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BCTV/WBNH expands underwriting program and set radio advertising package for small businesses
Summary
The BCTV/WBNH board told the council it will add underwriting inventory and launch a low‑cost radio package — 30 underwriting messages for $300 — aimed at local small businesses; the council approved changes to BCTV/WBNH policies.
The BCTV/WBNH board briefed the council April 20 on an expansion of underwriting inventory and a new radio underwriting package aimed at small businesses, and the council approved recommended policy changes for BCTV and WBNH.
Station board members and staff said underwriting sold under FCC underwriting rules is structured to avoid price mentions or calls to action and is intended to support the town‑run public media outlets. BCTV board member/volunteer managers explained a successful five‑underwriter sports package for Bedford High School coverage prompted the board to add a sixth underwriting slot for 2026 and to create an affordable radio package for non‑sports music listeners.
Harry Kozlowski, radio program director, summarized the new entry-level offer as 30 messages for $300 (about $10 per message); he said this price was set using audience figures from a Radio Research Consortium rating and is intended to attract small local businesses. Kozlowski said the radio audience measured about 1,600 weekly unique listeners in a recent rating period and that the station’s demographics skew adult (about ages 30–45).
The board emphasized underwriting will be sold outside of sports programming (music schedule) so it does not conflict with the existing sports underwriters. Underwriting messages will comply with FCC noncommercial underwriting rules and will be scheduled on a run-of-schedule basis; paid underwriting will be limited to daytime hours (approximately 6 a.m.–7 p.m.), with limited discretionary placements outside that range.
The council voted to approve the BCTV/WBNH policy changes as recommended by the station board. The motion carried on a council voice/roll-call vote.
