University of Wisconsin - Extension

June 26, 2002 -- The University of Wisconsin-Extension announced today that it will continue to operate a Wisconsin Public Television production unit in Green Bay, based on a new plan to support a smaller facility with a combination of state and private funding.

A task force convened by Green Bay Mayor Paul Jadin, and including UW-Extension Chancellor Kevin Reilly, has been working on a plan to define a lower-cost production unit and identify new funding sources to support its operation. Members of the task force today agreed on key elements of a funding plan, and pledged to work out the administrative details in the next several days.

Facing reduced revenues and higher operating costs at Wisconsin Public Television (WPT), UW-Extension had previously announced that it would consolidate all video production services in Madison. This would have entailed closing WPT¿s Green Bay Production Unit, which mainly produces instructional programs for use in K-12 classrooms. The closure would not have affected public television broadcasts on WPT station WPNE (Channel 38) or any other WPT station.

¿This is a good solution to a complex problem,¿ said Reilly. ¿People seem to understand and appreciate the difficult financial situation we face, and area residents have made an impressive commitment to securing private donations that will support the unit in its new configuration.¿

Reilly explained that the compromise would still result in about $500,000 in annual savings for Wisconsin Public Television.

¿We remain committed to the important documentaries and educational programs that have been produced in Green Bay, and had expected to spend about $150,000 per year to produce those programs in Madison,¿ Reilly said. ¿Under the new plan, we will now spend the same amount in Green Bay, while still reducing overall operating costs. This is a win-win solution for everyone involved.¿

"The people of Green Bay and Northeastern Wisconsin have responded with a dramatic show of support to retain this facility and the excellent educational programs it produces," said William Hynes, president of St. Norbert College and member of the task force who spearheaded the negotiations. "These public-private negotiations revealed how deeply committed all parties are to continuing outstanding public broadcasting."

The agreement was signed today by Reilly along with UW-Green Bay Chancellor Bruce Shepard, Lyle Martens, chairman of the task force, and Jim Coles, director of Cooperative Educational Service Agency 7 (CESA 7).

Under the two-year plan, UW-Extension will provide a $150,000 annually in state funding and UW-Green Bay will continue to donate in-kind space and building services. CESA 7 and Northeast Wisconsin In-School Telecommunications (NEWIST) will commit to a minimum of $40,000 in the first year and $25,000 in the second year to fund specific production projects. Members of the task force have agreed to raise $150,000 each year in private gifts from area residents, businesses and foundations.

The Green Bay Production Unit¿s continued operation would be contingent upon each party fulfilling its funding commitment. The final agreement will create an advisory group to monitor fundraising progress.

WPT is a service of the University of Wisconsin-Extension and the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board. For more information, see http://www.wpt.org/ .

UW-Extension, part of the University of Wisconsin System, applies university research, knowledge and resources to meet the educational needs of Wisconsin people ¿wherever they live and work. For more information, see http://www.uwex.edu/ .