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Will SCETV get privatized?

R

Radio-X

Guest
OK, folks, just curious...it ain't a TV board, but

New Jersey just sold off their state-run PBS network, Florida has cut funding for PBS, resulting in Orlando losing their long-time station.

SC is quite the fiscally conservative state, and they have several TV and radio stations that overlap coverage significantly. I wouldn't expect the whole network to get sold off to religious interests as it would probably draw the FCC into the sale, but could you see certain TV and FM stations getting sold to help out the general fund?

Personally, I can't imagine the state getting out of the PBS/NPR business here. I don't think there's enough supporters around the state to keep 2 TV networks and 2 FM formats. Perhaps a leaner single-channel ETV/ETV Radio could be weaned off of the state.

Radio-X
 
The public broadcasting side of things has two funding sources: programming is funded by the ETV Foundation through listener contributions and grants. Facilities are funded by the state. Because of this, and control issues, I do not forsee a privitaized ETV.

In addition, ETV is much more than public broadacsting. A vast majority of their mission is doing communications for state agencies. That is why the defunding efforts always fail.
 
And the above is why NJN was so vulnerable. The state paid for almost everything, the stations provided little return value for the state, and the stations had become afterthoughts among the population. Especially the radio stations. NJN had a foundation, but it wasn't very aggressive. In the end the state chose to sell the stations to community licensees in neighboring states and didn't even consider turning it over to the Foundation.
 
Not only does ETV do all the communications for state agencies, they are a major connection for learning to schools all around the state. People watch lessons on the ETV network every day. Just about every public school in the state has a tower or satellite dish that brings ETV programming to students. They also have their own website portal for learning to students, and their programming is often the only TV viewing that people in schools can watch.

ETV is run on the cheap. Only 5 of their 11 TV stations have any local programs, and other than that, it's all a simulcast of Columbia. Their radio service is pretty good, covering almost every section of the state, but they are a good service for their classical music.
 
charlestondxman said:
ETV is run on the cheap. Only 5 of their 11 TV stations have any local programs, and other than that, it's all a simulcast of Columbia. Their radio service is pretty good, covering almost every section of the state, but they are a good service for their classical music.
Click to expand...
I forgot that ETV is in charge of much of the state-wide telecommunications. Huge resource that would cost much more to send to private enterprise. Plus I'm pretty sure Discovery Channel was/is renting space from ETV's satellite space which brings in some loot.

As much as I enjoy the news/talk service, it seems to be an afterthought to the "original" classical/news format on all the main metro stations. There hasn't been a live voice on there for 2-3 years minus the bi-annual pledge drives. Plus all these news/talk coverage areas are fairly well-covered by other ETV stations or out-of-state NPR stations.

Not that I'm encouraging a reduction in an already reduced-service ETV/ETV Radio, but I'm surprised nobody has had a take to sell off some of these stations that largely duplicate coverage. In a highly conservative legislature with a conservative Gov., somebody would look at selling those licenses for a few mil making them look good: "I helped reduce the deficit!"

(And I wonder if any of the ETV stations have local coverage anymore...WJWJ-TV dropped theirs several years ago for a Columbia simulcast)

Radio-X
 
Since this is a radio board, I have a radio topic to mention.

WNSC should never have dumped jazz. WFAE already has talk covered in the Charlotte area. On the other hand, Rock Hill's WAVO started playing big band music when WNSC dumped jazz, figuring they were filling a void. Actually, it's more of a mix that includes some of what would be called oldies and soft adult contemporary, but much more jazz-oriented than most radio stations today calling themselves "standards".

But in Conway, the situation is more serious. You can't find classical music on the radio anymore! They decided that area needed to have a talk station. Maybe WSCI or Wilmington's WHQR if you have a really good antenna.
 
Chimp,

Classical listenership and contributions are on the decline except in the major markets. The big draw of ears and listener dollars is the NPR News/Talk programming.
 
DudeFan said:
Chimp,

Classical listenership and contributions are on the decline except in the major markets. The big draw of ears and listener dollars is the NPR News/Talk programming.
Click to expand...
I couldn't care less.

The one station that was playing instrumental music (other than Radio Baha'i, which can do what it wants and is not guaranteed to continue) didn't care about it enough to keep it.
 
Now that I can read Arbitron ratings of noncommercial stations, I do know WDAV isn't getting big numbers. It does, however, have a big signal.

People in the Charlotte and Raleigh markets are spoiled, I guess.
 
SCETV apparently has support in SC. Gov. Nikki Palin Haley has vowed to abolish it and in fact she vetoed the appropriations bill which would fund SCETV for the coming fiscal year, however, her veto was overridden by the legislature. SCETV is safe for another year, thank goodness. Rather amazing, considering how right-wing SC politics are these days.
 
fortmill said:
Rather amazing, considering how right-wing SC politics are these days.
Click to expand...

Not a joke, but I envy living in SC for this among other reasons - NC has gotten so liberal and an expensive place to live. At least from my prospective, SC seems to be a cheaper place to live than NC - I could be wrong. But, I would have to sell my home and it's hardly a sellers' market anywhere you look. Fortmill, maybe we could just trade homes sometime if you ever want to move north. ;D

But back to the topic...I read in Mark Washburn's column in the Charlotte Observer that UNC-TV is looking into broadcasting some college sports:

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/07/11/2446852/heads-up-big-bird-public-tv-fields.html
 
^ "UNC-TV plans to carry the games on its "Explorer" channel"

I was actually hoping to see App in HD. So much for that.
 
eacalhoun1: Not a joke, but I envy living in SC for this among other reasons - NC has gotten so liberal and an expensive place to live. At least from my prospective, SC seems to be a cheaper place to live than NC - I could be wrong.

If you'd like to live in what's increasingly looking like a third world country within the US, by all means, come on down! Far above average unemployment, first or near the top in every disease, uneducated work force, poor school system, yep we've got it going on here!
 
Al Timiter said:
If you'd like to live in what's increasingly looking like a third world country within the US, by all means, come on down! Far above average unemployment, first or near the top in every disease, uneducated work force, poor school system, yep we've got it going on here!
Click to expand...

Hahaha....that's why I cringed when I moved back to northern VA. There's no potholes the size of children, there are oodles of police and government workers who actually are efficient, and many people in the country can read! ;D Public broadcasting has been mostly written off the state budget 10+ years ago too! And it still seems to do very, very well for itself...And above all that, the govenor here hasn't made any trips to Argentina recently!

However, I do miss ETV Radio, buying moonshine and single cigarettes from the liquor store because revenue cops don't care, and that whole Palmetto State pride. So yeah, if the only time you want to talk to the government is when you send your income tax in, SC is your spot!

Radio-X
 
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