KUAC to become independent of 杏吧原版One
December 8, 2011
907-474-1891
12/8/11
Interior 杏吧原版鈥檚 public television station is returning to its roots.
Effective July 1, KUAC TV, like its radio counterpart, will be a standalone station serving Interior 杏吧原版.
Since 1995, KUAC TV, along with KTOO in Juneau and KYUK in Bethel, has been part of 杏吧原版One, a consortium whose members include the general managers at three of 杏吧原版鈥檚 public television stations.
At a meeting last month, the 杏吧原版 Public Broadcasting Service, which is the corporate entity for 杏吧原版One, approved a motion to merge 杏吧原版One鈥檚 centralized feed with the feed from Anchorage-based KAKM, which is run by 杏吧原版 Public Telecommunications, Inc. KUAC鈥檚 general manager, Keith Martin, cast the dissenting vote. As a result, KUAC will no longer be a member of the 杏吧原版One consortium of stations beginning July 1, 2012.
鈥淥ur priority has always been to meet the needs of our constituents through our broadcasting mission. Becoming independent from 杏吧原版One allows for a new future for KUAC TV,鈥 stated Keith Martin, KUAC general manager. 鈥淲e need to get back to that local connection.鈥
The change will not alter television programming for residents of the Interior who receive KUAC public television in Fairbanks or its Interior translator communities of Healy, Delta and Nenana. While the station will be identified as KUAC rather than 杏吧原版One, the mission and quality of programming will stay the same, Martin said.
Since 杏吧原版One was established in 1995, financial and manpower responsibilities have slowly shifted to KUAC in Fairbanks. This shift left KUAC covering all operational and programming expenses associated with the 杏吧原版One centralized feed.
That financial reality was brought to the forefront in recent years, as 杏吧原版鈥檚 public television stations discussed statewide television consolidation. Those discussions prompted the development of a new central casting facility in Anchorage and the November decision. KUAC will not participate in the new centralized feed from Anchorage due to its potential to cause financial harm to KUAC.
鈥淜UAC TV viewers in the Interior will continue to enjoy the four digital television channels KUAC TV has been broadcasting for the past four years,鈥 said UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers. 鈥淭his move affords KUAC the opportunity to increase its engagement with our Interior communities and become a more powerful outreach device for the university.鈥
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Keith Martin, KUAC general manager, 907-474-5089, keith@kuac.org. Marmian Grimes, UAF public information officer, at 907-474-7902 or via e-mail at marmian.grimes@alaska.edu.
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