NJN will be reintroduced next month as NJTV, under a five-year agreement with WNET Channel 13 in New York. Watch video
New Jersey Network will be run by a newly created subsidiary of New York's WNET, Channel 13. TRENTON — New Jersey public television will have a new name, a new schedule and a new — and much smaller — workforce when it is reintroduced next month as NJTV, the independent broadcaster that will replace the state-owned New Jersey Network.
Making good on last year's promise to get the state out of the TV business, Gov. Chris Christie yesterday unveiled a five-year agreement with WNET Channel 13 to operate the state's TV network. Christie also announced the state will sell the network's radio licenses to WHYY in Philadelphia and New York Public Radio in New York for almost $5 million in cash and in-kind contributions.
Lawmakers, some of whom have opposed the deal, responded by saying they will hold hearings. Unless the Legislature vetoes the contracts, the agreements will go into effect July 1.
The deal means the end of NJN, the state-owned-and-operated broadcaster that has been on the air for 43 years. The network' 130 employees will be laid off and the facility in Trenton will be shut down. NJN interrupted “Barney and Friends” yesterday to broadcast the announcement live.
WNET’s subsidiary, Public Media NJ, is obligated to air a nightly news show and 20 more hours of New Jersey-focused programming a week, Christie said. The contract also mandates the network cover election night and major events at the Statehouse, such as the annual State of the State and budget addresses.
Christie said the agreement with WNET will result in better programming and more New Jersey-centric programming at less cost to the taxpayer.
“We need to have robust New Jersey public broadcasting, but we need to have it in a way that is not continuing to cost the state taxpayers and can be perceived as truly independent from state government,” Christie said. The deal will save the state about $11 million a year, according to the Department of the Treasury.
Neal Shapiro, president of WNET, said the new subsidiary will have its own board of New Jersey residents and a staff of fewer than 20, led by interim general manager John Servidio of Montclair. Servidio currently serves as general manager of WLIW, which is a part of WNET.
NJTV will air more national PBS offerings and WNET shows, including “The Charlie Rose Show,” Shapiro said. He also promised more children’s programming, more educational offerings and a “dramatically improved” website.
He said the nightly show, to be called “NJ Today,” will have a “new tone” and be a cross between “PBS NewsHour” and “Meet the Press.”
“We will cover the state, the whole state, in a new way,” Shapiro said. “More in-depth coverage and extended interviews.”
A “start-up” version will begin airing on July 1, with a “full launch” set for September, he said. The new show, like “NJN Nightly News,” will be broadcast on Channel 13.
A major partner with WNET will be Caucus Educational Corp., the nonprofit production company led by Steve Adubato Jr. CEC’s series, including “New Jersey Capitol Report,” “Caucus: New Jersey” and “One-on-One with Steve Adubato,” will migrate to NJTV, but Adubato will remain an independent producer.
"I am very involved in the creation of the new network," said Adubato, whose CEC has a full-time staff of nine. "But none of us will work for the new entity."
He said broad collaboration will give new voices access to the state’s public TV broadcast. “Other people, other organizations who have historically not been able to provide content will be able to, without being employees of the new entity,” he said.
Shapiro said other content partners will include universities, newspapers and online journalists. The Star-Ledger is one of the media companies Shapiro has approached.
About $4.7 million in revenue that currently supports NJN will go to the new subsidiary.
Included in that is the state’s $2.2 million Corporation for Public Broadcasting grant, which must be used for programming costs.
Shapiro said millions of dollars must be raised from private donors to support the broadcast. “The money we raise in New Jersey will stay in New Jersey,” he said.
The new company will have an office in the state, though Shapiro could not say where it will be located. It will not use NJN headquarters and facility in Trenton, he said.
NJN’s smaller radio operation will be split between two public radio companies. WHYY in Philadelphia will buy five southern licenses (in Manahawkin, Atlantic City, Cape May Court House, Bridgeton and Berlin) to expand their coverage in Southern New Jersey.
They will pay $1 million in cash and provide another $1 million in on-air and website message time and broadcasting programs for Camden students.
New York Public Radio will buy the network's remaining four radio licenses for $1 million and another $1.8 million in in-kind contributions, including on-air message time and staff costs. Located in Netcong, Sussex, Trenton and Toms River, these licenses will be used to create a new public radio station with a New Jersey’s news bureau, according to the state officials.
A few hours after Christie's announcement, union and civic leaders joined lawmakers in seeking intense scrutiny of the long-awaited plan.
"Just because the governor stands up and says 'The deal is done,'
doesn't mean that everyone should jump to rubber stamp it," Senate Majority Leader
Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) said. "Any deal, especially one conceived behind closed doors and formulated in private, deserves a public airing."
Star-Ledger staff writers Ginger Gibson and Chris Megerian contributed to this report.
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