New Jersey Senate fails to block WNET plan, ending NJN

The New Jersey Senate failed to block Gov. Chris Christie’s plan to let New York's WNET/Channel 13 run New Jersey public television, signaling a big win for the Republican governor and the demise of New Jersey Network after 40 years of broadcasting.

Lawmakers were one vote short in their effort to reject the governor’s negotiated agreement with WNET, the nation’s flagship PBS station based in New York. A similar resolution overwhelmingly passed the New Jersey Assembly. The unsuccessful vote means Public Media NJ, a New Jersey incorporated subsidiary of WNET, will begin operating the new network, to be called NJTV, on July 1, 2011. The state’s contract with Public Media NJ mandates the new entity produce a nightly news show, cover elections and other important Trenton events, including the governor’s budget and State of the State addresses. The contract does not require Public Media establish a permanent New Jersey studio or place reporters around the state.