WCAL-FM advocates ask court to void deal that begat MPR’s The Current

One has to wonder who, exactly, is behind this push to eliminate The Current. Perhaps an investigative reporter (if one still exists) could delve deeper into the murky depths of SaveWCAL.

I suspect that if one looks deeply enough, one will find the fingerprints of both large communications companies who oppose the popular music station and anti-public radio groups.

We ask that Minnesota Independent make a correction to its post,” WCAL-FM advocates ask court to nullify deal that begat MPR’s The Current.”

Minnesota Independent’s Chris Steller mistakenly attributes a quote to Rice County District Judge Gerald J. Wolf. (The quote is in relation to a case between SaveWCAL and St. Olaf College this past summer which Judge Wolf decided.)

Judge Wolf’s order in that case did NOT include the following statement: “MPR’s deed to WCAL assets is ‘void and subject to cancellation upon application of proper parties.’” That statement was contained in a letter from SaveWCAL to the Minnesota Attorney General last June. It represents the opinion of SaveWCAL and not that of Judge Wolf.

In fact, Judge Wolf wrote, in the memorandum supporting his order in that earlier case: “The Court recognizes that the sale of WCAL is neither before the Court at this time nor has it ever been before the court.”

It is, of course, the right of SaveWCAL to promote its view, but Minnesota Public Radio is confident that there is no legal reason for a judge to void the sale of WCAL. As for St. Olaf and the sale proceeds, we are not involved in that portion of the hearing.

In the spirit of fair and accurate journalism, we ask that Minnesota Independent reporters contact us, as well as their other sources, when they are verifying information about this matter.

SaveWCAL is appreciative of the clarification and correction issued by Chris Steller and the Minnesota Independent — and for their coverage of the WCAL story.

Commenter “Sperry” will be sorely disappointed to hear that there is no push — nor has there ever been — on the part of SaveWCAL to “eliminate The Current”.

Our organization’s efforts are to protect and defend the WCAL Charitable Trust — which includes ALL the assets of that trust — pre- and post-sale — including the broadcast license and the Rosemount broadcasting tower.

The fact that those essential assets that formerly belonged to the WCAL charitable trust are now being used by MPR for the purposes of broadcasting KCMP is completely irrelevant to our efforts. It wouldn’t have mattered what entity had “bought” WCAL or whether the assets were being used by KCMP, KSJN, KNOW or some other entity (including any Christian broadcasting networks). SaveWCAL would have engaged in the same effort regardless of the buyer or the designated user.

It is also absolutely laughable to think that anyone will find “fingerprints of both large communications companies who oppose the popular music station and anti-public radio groups” in SaveWCAL’s efforts — because there are none to find.

This is truly a story about thousands of donors to a successful National Public Radio station whose trust was betrayed by a shamelessly greedy trustee — and who are asking the court for accountability.

If “Sperry” would take the time to read about it on our web site (http://savewcal.net), s/he would find that the WCAL story has plenty of “murky depths”, attempts to “eliminate” another public radio station (WCAL) and the fingerprints of a large communications organization. Yes, all the elements are there. It’s just that the major players in the drama are not the ones that Sperry wants them to be. But you can’t change the facts.

The story will certainly continue to unfold. Stay tuned.

Poor Sperry is so caught up in the Current time that he is blinded to history.
The large communication company with murky depths is MPR — Sperry probably doesn’t know what Bill Kling, his wife and friends at the top of the MPR/APM/…-corporate-conglomerate actually earn annually from his “donation” to “public” radio.
Sperry probably doesn’t realize the Market research that went into identifying him as a target hip-but-wealthy future-MPR-donor listener for the Current.
Nor that MPR had an AM wavelength prior to going on air with the Current, but worked behind the scenes to eliminate its Classical competitor, WCAL, buy purchasing its FM wavelength and using it instead.
The “Current” indeed.
We disregard history to our cost.
It’s a dirty wavelength you’re listening on, Sperry. Enjoy the music.