Channel 13 subsidiary will get $4M in fees, grant to operate New Jersey Network

The new nonprofit group Channel 13 WNET incorporated to operate New Jersey’s public television network will not only pay nothing for the management rights, but will actually receive $4 million in fees and grants as part of the agreement.

Rather than pay the state for the opportunity to run the network, the new WNET subsidiary will receive a $2 million grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that was previously awarded to New Jersey Network. It will also get to keep about $2 million in tower rental fees that private companies pay to NJN, according to sources familiar with the ongoing negotiations who requested anonymity because of the confidentiality required of the bidding process.