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Pledge-Free Stream FAQ |
| What is the Pledge-Free Stream? The Pledge-Free Stream is an alternate, online audio stream that allows qualifying WBEZ members to listen to WBEZ's NPR broadcast without hearing the pledge drive! This stream is only on during our live pledge drives. It is turned off each evening after our drive ends for the day, then turned back on as the drive resumes. You can access the regular WBEZ broadcast at any time at wbez.org or through the WBEZ App. Who qualifies for the Pledge-Free Stream? All High Fidelity members (with monthly or annually-recurring donations of any amount) have access to the stream. Anyone who makes one-time donations of $250 or more within the same year also has access to the stream. Check if you qualify for access by logging into the Member Center to verify your membership status. (Want to upgrade your membership? Donate now.) How long will I be able to access the Pledge-Free Stream? All High Fidelity members with a recurring giving schedule (monthly or annually) have access to the Pledge-Free Stream as long as their monthly membership is active. One-time donors making $250 or more in contributions within the same year also receive access to the stream for one year. Where is the stream available? You can listen to the Pledge-Free Stream from your computer, phone, or tablet’s web browser. The stream is only available online, during on-air pledge drives and is turned off at all other times. It is not available through the WBEZ App or smart speaker. How can a qualifying member listen to the stream? Qualifying members receive email notification with the link to access the stream a few days before each on-air pledge drive. It’s important that we have your preferred email address on file. Simply click on the link you’ll receive, and you'll automatically start listening to the Pledge-Free Stream.
If you don't qualify, you can upgrade your membership level at any time. Once your membership is updated, you can request access by contacting our Member Services team. We will send you an email with an access link once your qualifying donation has been verified.
My stream is choppy / sometimes it drops the feed / it stops when my mobile device falls asleep. This is likely because your device is low on resources and is having some trouble buffering the audio. Restarting your device should do the trick. Closing out other apps will also help. Also, make sure your Internet connection is strong (WiFi is the best) and that you are accessing the stream through the correct link. Make sure your device Settings allow for audio to stream even after your screen goes dark. Audio may drop in places where wireless signals falter, such as the subway or in an elevator.
In the past, I saved the link to the Pledge-Free-Stream to my web browser Favorites, but it’s no longer working? I clicked the new Pledge-Free Stream link but I still hear pitching.Please delete your web browser cache, close your browser, then relaunch the Pledge-Free Stream. You may also access the stream through an alternate web browser you don't normally use. If you still have trouble accessing the stream, please send an email to membership@wbez.org for assistance. You will hear station ID and sponsorship announcements throughout the pledge-free stream broadcast. These are normal and not part of the pledge drive. If you’re sure you’re hearing the pledge drive, you may need to delete your browser cookies or use a different web browser to enable the stream. How is the Pledge-Free Stream possible? We're running a second broadcast in addition to our regular broadcast. This broadcast requires additional staff time, studios and programming. Why do members who do not already qualify have to sign up to be monthly donors or make a one-time donation of $250?
As Chicago's main source for independent, non-commercial news and stories, WBEZ is a non-profit organization relying on financial support from those who use our services to help pay for them. On-air pledge drives are where WBEZ finds much of our individual support, with the majority of WBEZ's operating budget coming directly from these donors. Because of this, we want to help off-set the cost of the Pledge-Free Stream without taking money away from other areas. We are requesting that non-qualifying members or new members join our monthly membership program (High Fidelity) at any monthly giving rate or make a one-time gift of $250 or more to access the Pledge-Free Stream. |
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