Jeff Jarvis asks a useful question: Why can’t we download all of NPR (they are playing the Digital Restrictions Management game, using audio streams only, vs. clean MP3 downloads). In other words, NPR policies mean that we, the public cannot listen to their programming on our ipods or other mp3 players.
Not very public… (Unfortunately, WPR adopts the same restrictive approach).
Daily Archives: May 19, 2004
Madison Schools Budget Update
Barb Schrank summarizes Monday evening’s School Board budget discussions ($1m of changes to the Administration’s $308m budget, including the first ever fee for an academic program ($50 for strings)). Schrank also discusses the urgent need for the board to adopt a more proactive budgeting process…..
More on Madison Air Service
Marv Balousek writes that Northwest may add some non stop flights from Madison (to destinations other than their fortress hubs in Detroit, Minneapolis and Memphis):
Northwest’s Jim Cron said the growing popularity of regional jets also could inspire a competitor to begin offering more nonstop flights from Madison. He said leisure destinations like Florida and Las Vegas might be the most successful.
Brad Livingston, Dane County Regional Airport director, said he plans to meet next month with airline scheduling officials, including Northwest, to talk about improving service to Madison. He said the number of Dane County Airport passengers rose 13.6 percent in April over March and is 6 percent higher this year than in 2003.
I would be very surprised if they did this. The only reason they’ve added non stop flights in Milwaukee is to kill off Midwest airlines. Like other major airlines, once the competition is gone, we’re back to connecting via the fortress hubs.
On the other hand, this is possibly good news. However, the announcement smells like a request for local airline subsidies. I still think the best approach for MSN is to do everything possible to bring Southwest to town.
UPDATE: Northwest doesn’t like Wisconsin’s tax subsidies for Midwest Airlines and Air Wisconsin (I don’t either). Keep in mind that NWA has benefited greatly from Minnesota subsidies.