Alaska public broadcasting system backs off merger plans by Jeff Richardson Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Aug 26, 2011 http://newsminer.com/bookmark/15239578-Alaska-public-broadcasting-system-backs-off-merger-plans- FAIRBANKS — After spending more than two years pondering a plan to consolidate parts of Alaska’s public broadcasting system, those leading the effort have largely decided it isn’t worth the trouble. The talks — involving KUAC in Fairbanks, KTOO in Juneau and Alaska Public Telecommunications in Anchorage — were spurred by a desire to cut costs as funding becomes less certain. But after studying a plan to merge many of the administrative functions at the stations, it didn’t become clear those changes would actually result in any savings. A committee exploring the merger officially decided last month to scrap the plan, which looked at combining bookkeeping, engineering and other functions. “We realized this was not something we wanted to continue dealing with at this time,” said Jake Poole, a University of Alaska Fairbanks vice chancellor who helps oversee operations at KUAC. Fairbanks resident Patty Kastelic, who was part of the committee exploring the merger, said it only began to show a payoff if stations would sacrifice their individual identities in favor of a more homogenized on-air product. Public feedback had strongly emphasized that radio stations, in particular, should retain a local flavor. Kastelic said there also was concern the state’s smaller public broadcasters would get swallowed up by the bigger, wealthier stations. “I think some of these ideas require a leap of faith and a lot of trust,” Kastelic said. “I think people are fearful — with good cause, I think — that everything is going to be decided in Anchorage.” The funding challenges that led to the talks are still looming. Poole said the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has warned stations its contribution could be sliced in half in the years ahead as Congress trims federal spending. KUAC gets about a third of its funding from CPB, a third from the state and a third from private fundraising. But even if cuts do occur, Poole said, the stations decided it would be more advantageous to remain small and nimble rather than form a larger entity together. “If the worst thing happens, we can quickly pick it up, dust if off and go in another direction,” Poole said. Poole also said the state’s broadcasters are in much better shape financially than they were a few years ago. Many stations, including KUAC, have cut staff and reduced local programming since then to slash spending. A study that looked at consolidation issues was funded by an $88,000 CPB grant. Although major changes aren’t occurring, the effort hasn’t been wasted, Poole said. He said the process led to a better understanding of how each broadcaster operates, and is leading to smaller partnerships within the system. Stations in Juneau and Bethel are now sharing some bookkeeping duties, he said, and talks are planned next month between Fairbanks-based Alaska One television and Anchorage station managers to explore work together. _______________________________________________ Medianews mailing list [email protected] http://lists.etskywarn.net/mailman/listinfo/medianews
