Posted on 11/16/2010 6:25:09 PM PST by La Lydia
TRENTON — State officials issued layoff notices to 130 workers at the New Jersey Network today, marking the latest step in the dismantling of the public television and radio network. It was the most visceral signal yet that NJN, which has served New Jersey for 41 years, is on its death bed. If nothing dramatic happens before Jan. 1, the network could go dark. Last March, Gov. Chris Christie proposed ending the state subsidy to NJN and cutting its employees from the state payroll, saying New Jersey could no longer afford to be in the television business.
Though the outlook is bleak, there are suitors trying to work out some way to take control of the network or at least manage its programming. Steve Adubato Jr., chief executive of Caucus New Jersey and a frequent contributor to NJN, has been talking with state officials about a consortium of existing broadcasters — including WNET in New York — that would provide public affairs and news without assuming ownership.
WNET has expressed interest in the idea and last month its president confirmed he had met with state officials...
The 45-day layoff notices stipulate that most of NJN’s staff will be paid through Jan. 1. Another 17 workers are paid by the nonprofit NJN Foundation and are not subject to layoffs....
In his spring budget address, Christie proposed shifting NJN to a private entity. A bipartisan legislative task force held three hearings in September and last month issued a report that agreed with the governor. Two bills have been introduced, but no action has been taken.
Christie spokesman Kevin Roberts said the layoff notices are "a necessary step in facilitating the transition of NJN to an independent broadcast entity."
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
Chris, YEWDAMAN!!!
Boo freaking hoo.
If they go dark on Jan 1, the memory of their existence will be gone by Jan 2.
Now, if we could just make this happen nationwide.
I’m sure all 5 members of their audience are really upset
What a governor....loving it!
Kickin a&^, takin names and handing out pink slips, many more needed, but we need drastic tax reduction/elimination to start business moving..
Best news I’ve heard today.
I’m still waiting for someone to explain to me why we need “public broadcasting” at all.
There are only — what? — about a thousand broadcast channels anymore.
chris is god
GO CHRISTIE!!! and there WILL be a BUYER.
Back when I was a schoolboy in the 1960's, public broadcasting played an important role distributing educational programming which wasn't available on the three networks.
Now we have History Channel, Discovery, Learning Channel, Animal Planet and a host of others which can distribute just about any type of educational theme desired.
Nice. Layoffs are not always bad news. People who are wrongfully employed in govt means there are those who ought to be rightfully employed in the private sector but not.
Let PBS stations go dark or stand on their own.
There, was that so hard? It should take no more than 5 minutes at the federal level to cut coersive public proadcasting and then move onto the actual hard stuff.
"If PBS did do it, who would?"...
...even notice.
...even notice.
Dang...it should have read:
"If PBS didn't do it, who would?"...
...even notice.
...even notice.
Dang...it should have read:
"If PBS didn't do it, who would?"...
...even notice.
He doesn’t do everything right but this is definitely something he is doing right.
New Jersey Taxpayer-Supported Democrat Television - on the skids...Michael Aron and the rest of the leftwing propagandists will be looking for new gigs.....
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