State Legislators Mull What To Do With New Jersey Network

Future Sale?

The NEW JERSEY legislature is considering whether to sell all or part of the state's NEW JERSEY NETWORK public broadcasting operation, and the possibilities include either selling off or expanding the statewide radio network.

The STAR-LEDGER reports that five hours of testimony before a joint committee of the state Senate and Assembly in TRENTON TUESDAY offered the option of selling the radio stations to a third party to subsidize increased television production, selling one or more of the state's four TV licenses to finance expansion of the radio network, spinoff of all of the stations to a nonprofit foundation, or putting the stations under an autonomous public authority.

Governor CHRIS CHRISTIE, whose austerity proposals have drawn national attention, has proposed ending NEW JERSEY NETWORK's $11 million state subsidy and selling or transferring the licenses. A report by the committee is scheduled to be released to CHRISTIE and the Legislature by OCTOBER 15th, after two more meetings in POMONA and MONTCLAIR.

« see more Net News