Specials Call Us! See Page 5 > 2 Station Signals January2009 March2009 Sstationtation Ssignalsignals 3
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Adirondack Seasons airs Tell Me More premieres Thursday, March 5 at 10:00 p.m. Monday, March 23 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV/HD on AM1370/HD91.5-2 STATION SIGNALS TV21 | DTV | AM1370 | FM91.5/90.3/88.5/HD | REACHOUT RADIO | EDUCATION | WXXI.ORG march 2009 in Boston CHRIS BOTTI hosts Rock, Rhythm & Doo Wop Live from the Forum in Acapulco Voices: YANNI YANNI FRANKIE VALLI music SPECIALS call us! see page 5 > 2 StatiON SIGNALS january2009 march2009 SSTATIONtatiON SSIGNALSIGNALS 3 Dear Friend, If you’re a new member of WXXI (especially if you joined during our recent radio membership campaign), let me extend a warm welcome to the WXXI family! You join more than 27,000 others who voluntarily contribute to WXXI to keep our station a strong, independent voice for the Rochester community. Listenership to our radio services, especially news and public affairs, is stronger than ever. There’s also some good news to share about WXXI television. The most recent Nielsen ratings show that WXXI-TV viewers are the most loyal in the nation to their public television station, based on time spent viewing. That means that more people are tuning in and staying with our programming throughout the day. It’s just one measure of audience success, but an important one. Our children’s programming continues to attract a wide, diverse audience, as does drama, culture and news and public affairs in the evening. The WXXI Center for Public Affairs is also being recognized, not just locally, but throughout the state and nation. The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer recently asked our own Julie Philipp to participate in a special segment on how the economic downturn was affecting different parts of the nation (Julie was one of only four local reporters taking part in the segment). Also, the 52nd Annual New York Emmy Award Nominations have been announced and Need to Know: Response to Murder has been nominated in the News Special Category. Response to Murder traced the murder of a young black male in Rochester and the impact it had on the entire community. It was a hard-hitting program that went beyond the headlines and told the story of a tragedy in our City the way only public television can. We have a great line-up of programming this month, with some specials we’re pleased to present during our March television membership campaign. One program you won’t want to miss is Great Performances: The Metropolitan Opera Opening Night Gala, since it features Rochester’s own world-renowned soprano, Renée Fleming. She headlines the opening night of the Met’s 125th anniversary season, featuring excerpts from her favorite operas. Join us for Renée Fleming on Great Performances, Sunday, March 15 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV (TV 21/cable 11) and WXXI-HD (DT21.1/cable 1011). By now I’m sure you’ve heard that the federal government extended the deadline for the digital television transition from February 17 to June 12 (as I predicted might happen in my letter last month). Although some stations have taken the option of signing off early, WXXI will continue to broadcast our analog signal until June. WXXI was awarded a contract from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to lead the digital education effort in our region. Being on the air, with educational messages and information, is an important part of our outreach. Remember, for any questions about the digital transition, call our toll-free help line at 866-348-9994 or visit WXXI.org/dtv. Finally, we’re still extremely concerned about the impact of the proposed 50% reduction in State operating aid for public broadcasting that was included in the Governor’s budget. In this difficult economic environment, the loss of these dollars will have a serious and negative impact on educational programs and services. I hope you will take the time to let our local legislators know how you feel about this reduction. We’re certainly willing to do our part to help reduce the State deficit, but 50% was out of proportion to other cuts in the education budget. In the meantime, thank you again for your membership support. It’s never been more important than now! Best regards, Best regards, NormNorm Silverstein, Silverstein, WXXI WXXI President President & CEO & CEO e-mail:e-mail: [email protected] [email protected] 4 StatiON SIGNALS march2009 eet sw sound Contents Executive Staff s Norm Silverstein, President & CEO o Susan Rogers, f Executive Vice President & General Manager m Jeanne E. Fisher, Vice President, Radio arch Highlights ....................................... 4 Kent Hatfield, Vice President, Technology & Operations Cover Story .................................... 5 Elissa Orlando, Vice President, Television In the Neighborhood .......................... 6 WXXI Board of Trustees Officers Sergio Esteban, Television ....................................... 9 Chair Diana Kurty, Vice Chair Steven Swartout, Treasurer Beth Ela Wilkens, Secretary Member Magazine Staff Jon Haliniak, Executive Editor Kristin Tutino, Editor Lynne Sánchez-Fries, Television Listings Editor Rhonda Austin, Radio Listings Editor Lili Schwartz, Designer Canfield & Tack, Printer Layer One Media, Mailhouse Advertising Sales Robin Stone, Assistant VP of Sales & Marketing Rachael Kriteman-Landau, Director of Sales & Marketing Account Executives, Sales & Marketing Douglas Spencer, George Radney, and Vlad Stefanovic RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEatLES, At Your Service! Member & Audience Services ������������585.258.0200 covering the Fab Four from the earliest begin- WXXI Main Number ������������������������585.325.7500 nings through the psychedelic late 60s airs Service Interruptions �����������������������585.258.0331 Wednesday, March 4 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV/HD Audience Response Line ������������������585.258.0360 Copies of Local Programs �����������������585.258.0369 Reachout Radio ����������������������������585.258.0333 Classical 91.5/90.3 ...........................27 Educational Resources ��������������������585.258.0278 WRUR 88.5 ....................................33 Volunteer Services ��������������������������585.258.0255 Corporate Sponsorships...................585.258.0285 AM 1370 .......................................35 Auction/Special Events ��������������������585.258.0287 Newsroom �����������������������������������585.258.0340 CHRIS BOTTI PHOTO: TANYA SAKOLSKY WXXI On-line �������������������������������� www.wxxi.org March 2009 Volume XXXX, Issue 3 WXXI is a public non-commercial broadcasting station owned and operated by WXXI Public Broadcasting Council, a not-for-profit corporation chartered by the Board of Regents of New York State. “Station Signals” Take a Tour! (USPS 0742-390) is published monthly at 280 State Street, Rochester, NY 14614 to promote the programs WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 AT 2 P.M. and activities of the public broadcasting stations. Periodical mailing postage paid at Rochester, N.Y. Please join us for a tour of our facilities. See where POSTMASTER: Send changes of address information Simon Pontin hosts The Sunshine Show on Classical to WXXI Program Guide, Membership Department, about 91.5, check out the studios where Homework Hotline, P.O. Box 30021, Rochester, NY 14603-3021. & Need to Know, and Assignment: The World are shot, * Please note that all programs are subject to change. and learn what goes on in Master Control. For up-to-date program listings, please consult your daily newspaper or log onto wxxi.org. out out Call (585) 258-0200 to reserve your spot for the next WXXI tour. www.pbs.org www.npr.org march2009 COVER STORY 5 sweet so unds of march André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra TUNE IN TO WXXI-TV/HD THIS MONTH and relive the 60s with Rock, Rhythm and Doo Wop, discover Yanni’s new talents, remember the Beatles, and groove with the King of Blues. A great mix of musical artists is featured in this month’s television schedule, but these four featured all have Rochester shows scheduled in 2009, and WXXI is proud to have tickets to share with its members. On Monday, March 2 at 8 p.m. Yanni’s newest PBS program, Yanni Voices: Live from the Forum in Acapulco premieres on WXXI-TV/HD. Yanni has discovered and developed four of the most exciting new voices in music today. In this new special, filmed at the new Forum at Mundo Imperial in Acapulco, Mexico, he re-interprets his classic compositions with powerful lyrics and intoxicating vocal performances by Nathan Pacheco, Chloe, Ender Thomas, and Leslie Mills. tune in Yanni makes his way to the Blue Cross Arena on Wednesday, May 13. for André Rieu: Radio City Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles, premiering Wednesday, March 4 at 8 p.m. Music Hall, Live In New York on WXXI-TV/HD, covers the Fab Four from the earliest beginnings through the on Monday, March 9 at 8 p.m. psychedelic late 60s and their long-haired hippie, hard-rocking rooftop days. It’s S R E K WXXI has tickets for Rieu’s show E a multi-media, multi-dimensional experience...a fusion of historical footage and A M A in Syracuse at the War Memorial R hilarious television commercials from the 1960s lights up video screens, and live R Arena at Oncenter on Monday, EGO cameras zoom in for close-ups. : GR : April 20. O T Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles comes to the Auditorium Theatre on Saturday, O H P June 6. continued on page 6 >> 6 IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD march2009 continued from page 5 >> B.B. King Rock, Rhythm and Doo Wop, airing Saturday, March 7 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV/HD, reunites the original legends of rock ’n’ roll for a once-in-a-lifetime performance. Hosted by pop music legends Frankie Valli, Jerry (The Iceman) Butler and Lloyd Price, this special boasts performances by Little Anthony & The Imperials, Lenny Welch, and a surprise appearance by Little Richard, who burns up the stage with an exhilarating performance of “Keep A-Knockin’.” Also on the bill is Fred Parris, who comes out of retirement after a decade to join the Five Satins in a performance of “In the Still of the Night,” the number-one oldies single of all time.