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WXEL/West Palm Waits For FCC Sale Approval, Insurance Claim
October 3, 2006 at 6:19 AM (PT)
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Noncommercial WXEL-TV-F/WEST PALM BEACH is playing a waiting game on two fronts, reports the PALM BEACH POST, which says that the public broadcaster is battling an insurer over paying for repairs to its hurricane-damaged building while waiting for the FCC to rule on its sale to new owners.
WXEL's sale to WNET-TV/NEW YORK and WLIW-TV/GARDEN CITY, NY owner EDUCATIONAL BROADCASTING CORP. and a local consortium for $5 million was announced in APRIL 2005 and filed with the FCC in FEBRUARY, but the Commission has not yet approved the sale.
Meanwhile, WXEL has gone to court to get an order to force ARCH SPECIALTY INSURANCE CO. to go to mediation over the stations' $1.3 million claim for damages suffered a year ago when HURRICANE WILMA swept across SOUTH FLORIDA. Current owner BARRY UNIVERSITY left $622,000 to the station for roof replacement, but repairs to the building's interior are still on hold until the insurance dispute is settled.

