TRENTON — Even before the deal is complete, opposition is mounting against the state’s plan to sign a management agreement with Channel 13 WNET to operate New Jersey’s public television network. Members of the Legislature — who must sign off on any contract — and union officials are calling on Gov. Chris Christie to reconsider shifting management of New...
News Anchor Jim Hooker preps for the evening news broadcast at the New Jersey Network Studios in Trenton in April 2010.TRENTON — Even before the deal is complete, opposition is mounting against the state’s plan to sign a management agreement with Channel 13 WNET to operate New Jersey’s public television network.
Members of the Legislature — who must sign off on any contract — and union officials are calling on Gov. Chris Christie to reconsider shifting management of New Jersey Network to WNET, the country’s flagship public broadcaster.
Union officials say an agreement with WNET will mean the loss of all 130 jobs as the new operation will run with a lean staff of 15 to 20.
"Its headed for disaster," Communications Workers of America spokesman Dudley Burdge said of the future of NJN.
Treasury officials are expecting to announce next week that they have reached an agreement with WNET, the New Jersey-licensed but New York City-based PBS station, according to sources with knowledge of the talks. WNET will incorporate a new nonprofit in New Jersey to run the television side of the current NJN operation. The Caucus Educational Corp, a nonprofit producer of public affairs programs headed by Steve Adubato, Jr., will be among those providing New Jersey-centric shows.
State officials also are considering bids for the sale or management of NJN’s radio network, and they will announce that winner at the same time as the TV deal, sources say. The Legislature then has 15 days to review them before voting on the proposal.
The union, which filed grievances against the state in the fall, filed a lawsuit in Mercer County last week claiming the pending layoffs violate its current contract. It has bought radio spots, too, to make its case against the deal.
Assemblyman Thomas Giblin (D-Essex) said he wants lawmakers to hold hearings before the 15-day review period ends. A member of the bipartisan Legislative task force that explored the issue last fall, Giblin said he fears a deal was struck before the formal process was completed.
"Rumors that existed six months ago are coming to bear," Giblin said about a deal involving Caucus and WNET. "It's something that should be looked at."
Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester), who had a 20-year broadcasting career before turning his attention to politics, is puzzled by the administration’s willingness to give the network away. Although the state will retain the licenses, WNET will pay the state no money for the opportunity to manage the station. However, it will gain access to New Jersey audiences and donors.
"This deal is not good for taxpayers. They will not have an independent voice looking out for them," Moriarty said. "We are underserved by the media markets in New York and Philadelphia. They only cover New Jersey when there’s a triple homicide or tornado or hurricane at the shore."
Moriarty and others also question why WNET rose to the top when others, including Montclair State University and the NJN Foundation, were in the running.
"I’m not closed-minded about finding a way to get this to another organization and save the state money," Moriarty said. "I am closed-minded to the fact that we’re going to give it away to another state, close down the studio and lay off employees."
Burdge said he is troubled by WNET’s recent financial struggles, and its handling of the merger with Long Island public broadcaster WLIW 10 years ago. He cited recent layoffs — WNET laid off 140 employees in 2009, according to published reports — and has run into problems with the Justice Department over its use of federal grants.
But the dismantling of WLIW, the broadcaster based in Garden City, really irks the union leader. When WNET and WLIW merged in 2002, the two corporations promised more local programs and stronger community ties.
"They promised all this stuff," Burdge said, adding that those programs have since disappeared.
Assemblywoman Nellie Pou (D-Passaic), who sharply questioned State Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff at a budget hearing last month, said she is still waiting for answers to her questions. At the hearing, Sidamon-Eristoff declined to respond because he did not want to jeopardize the ongoing negotiations. She said a hearing about the agreement is a good option.
"There’s no information anywhere at this point," she said. "It’s important to get that information from the treasurer or the administration to help us respond, to give us the comfort level we need. This is a huge asset to New Jersey."
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