WMFE: Did public broadcaster give enough warning about TV problems?
Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren, center) in action in 'Prime Suspect 7.' She is shown with Sean Philips and Laura Greenwood. Photo credit: Granada
In January, public broadcaster WMFE sent a letter asking backers for financial contributions. “Your support is critical. Now more than ever,” Jose Fajardo, WMFE’s president and CEO, wrote.
But WMFE didn’t explain how dire it considered the situation for Channel 24, which airs PBS programs. WMFE’s announcement on April 1 that it is selling the station took many longtime supporters by surprise.
“Mister Rogers is probably turning over in his grave,” said David Odahowski, president and CEO of the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation. “We all own WMFE. In fact, WMFE’s real name is Community Communications. That’s what was lacking: community communications. I can’t think of a great American city that doesn’t have a PBS station.”
That’s a recurring theme in letters objecting to the sale.
In a letter to the FCC, Orlando resident Michael Ashington-Pickett, a longtime Channel 24 supporter, complains: “The first knowledge that the public in Central Florida had that WMFE had financial difficulties was when a report was published in the local newspaper stating that the trustees for the station had signed a contract to sell WMFE to another broadcasting company! According to the report, the trustees had known about the financial difficulties for some time. For reasons known only to the trustees, their concerns were never made public.”
Lawrence D. Stephey of Winter Park writes: “The contemplation of this sale was never pre-announced to the general public by the current governing organization. Had the public known, I’m sure a number of extraordinary fund-raising campaigns would have been launched to preserve the frequency for educational use.”
Fajardo has said the problems at the TV station had been unfolding over the past four years. He noted the staff reductions and loss of viewer contributions during that time.
Viewers have complained that buyer, for $3 million, is Community Educators of Orlando Inc. Marcus Lamb, president and CEO of religious broadcaster Daystar Television Network in the Dallas area, is listed as group president.
Stephey writes: “There is already a number of religion-based programming television channels serving the Orlando market. Adding another at the expense of our sole educational channel could not possibly be justified by the Communications Act of 1934.”
Bob Showalter, chairman of WMFE’s board of trustees, has said he heard few complaints about the sale, but one viewer wrote that he was disappointed that sale was “sprung” on the public. The board will meet at 6:30 p.m. May 25 at the station, where viewers could raise objections.
But objecting to the FCC, which has to approve the sale, has the most impact, and there is May 5 deadline. If you need details about registering a complaint, check my blog post.
There are three informal objections to the sale with the FCC. One comes from Michael Slifker, a former editor-director at WMFE who was laid off two years ago.
He wrote to the FCC: “No one really owns WMFE. No one holds any stock. No one bought the station. All of its assets were donated by individuals, companies or from the government. WMFE uses Community Communications as its name, but in actuality, this is just for legal purposes. WMFE’s board of directors is chosen by the CEO. They are a lay board with no real say or involvement. It is a local community asset. They have no more right to sell it that I have to sell you the sun and the moon.”
What do you think about the sale? And did WMFE give enough warning?