University Of Evansville Says No Deal To Sell WUEV/Evansville Yet, But....

For Sale Or Not?

Is the UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE selling its noncommercial Jazz/Variety WUEV/EVANSVILLE, IN or not?  The school issued a statement FRIDAY (10/19) that left the station's future up in the air, noting that no deal is officially in place but pointing to the requirement of confidentiality regarding whatever might be going on with any negotiations.

The statement said that "(w)hile there is still no official agreement in place to sell" the station, and the school decided against a sale in 2005 after considering a deal, "13 years later, we are once again examining the relevancy of the medium and exploring opportunities to enhance our curriculum through providing additional experience in 21st century communications methods."  Other academic departments, the statement indicated, have plans to use the station's space and equipment for "a student-centered multimedia and multidisciplinary experience" that would include podcasting, online TV/video production, and streaming, which would not require holding a station license.  

"Details about unsettled business decisions require a commitment to confidentiality that we must maintain for all parties involved," the statement added.  "We understand that this precludes a full disclosure of public information. We will provide updates as we are able."

WUEV has been on the air since 1951, first as WEVC, then, since 1977, WUEV.  An email from EVP for Academic Affairs and Provost MICHAEL AUSTIN in SEPTEMBER indicated that the station is being sold to a "media group" that made a "very good offer" for the license; the school subsequently walked AUSTIN's comments back, saying that no official agreement had been reached and a decision was still pending.

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