Gov's Plan Would Make New Jersey Network Independent

Gov. Christie

NEW JERSEY NETWORK, the state's public radio and television operation, will become independent of the state, if plans by new Governor CHRIS CHRISTIE are implemented in the state's budget. The PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER reports that Gov. CHRISTIE is looking to spin NJN off into an independent entity as of JANUARY 1st. NJN Interim Exec. Dir. HOWARD BLUMENTHAL told the state Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee TUESDAY that the stations would continue producing NEW JERSEY-centric news and public affairs programming across all media platforms.

Christie's plan cuts NJN's budget in half for the next fiscal year starting JULY 1st. "We'll do more, we'll do it with less. Our production systems will change so they're consistent with the industry, not with the industry 20 years ago," said BLUMENTHAL.

NJN owns nine radio stations, WNJT-F/TRENTON, WNJN-F/ATLANTIC CITY, WNJS/BERLIN, WNJM/MANAHAWKIN, WNJB-F/BRIDGETON, WNJZ/CAPE MAY, WNJO/TOMS RIVER, WNJP/SUSSEX, and WNJY-F/NETCONG, and four TV stations, WNJT-TV/TRENTON, WNJN-TV/MONTCLAIR, WNJB-TV/NEW BRUNSWICK, and WNJS-TV/CAMDEN, along with six translators.

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