TRENTON — State-owned NJN on Monday moved closer to a study of its assets and a plan to go independent, under legislation approved by the Senate. The bill, introduced last week, passed unanimously with no debate. The Assembly, which like the Senate was debating the state budget late into Monday night, was scheduled to vote on the NJN bill....
The bill, introduced last week, passed unanimously with no debate. The Assembly, which like the Senate was debating the state budget late into Monday night, was scheduled to vote on the NJN bill.
The legislation would create a panel to review the value of the equipment and licenses maintained by NJN radio and television, the only statewide sources for New Jersey news, entertainment and cultural programming. The commission also would determine whether New Jersey Network could function without its government subsidy and operate as an independent non-profit supported by corporate grants and viewer donations.
The state budget for fiscal 2011, which begins Thursday, includes $1.98 million for NJN — roughly half the $3.9 million it received for 2010. The stations' annual budget is about $21 million. Governor Christie has urged NJN to privatize, as did Govs. Jon Corzine and Christie Whitman.
The bill, if approved by the Assembly and signed by Christie, would override an operating plan conceived by Howard Blumenthal, the NJN interim executive hired in September. Blumenthal had wanted the stations to go independent Thursday.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. Legislature weighs fate of NJN public television station
• NJN may struggle to survive after Gov. Christie cuts network's state subsidy
• Gov. Chris Christie is expected to sign N.J. budget into law after legislature passes plan