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But the bid accepted by the Christie administration, with no public discussion on the alternative bids, has resulted in a contract for WNET television in New York to take the helm of the New Jersey television network. Elected officials, and mainstream news outlets, are raising questions on the deal and the role of Steve Abudato Jr. and his father, NJ’s political kingmaker Steve Adubato, Sr. Allegations of backdoor dealing and political payback have been reported in the Star Ledger and The Bergen Record.
With public funding cut, and efforts to operate the station as a nonprofit having failed, the network was faced with either shutting down or selling. The year long effort to operate under a nonprofit status appeared to involve little new leadership, and a continuation of what is undeniably a failed entity. NJ’s public television will now be operated by a private nonprofit established by WNET, with a governing board of directors that include close political allies and associates of the governor.
The Christie administration was offered a proposal from Montclair State University which was not accepted. The full details of the proposal are not available to the public, but it would have allowed for a NJ entity, based in NJ, to assume responsibility of these NJ assets. The influence of a younger generation of producers, reporters and filmmakers may have provided the new ideas and content needed to resuscitate what can best be described as a lethargic organization with limited viewership.
The New Jersey Network Foundation was also involved in the bidding process, and had offered 3 years ago that they assume responsibility for the NJ station which they said was unsustainable as a government entity. The New Jersey Network Foundation’s bid was also rejected in favor of the Adubato WNET team’s proposal.
While universities like UNC in North Carolina provide high quality programing, Montclair State in NJ was deemed not to have the capacity for similar achievements.
NJ will continue to provide over 4 million dollars in aid to the WNET Adubato entity, but estimates are that 11 million will be saved in salaries.
http://online.wsj.com/article/