And South Jerseyans have WMGM-TV[NBC40]. A few critics have used them for target practice over the years, but I was always proud of my association with them. And no Philadelphia station, not even WPVI, covers South Jersey as thoroughly as WMGM-TV does.
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NJN Sold To WNET-13
- Thread starter Cosmopolite
- Start date
Maybe, Neil, but WMGM doesn't reach much past the Atlantic County boundary in either over-the-air coverage or news coverage. It barely ever touches on Cumberland County stories, and nothing from Salem or Gloucester Counties. The Philadelphia stations may cover Camden County if someone is murdered, but no one ever touches Gloucester or Salem.
WMGM not bothering with Cumberland, Gloucester, or Salem is not a bad move on their part. They have no real viewers in those counties and no advertisers. Covering Atlantic, Cape May, and south Ocean county makes sense for WMGM and they've always done that amazingly well.
Yet WNJS, which would be the natural choice for that kind of coverage since it can be received clearly throughout the five counties of South Jersey, almost never touches them. So unless WNJS becomes more locally-programmed (unlikely now that it won't even be operated by people from within the State but from Manhattan) or we finally get a proper commercial or non-com station assigned to Gloucester or Salem County, we will never have news coverage for the Western Half of South Jersey by anyone.
WMGM not bothering with Cumberland, Gloucester, or Salem is not a bad move on their part. They have no real viewers in those counties and no advertisers. Covering Atlantic, Cape May, and south Ocean county makes sense for WMGM and they've always done that amazingly well.
Yet WNJS, which would be the natural choice for that kind of coverage since it can be received clearly throughout the five counties of South Jersey, almost never touches them. So unless WNJS becomes more locally-programmed (unlikely now that it won't even be operated by people from within the State but from Manhattan) or we finally get a proper commercial or non-com station assigned to Gloucester or Salem County, we will never have news coverage for the Western Half of South Jersey by anyone.
M
MickeyD
Guest
TheBigA said:
Funny it isn't typical if Corzine was doing it or creepier yet, McGreevy. It cost $1200 that he paid for out of his pocket. NJ cannot afford NJN and that is all there is too it. The taxes here in NJ are outrageous.
I hope some of you file a petition to deny, it is your time to waste, and the worse that can happen is they take the licenses away and any revenue the NJ could have received for the auction. I don't think the FCC would mind taking all of the proceeds.
MickeyD said:
Oh come on....$11 million for NJN is less than the bottled water budget in the State House. Cut NJN and it won't make a bit of difference in taxes. With all the wealth in the state, there's no excuse for the taxes. Other states with gambling, like Nevada, have used casinos to eliminate taxes. Not NJ. Other states with big corporations, like Delaware, have been able to cut taxes. Not NJ. Even with all the taxes, the income taxes, the sales tax, and the property tax, NJ schools are terrible and the roads are a disgrace. Using taxes as a reason to cut public broadcasting is just an excuse, and when it's gone, the high taxes will still be there. So you give away a state resource for nothing. Wonderful.
It's about cutting nonessential spending. If you can't cut a slam-dunk nonessential frill like state-run broadcasting, what can you cut? Like it or not, this is going to go one across the nation as the public runs out of patience with bankrupt spending policies. States with broadcasting facilities should plan ahead so that perhaps they can receive some value in exchange for cutting loose unnecessary media outlets.TheBigA said:
But even if New Jersey gives away NJN, they still eliminate the annual expenses. If they can get a like-minded public broadcaster to pick up the facilities and do something state-centric that media consumers will actually pay attention to, more power to them.
musichead1029 said:
Let's start with Drumthwacket. Christie doesn't even use it. There are lots of things in the state budget that cost more than public broadcasting that would be considered "frills" to most people.
I knew NJ was in trouble when toll takers on the Parkway made more money than teachers in public schools. And get better benefits. The place is a mess. $11 million from public broadcasting won't begin to solve the problems of the state.
I know this seems stupid but rather than sell it, why not make it self-sufficient? That's what they do in states that know what they're doing. But not New Jersey.
Sorry Pab, gotta dissagree with ya on this one. Although TV40 is on a shoestring budget when compared to it's Philly big brothers' News Divisions, but it does a decent job with the toolbox given it. Hey, it's still market 163! No chopper, no live ENG, but their lead story 2-3 nights a week is from Bridgeton or Vineland/Millville or southern Burlington/Ocean. They DO get around. The Sports segment always covers every event from the Millville Motorsports Park. And with the latest info from TVBR showing only 8% of viewing is traditional 'over the air', signal doesn't really matter. Take a fresh look, you may be surprised.
M
MickeyD
Guest
TheBigA said:
Do you mean "no services" Delaware? ATlantic City is no Las Vegas and never will be. No high taxes are all compliments of the Teachers Union and State Workers Pension Fund that was signed off with Corzine and his girlfriend. This has been going on long before Christie.
I don't see the resource part of it. Maybe thirty years ago but not now.
MickeyD said:
You're right because years of continual budget cuts forced NJN into a shadow of what it once was. There are states half the size of NJ (like South Carolina) that spend more on public broadcasting. NJN could have been an incredible resource, utilizing the unique and valuable elements that exist in the state, in terms of talent, geography, and beauty. But instead it became a repeater for more successful stations in other parts of the country. One of the reasons why WBGO has been able to exist for 30 years without state financing is it recognized the value of its geographical location. Why couldn't NJN do the same?
R
[email protected]
Guest
For quite some time now I have not been able to receive TV 40 WMGM over the air in New Gretna, not very far from Linwood.
I can receive Channel 44 thou WMCN. And many others now, 3.1,6.1,6.2,6.3. Four or Five channel 8's, 12's, 17's, 23's.29,48's.61's and so on. But No Channel 40. They don't even come up here when the bombing range is on fire or when Bass River State Forest is on fire anymore, but channel 6 is always here. NJN has never been here for anything ever.
I can receive Channel 44 thou WMCN. And many others now, 3.1,6.1,6.2,6.3. Four or Five channel 8's, 12's, 17's, 23's.29,48's.61's and so on. But No Channel 40. They don't even come up here when the bombing range is on fire or when Bass River State Forest is on fire anymore, but channel 6 is always here. NJN has never been here for anything ever.
rr: not to be an apologist for tv40...i have nothing to do with them in any way...but...
they were there for those stories, they gave video to wcau... a station does not need to be there at every event to cover it, just as the philly stations vans are daily in the tv 40 parking lot swapping exclusive video that the local guys shot here.
as far as picking up the signal in new gretna, you're a 'radio guy', you know the tower is all the way down in swainton/avalon, not linwood, and the station is not nearly as powerful as the philly counterparts. and you will need to rotate the antenna sse from wnw where you have it aimed for philly. that's like talking into the side of an EV RE-20...it ain't gonna pick up much.
they were there for those stories, they gave video to wcau... a station does not need to be there at every event to cover it, just as the philly stations vans are daily in the tv 40 parking lot swapping exclusive video that the local guys shot here.
as far as picking up the signal in new gretna, you're a 'radio guy', you know the tower is all the way down in swainton/avalon, not linwood, and the station is not nearly as powerful as the philly counterparts. and you will need to rotate the antenna sse from wnw where you have it aimed for philly. that's like talking into the side of an EV RE-20...it ain't gonna pick up much.
In today's news section, Sen. Frank Lautenberg has spoken out against the plan. More details have emerged, and it turns out that WNET will gain $2 million in CPB funds plus $2 million in tower leases. Those towers sit on state land, maintained by state employees. How is it possible that the money for those leases could go to WNET and not the state? This is starting to sound like a scam.
My question is: Why isn't the NJN Foundation getting control?
My question is: Why isn't the NJN Foundation getting control?
K
KC2LDY
Guest
musichead1029 said:
Well, let's be accurate here. WWOR had very good ratings for its news programming when that programming contained a lot of news. Channel 9's news ratings dropped into the cellar after News Corp. took over, gutted the news operation and turned it into, essentially, a promotion for entertainment programming. Moreover, WWOR, when it did real news, was quite logically heavy on North Jersey news - not the whole state.
Meanwhile, has anyone checked the state of local news on New Jersey's commerical radio outlets? It's essentially rewrites out of the paper with rip & read wire copy - assuming you can find it all. The same goes for the Internet.
Let's be clear about the argument: We can support or oppose government funding for New Jersey news programming. Fair enough. But saying that there is any kind of meaningful alternative from commercial outlets right now is being disingenuous.
One more thing. NBC 40 is carried on both DirecTV & Dish Network.
And don't they have a CP to move the transmitter into Atlantic County?
And don't they have a CP to move the transmitter into Atlantic County?
Why would WNET take over the net without any incentive? They'll have to invest some of their resources in it to keep it running and the state will most likely put some requirements on the nature of the programming at least initially. Will 'NET assume maintenance of the towers? They should - the idea is to get the state out of funding broadcasting.TheBigA said:
Does the NJN foundation have the resources to run the net without government funding (i.e. adequate fundraising expertise)?
M
MickeyD
Guest
TheBigA said:
No one listens to NJN Radio and WBGO does well with grants. They received over a half-million bucks to relocate their transmitter site and buy new equipment. South Carolina is a right-to-work state and NJ isn't even close. I sometimes tune in to NJN News and they don't even come close to News 12 from Cablevision. Neither service is free. News 12 you pay for and NJN, well they just suck your wallet.
Steve Biro said:
When was the last time you watched WWOR's newscast? They have actually improved greatly over the past year. They started covering a lot more stories from NJ that the other NYC stations don't touch. I'm not saying the newscast is perfect. I hate when they do the debate segment every night where they have 2 people on arguing both sides of a current event topic. I have never like NJN's tv newscast since it isn't even real news. It's much too heavy into politics and other public service type stories.
Interesting. What do you consider "real news?" Certainly not the murder and other crime stories along with lifestyle tip features that commercial outlets run. Those things don't have any impact on the lives of the vast majority of viewers. Politics, while dry if not presented properly, does.ansky212 said:
NJN's newscast isn't perfect, but it's about the only thing they do that's unique and sometimes worthwhile. Hence, moving that one show to another outlet available throughout NJ would eliminate any reason for NJN to exist.
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