Study Ranks KUAF Among Nation’s Best

A study commissioned by the federal Corporation for Public Broadcasting ranks KUAF in the top 10 percent of public radio stations in the U.S. in providing outstanding audience service and maintaining excellent financial health.

KUAF 91.3 FM is a 100,000-watt station broadcasting from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. It has been a National Public Radio station for the past 20 years.

The study, conducted by consulting firm Brody Weiser Burns, analyzed data from the 314 CPB-qualified public radio licensees for a five-year period from 1999 to 2003, according to a UA release.

The study determined that only 23 percent of all stations had acceptable financial health and above-average audience service while only 10 percent of the total excellent financial health and outstanding audience service.

In contrast, 27 percent of all licensees have the worst of both worlds — poor financial health and below average audience service. Half of all stations fall short on one measure or the other. Either they serve their audiences well but have financial problems (29 percent) or they have strong bottom lines, but lack audience loyalty (21 percent).