Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:25:50 +0000 http://gravitymedium.com/?p=148#comment-373 Great analysis. While I was a fan of the show, I think you're right. Being in Alaska, I only listened to the podcast version of BPP and I'm sure any tracking of subscriptions and downloads of podcasts are not on anyone's radar that has decision making power. Seems like a gen x/y show like BPP would go over so well on the west coast with LA, SF, Portland, and Seattle being very young and engaged in the types of things they featured. It seems like the local/national debate is alive in public radio as much as it is at Clear Channel. It also seems the door for indie podcasts is being pushed open more and more, as a small audience by NPR standards would healthily support a podcast. Great analysis. While I was a fan of the show, I think you’re right. Being in Alaska, I only listened to the podcast version of BPP and I’m sure any tracking of subscriptions and downloads of podcasts are not on anyone’s radar that has decision making power. Seems like a gen x/y show like BPP would go over so well on the west coast with LA, SF, Portland, and Seattle being very young and engaged in the types of things they featured. It seems like the local/national debate is alive in public radio as much as it is at Clear Channel. It also seems the door for indie podcasts is being pushed open more and more, as a small audience by NPR standards would healthily support a podcast.

]]> By: Radio Sweethearts › The Forget Ferris Project http://gravitymedium.com/2008/07/14/on-the-death-of-bpp/#comment-372 Radio Sweethearts › The Forget Ferris Project Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:40:41 +0000 http://gravitymedium.com/?p=148#comment-372 [...] John Proffitt is not surprised. [...] [...] John Proffitt is not surprised. [...]

]]> By: Ellen http://gravitymedium.com/2008/07/14/on-the-death-of-bpp/#comment-370 Ellen Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:25:36 +0000 http://gravitymedium.com/?p=148#comment-370 Save the BPP! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18816647695 Save the BPP!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18816647695

]]> By: RIP BPP « The ConverStation http://gravitymedium.com/2008/07/14/on-the-death-of-bpp/#comment-369 RIP BPP « The ConverStation Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:33:46 +0000 http://gravitymedium.com/?p=148#comment-369 [...] July 14, 2008 by Ken George It’s a sad day for fans of “The Bryant Park Project.” [...] [...] July 14, 2008 by Ken George It’s a sad day for fans of “The Bryant Park Project.” [...]

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