NJ officials consider NY, Philadelphia public broadcasting services to take over NJN

Public broadcasting heavy-hitters WNET, WHYY in Philadelphia and WNYC radio in New York are among the candidates being considered for prominent roles in a newly configured public broadcasting service that would replace the New Jersey Network.

In the search for the right partner or partners to take over the service, Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) also may change his mind about transferring the radio and television licenses to a new entity and instead retain state ownership of them. This could increase the state's leverage in insisting the new operator remain focused on state issues. It is still unclear what shape this broadcasting alliance will take. Among the scenarios being considered are establishing two separate operations for radio and television, or keeping them together and allowing one entity to assume control over the transmission of the signals while a group of others would provide the programming. Still another calls for selling the radio licenses to WNYC and using the proceeds as seed money to build the television production, the officials said.

These and other options will be discussed in Newark at a private meeting convened by four local foundations. Officials from the Fund for New Jersey, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the Community Foundation of New Jersey have invited about 30 media experts, Christie officials, lawmakers and academics to discuss "the future of New Jersey public media."