They swung the axe at New Jersey Network....Radio & Television

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NJN, the state’s public television and radio station, issued layoff notices to its 170 state employees, and additional notices are pending. The thing I don't understand about this whole thing. Through out all the meetings the State Senators were waiting for NJN Staff and creators to start a "non-profit" group. Why did they not do this instead of more of not helping them selves? Stop this ship from sinking? It was clear the Gov. did not want this any longer and no matter what was said at any of these meetings, it did not matter!

They now like the other State employees given their pink slips on the 15th of November....They have 45 days to clean out their desks, remote vans, belongings and tools in the transmitters shacks....turn out the lights and go home! And, Fade to black~~

 

[TimeIsTight]

The way this NJN situation is being handled is starting to look like a brinkmanship stunt by both the governor and the network management. That is both sides might push this to the point of disaster, in this case having the network go dark for a while, in order to get more of what they want out of the proceedings.

The governor made it clear in his budget plan that he wanted the state to get out of the TV and Radio business, and that he had every intention of taking away the state's subsidy. But you can't turn an ocean liner around in 30-seconds, and it seems unreasonable to ask an organization like NJN to change its entire financial model in a matter of months when it has been running the same way for decades.

It's not unreasonable to give an organization like this time to explore alternatives, or seek out bridge funding to keep going normally while a good alternative operating plan is put in place. This kind of shock politics going on now could lead to bad decisions made in a panic atmosphere that won't serve the citizens of New Jersey well, nor respect the 40-year investment they have in this TV and radio network.

It was a bit of a shock to hear on NJN News tonight that all employees had been given layoff notices. There have been rumors that WNET.org is interested in the TV operations. WNET does a great job on Channel-13 and if NJN winds up carrying programming similar to WLIW Channel-21, which is also part of WNET, than NJN viewers will be well served, but they also might be better served by an independent NJN funded by NJ foundations, businesses and viewers.

On the radio side, rumor has it that WNYC is interested in picking up the NJN stations. Again, you can't find a better public broadcast organization to take over, but it is essentially a New York biased organization and New Jersey may likely find itself as a poor step child in the family. Again, if an independent NJ non-profit organization can't be formed and funded, then without a doubt WNYC is the best choice, although WHYY-FM might be a better choice for some of the Southern NJN stations if the current NJN network isn't going to be independently programmed just for New Jersey as a whole.

Over the next couple of months lets hope some way can be found to make this switch smooth, with the idea of finding the best solution, not just the quickest or absolute cheapest. If the worst happens, the networks may have to crash and burn and start all over again after a period of winter darkness. We are not stupid people here, New Jersey can do better than that.

 

[MattParker]

From reports I've read either WHYY and WNET will share NJN or split it (WHYY gets South Jersey transmitters and WNET gets North Jersey). WNYC used to get government owned (City of New York). The mayor wanted to get out of broadcasting and rich fans of public radio started a private foundation to take over. Sounds like no one like that is stepping forward for NJN.

Apparently there are work rules that require advance lay-off notices for state workers. If nobody takes over January 1st, NJN radio and TV go silent. They have one year after that to find new owners and get back on the air or the FCC takes back the licenses.

This isn't all bad. I have a bit of a problem with the government owning a news outlet and, in effect, covering itself.

With all the money saved by shutting down NJN, Fatso Christie will be able to check into the Plaza and order "mass quantities" from room service. Maybe Spitzer could give him the name of an escort service he could call if he ever decides to investigate sins other than gluttony at taxpayer expense. Then he can go back to Jersey - unless trains are delayed because of some back-up in the one and only tunnel. Then the taxpayers can get him a ride in a chopper.

 

[nd2023]

So I guess NJN will not be getting HD radio

 

[MickeyD]

From reports I've read either WHYY and WNET will share NJN or split it (WHYY gets South Jersey transmitters and WNET gets North Jersey). WNYC used to get government owned (City of New York). The mayor wanted to get out of broadcasting and rich fans of public radio started a private foundation to take over. Sounds like no one like that is stepping forward for NJN.

Apparently there are work rules that require advance lay-off notices for state workers. If nobody takes over January 1st, NJN radio and TV go silent. They have one year after that to find new owners and get back on the air or the FCC takes back the licenses.

This isn't all bad. I have a bit of a problem with the government owning a news outlet and, in effect, covering itself.

With all the money saved by shutting down NJN, Fatso Christie will be able to check into the Plaza and order "mass quantities" from room service. Maybe Spitzer could give him the name of an escort service he could call if he ever decides to investigate sins other than gluttony at taxpayer expense. Then he can go back to Jersey - unless trains are delayed because of some back-up in the one and only tunnel. Then the taxpayers can get him a ride in a chopper.

I don't know about you but I am tired of paying outrageous taxes. The " keep spending" attitude isn't helping our economy either. Besides the local news, that NJ12 does much better, what does NJN TV provide? PBS is PBS and they air the same shows on a different time schedule.

Exactly who is going to step up to a network that is non-profit in these times? Commercial stations are having a tough time these days.

 

[qtpieislit]

From reports I've read either WHYY and WNET will share NJN or split it (WHYY gets South Jersey transmitters and WNET gets North Jersey). WNYC used to get government owned (City of New York). The mayor wanted to get out of broadcasting and rich fans of public radio started a private foundation to take over. Sounds like no one like that is stepping forward for NJN.

Apparently there are work rules that require advance lay-off notices for state workers. If nobody takes over January 1st, NJN radio and TV go silent. They have one year after that to find new owners and get back on the air or the FCC takes back the licenses.

This isn't all bad. I have a bit of a problem with the government owning a news outlet and, in effect, covering itself.

With all the money saved by shutting down NJN, Fatso Christie will be able to check into the Plaza and order "mass quantities" from room service. Maybe Spitzer could give him the name of an escort service he could call if he ever decides to investigate sins other than gluttony at taxpayer expense. Then he can go back to Jersey - unless trains are delayed because of some back-up in the one and only tunnel. Then the taxpayers can get him a ride in a chopper.

I don't know about you but I am tired of paying outrageous taxes. The " keep spending" attitude isn't helping our economy either. Besides the local news, that NJ12 does much better, what does NJN TV provide? PBS is PBS and they air the same shows on a different time schedule.

Exactly who is going to step up to a network that is non-profit in these times? Commercial stations are having a tough time these days.

NJN is a left wing relic that needs to be put out of our misery. Government controlled broadcast models are still available for those who want them. In Russia, North Korea and Iran.

 

[MattParker]

I don't know about you but I am tired of paying outrageous taxes. The " keep spending" attitude isn't helping our economy either. Besides the local news, that NJ12 does much better, what does NJN TV provide? PBS is PBS and they air the same shows on a different time schedule.

Exactly who is going to step up to a network that is non-profit in these times? Commercial stations are having a tough time these days.

PBS is PBS but it isn't all of public television (as they are finding out in LA). Yes, if all NJN does after state ownership is run the same shows at different times, then it's not worth the money or the bandwidth. WLIW channel 21 on Long Island runs a good many different programs (programs not seen on WNET channel 13). WYBE channel 35 in Philadelphia has very little duplication of WHYY-TV channel 12. There is a place of an alternative public TV network serving New Jersey.

Commercial stations have their own problems, which have their own causes. There is no shortage of foundations and rich people to give money to public broadcasting. Poor people are having economic problems right now; not rich people. As I mentioned, the WNYC Foundation came up with the cash to buy WNYC AM and FM from the city, build a fancy new facility in SOHO and then pick up WQXR. Both WNET and WHYY (also owned by foundations) have cash on hand, as well.

 

[ansky212]

I have no problem with NJN going dark if that's what ends up happening. In the 15 years I've lived in NJ I don't think I have watched more than an hour or two total on NJN. The two PBS programs I have watched in the past year were the one about the St. Anthony's basketball team in Jersey City, and the 4-hour program about MLB baseball that was on last month. I watched both of those on WNET and don't remember them ever airing on NJN anyway. Then there's WLIW too. We don't need 3 PBS stations in the market.

 

[MickeyD]

I don't know about you but I am tired of paying outrageous taxes. The " keep spending" attitude isn't helping our economy either. Besides the local news, that NJ12 does much better, what does NJN TV provide? PBS is PBS and they air the same shows on a different time schedule.

Exactly who is going to step up to a network that is non-profit in these times? Commercial stations are having a tough time these days.

PBS is PBS but it isn't all of public television (as they are finding out in LA). Yes, if all NJN does after state ownership is run the same shows at different times, then it's not worth the money or the bandwidth. WLIW channel 21 on Long Island runs a good many different programs (programs not seen on WNET channel 13). WYBE channel 35 in Philadelphia has very little duplication of WHYY-TV channel 12. There is a place of an alternative public TV network serving New Jersey.

Commercial stations have their own problems, which have their own causes. There is no shortage of foundations and rich people to give money to public broadcasting. Poor people are having economic problems right now; not rich people. As I mentioned, the WNYC Foundation came up with the cash to buy WNYC AM and FM from the city, build a fancy new facility in SOHO and then pick up WQXR. Both WNET and WHYY (also owned by foundations) have cash on hand, as well.

You know I never thought of that. The FCC is looking for TV stations to sell their bandwidth and NJ could actually make money by selling the TV spectrum. I don't know what the radio spectrum would be worth unless the NAB could do some fancy footwork, like they have been known to do, with the spectrum and turn some of NJ's low power AM commercials into FM commercial stations.

Actually, NJN doesn't really have to go away. Instead of having an entire staff, you keep perhaps a studio in Montclair (next to NYC) and New Brunswick open for the local stuff. Then you run the rest of the stuff from either WHYY, WNET or WLIW. People at home would never know. Wait until COmcast takes over NBC next year, and my guess is, the tech operations will be reocated to Colorado

 

[TheBigA]

Government controlled broadcast models are still available for those who want them. In Russia, North Korea and Iran.

And Britian, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, and pretty much every democratic country in the world.

 

[TheBigA]

Actually, NJN doesn't really have to go away. Instead of having an entire staff, you keep perhaps a studio in Montclair (next to NYC) and New Brunswick open for the local stuff.

Who would pay for it?

It kills me that there isn't enough money to keep management in NJ, instead of once again turning to NY or Philly for help. This just perpetuates the image that NJ is a waste dump between two important cities. I know that it's a lot more than that. There are great educational and cultural institutions that could be drawn upon for support and guidance. Unfortunately the state is having a going-out-of-business sale. You can buy Old Queens if you come up with the right offer.

We all grouse and complane about corporate radio firing local staffs and replacing them with piped in talent from some place else, and look what's happening at a non-corporate operation. What does that tell you?

 

[MickeyD]

Actually, NJN doesn't really have to go away. Instead of having an entire staff, you keep perhaps a studio in Montclair (next to NYC) and New Brunswick open for the local stuff.

Who would pay for it?

It kills me that there isn't enough money to keep management in NJ, instead of once again turning to NY or Philly for help. This just perpetuates the image that NJ is a waste dump between two important cities. I know that it's a lot more than that. There are great educational and cultural institutions that could be drawn upon for support and guidance. Unfortunately the state is having a going-out-of-business sale. You can buy Old Queens if you come up with the right offer.

We all grouse and complane about corporate radio firing local staffs and replacing them with piped in talent from some place else, and look what's happening at a non-corporate operation. What does that tell you?

The scenario I described is only a fraction of the cost of running a bunch of high-powered TV transmitters that are received by three to five percent of the audience. The remainder see it on cable or satellite and that would remain. If a foundation took it over it would me more financially manageable. If we cannot afford it we can't afford it.

This is the scenario the FCC has for the entire TV industry over the next few years. Take the bandwidth, auction it, give the owner a cut and put the station on cable.

 

[TheBigA]

The scenario I described is only a fraction of the cost of running a bunch of high-powered TV transmitters that are received by three to five percent of the audience.

Actually the transmitters cover more than 3-5%. But regardless, getting on cable systems isn't a slam dunk. Lot of competition to get carried, and the best they could hope for is carriage on the public access or community channels, rather than what they get now.

The biggest costs NJN has are pensions for retired workers, operation and maintenance of the physical plant, and staffing. That's a big nut. No one wants to pick up the pensions, no one wants to rehire employees at their current salaries, and no one wants to keep all the local facilities. What NJ will end up with is a system that rebroadcasts the NY or Philly signals and no local programming.

 

[KC2LDY]

NJN is a left wing relic that needs to be put out of our misery. Government controlled broadcast models are still available for those who want them. In Russia, North Korea and Iran.

Sam, Sam, Sam... I understand your point but you have to understand why NJN was created in the first place. It was way back in the early 1970s when New Jersey received absolutely no service from TV stations in New York and Philadelphia - long before WWOR Channel 9 was re-licensed to Secaucus (not that they serve New Jersey in any meaningful way anyway). NJN was created as a public service so New Jerseyans could get some coverage of their own state and legislature. There was no Internet.

Looking back, NJN has actually done a pretty decent job over the past 40 years or so One can't call them biased and they haven't appeared afraid to cover controversial issues involving those in power. But it is true that, beyond the nightly newscast and election coverage, NJN hasn't been offering much other than old PBS reruns - at least in recent years (they used to have a lot of great, original public-affairs programming). But that newscast and election coverage are important. I propose that the NJN stations be divided between New York's WNET and Philly's WHYY... with an independent production team in either Newark or Trenton to produce a nightly New Jersey newscast to see seen on the NJN stations and Channels 13 and 12.

See, the problem is, while there's no money, NJN's original mission is still valid: The Garden State still isn't served well by New York and Philly TV. News 12 is a joke (sorry, but it's true). Radio news in New Jersey is all but dead. Sure, there's the Internet. But the Internet is mostly retreads of newspaper stories - while there are fewer newspapers than ever before - all with fewer reporters and resources than ever before. That's where public broadcasting comes in.

And, as for government-run broadcasting be outdated... ever give a little operation called the BBC a listen? Yes, I understand those who says private industry, not government, should do everything. but I fail to see where private industry has done anything to deliver meaningful New Jerey-oriented news to the residents of the Garden State. Not now, not in the past... and, by the look of things, not in the future, either.

 

[MickeyD]

The scenario I described is only a fraction of the cost of running a bunch of high-powered TV transmitters that are received by three to five percent of the audience.

Actually the transmitters cover more than 3-5%. But regardless, getting on cable systems isn't a slam dunk. Lot of competition to get carried, and the best they could hope for is carriage on the public access or community channels, rather than what they get now.

The biggest costs NJN has are pensions for retired workers, operation and maintenance of the physical plant, and staffing. That's a big nut. No one wants to pick up the pensions, no one wants to rehire employees at their current salaries, and no one wants to keep all the local facilities. What NJ will end up with is a system that rebroadcasts the NY or Philly signals and no local programming.

You don't understand. The FCC's plan is to "voluntarily" take the TV spectrum and auction it off to the wireless industry.A portion of the proceeds would be given to the licensee and cable and satellite carriage would be mandatory if the station was covered by the must-carry rules.

I follow TV much more than radio because I am a TV guy and this is the new FCC's mandate. This didn't come from my head. If they turn the station over to a foundation, if they can find a foundation, this will transpire. The DTV transmission method the US chose is awful and doesn't work as well as the old analog system did.

Alright, let's say NJN is a commercial station and they have to have cutbacks what do they do? Why are state workers immune from layoffs? The state doesn't have the tax revenues to continue running NJN for exactly the reasons you mentioned above.

 

[TheBigA]

You don't understand. The FCC's plan is to "voluntarily" take the TV spectrum and auction it off to the wireless industry.

Actually I do understand, but that's not the issue here. The state of NJ is defunding NJN and looking to sell it to someone else. There are no plans that I know of to return the channels to the FCC. That hasn't come up at all in any of the discussions. If they turn it over to an out of state foundation, it is in the foundation's best interest to simply exend their coverage into NJ. Plus the state legislature will have all kinds of protections to ensure the stations operate for a specified period.

 

[MickeyD]

You don't understand. The FCC's plan is to "voluntarily" take the TV spectrum and auction it off to the wireless industry.

Actually I do understand, but that's not the issue here. The state of NJ is defunding NJN and looking to sell it to someone else. There are no plans that I know of to return the channels to the FCC. That hasn't come up at all in any of the discussions. If they turn it over to an out of state foundation, it is in the foundation's best interest to simply exend their coverage into NJ. Plus the state legislature will have all kinds of protections to ensure the stations operate for a specified period.

No plans by whom? The FCC has plans for it and whomever owns it will cash in on it. I wouldn't think that the NJ legislature would even have this on their radar. It hasn't come up in any of the discussions because they are looking at them as non-commercial TV channels. My guess is they haven't any idea of the TV station's BW value.

I don't want to pay for it anymore. If it can't stand alone then it is time for it to go away. It is time for the state to live within it's means.

 

[[email protected]]

Senate President Stephen Sweeney has introduced a bill creating a seven-member bipartisan Restructuring Committee to handle the transfer of the public broadcasting system from state control to a nonprofit corporation or other entity.The bill reflects the will of Gov. Chris Christie. From the beginning, since February.

The bill abolishes the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority and the New Jersey Network Foundation. The authority was created by law in 1968 and is the operator of the public television and radio network. The foundation, however, is a private non-profit corporation that is not subject to dissolution by the government.

Locally here The Richard Stockton College definitely wants the radio stations and most likely the TV licenses. I think a State College is the best "new home" to provide Jersey only programming.
What do you think??

~~Ron

 

[TheBigA]

No plans by whom? The FCC has plans for it and whomever owns it will cash in on it. I wouldn't think that the NJ legislature would even have this on their radar.

How do you know?

I don't want to pay for it anymore. If it can't stand alone then it is time for it to go away. It is time for the state to live within it's means.

The amount of money this will save won't even pay for the bottled water budget in the state house. Just because YOU don't like something doesn't mean everyone has to agree. You can't pick and choose where your tax money goes.

 

[TheBigA]

Locally here The Richard Stockton College definitely wants the radio stations and most likely the TV licenses. I think a State College is the best "new home" to provide Jersey only programming.
What do you think??

Great idea...where will they get the money? The state? The same state that just shut it down?

Stockton is in the boonies. This facility should be run by Rutgers. But they don't have any money either.