Sale controversies prompt questions about Public Radio Capital

Public Radio Capitol's roles as broker and buyer in sale transactions that are pending in several markets are coming under increasing scrutiny by localism advocates and public radio insiders, who question whose interests are being served in the sales of Pittsburgh's WDUQ, Houston's KTRU, and the New Jersey Network. Keeping the Public in Public Radio, a blog that watchdogs public radio format changes and station sales, has published a round-up of recent posts that criticize PRC. It's headlined "College Radio and the Grim Reaper" and includes excerpts from blogs by public radio news veteran Michael Marcotte and Ernesto Aguilar, programmer at Pacifica's KPFT in Houston. Additional links: Current's reports on WDUQ, WNKU's signal expansion, and the complex and controversial transaction involving classical KDFC and free-form college radio KUSF in San Francisco.