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PLAN
KEEPS WQEX-TV IN PUBLIC DOMAIN
WQED Says It
Cannot Support Two Stations
(November 8, 2001)
By Jonathan Potts, Tribune Review
A Pittsburgh
community group insists this region can support two public
television stations, and on November 7th, it presented a plan to
make it happen.
For five
years, Pittsburgh Educational Television has opposed WQED-TV's
efforts to sell its other station, WQEX, a move that would require
federal approval to change WQEX's license designation from
educational to commercial.
During a news
conference, the group unveiled its plan for turning WQEX into a
viable station that offers educational, cultural and public
affairs programs not seen on WQED. The plan hinges on the Federal
Communications Commission denying WQED's request for a license
change and allowing Pittsburgh Educational Television to acquire
the WQEX license.
"WQED says
this region can't support two public channels. This is flim-flam,"
said Mike Schneider, a member of Pittsburgh Citizens for
Independent Public Broadcasting, another group opposed to the sale
of WQEX.
The plan
estimates that $2 million would be needed to get a revamped WQEX
up and running, and that $1.2 million would be needed to operate
the station its first year. The money would be raised through
foundation and individual donations.
Jerry Starr,
president and chairman of the board of Pittsburgh Educational
Television, said the station could promote the local arts
community. Plenty of quality, inexpensive programs are available.
Starr said, including PBS programs that WQED does not air. The
station also would air programming tailored to religious, ethnic
and minority groups, according to the plan.
"I don't think
we have a response. I think we're just still moving ahead down the
road we've been on for the last few years,: said George
Hazimanolis, director of corporate communications for WQED.
WQED wants to
sell WQEX for $20 million to former Texas broadcaster and Ross
Township native Diane Sutter, who owned a CBS affiliate in
Abilene, Texas. WQED officials have said the sale would allow the
station to rid itself of about $9 million in debt, convert WQED to
digital broadcasting by 2003 and make capital improvements to the
station.
For the past
four years, WQED has simulcast its programs on WQEX.
In 1996, the
station worked out a three-way license swap involving WPCB-TV, a
Christian station based in Wall, and Paxson Communications in
Florida. WPCB backed out of the deal last year after the FCC ruled
the station would have to air educational programming, something
it wouldn't agree to do.
The FCC
deadline for filing public comments on WQED's request is December
18th. A decision may not come for months after that, said Fred
Polner, an attorney for Pittsburgh Educational Television.
Starr said the
group knows WQED officials can't be dissuaded from selling their
sister station. Pittsburgh Educational Television hopes its report
will stir up opposition in the community to WQED's plans.
"We're saying,
"Hey, you'd better look into this, because this is not just WQED's
property to dispose of ... this belongs to you," Starr said.
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