www.whyy.org
Keeping up with the convergence of computers, radio and television, WHYY's Web site began offering live broadcasts of key 91FM programs, as well as RealAudio delivery-on-demand of programs like Fresh Air Weekend. Students received college credit through WHYY's first online courses. Members pledged donations online. Students and curious viewers looked up new information on subjects seen on TV12. And WHYY began to develop ways to send TV programs to personal computers via the Internet this spring.
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Christina Pirello hosts Christina Cooks. WHYY is pleased to share this Philadelphian's whole foods savvy with viewers in over 100 markets across the country. |
This past year, WHYY found more ways to provide new services while becoming increasingly self-sufficient. Some initiatives included:
- The Venture Marketing Department is now responsible for leveraging WHYY assets to create new revenue sources.
- WHYY increased its income through improved performance from leasing the stations' KuBand Satellite truck, providing interconnect services for such programs as The Newshour with Jim Lehrer, offering satellite downlink services to clients and offering studio rentals.
- WHYY's national presentation of the whole foods cooking show, Christina Cooks, exceeded public television carriage expectations by more than 50 percent. The show is carried in over 100 markets, including the ten largest. Portions of proceeds from copies of Christina's cookbook sold through the television show help support WHYY.
- In a marketing alliance with PBS, WHYY this year was named the sole representative in the region for PBS The Business Channel. This coming year, WHYY will form alliances with area businesses to distribute the latest workforce training courses to them via satellite.
- WHYY increased its retail video sales by over 500 percent by marketing its past productions to appropriate audiences.
- As a partner in the WHYY Store of Knowledge, portions of the store's proceeds benefit WHYY.
Additional Communications Services
WHYY has initiated a few additional creative applications of broadcast technology this year, as well as continued others:
- WHYY began broadcasting CLASSICAL 24, a classical music service using TV12's Second Audio Program (SAP) channel, available on newer TV sets and VCRs.
- Through an alliance with a commercial vendor, WHYY has helped develop a radio which can receive TV12's SAP channel to make it easier to listen to WHYY's new music service, Classical 24. We are also continuing the search for better ways to serve the classical music audience.
- Drexel University and WHYY formed a partnership to launch a new educational cable television channel in September 1998, as a precursor to the digital age.
- TV12 continues to offer closed-caption text for viewers with hearing impairments and descriptive video service for those with low vision.