PLU, Advisory Board Debate What Money, Other Contributions School Puts Into KPLU/Tacoma-Seattle

More Disputin'

The saga of the proposed sale by PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY News-Talk-Jazz KPLU/TACOMA-SEATTLE to the UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON's crosstown News-Talk KUOW/SEATTLE has now focused on a dispute between PLU and opponents over how much money and in-kind contributions the school puts into the station.

The TACOMA NEWS-TRIBUNE reports that the station's community advisory council Chairman, STEPHEN TAN, says that the school annually puts $30,000 in cash into the station to pay part of the GM's salary, while the school includes in-kind contributions like HR, bookkeeping, payroll, legal, and maintenance costs in coming up with a figure of $1.5 million. 

TAN's response is that "If they want to play that game, then they’ll have to acknowledge that KPLU’s in-kind contribution to the university far exceeds PLU’s to KPLU," estimating that the station gives the school $2.5 million a year in advertising and PR; school spokesperson DONNA GIBBS put that figure at about $200,000 in promotional announcements, which will continue for five years under the sale agreement.

After a rally by about 40 students and others opposing the KPLU sale THURSDAY, the board of the PLU Alumni Association announced its support for the sale.

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