East Texans form group to oppose radio station sale
Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 5:59 pm
By KATHERINE SAYRE
Thursday, May 25, 2006
'We've made a decision,' Kilgore College official says
TYLER — A group of Tyler-area arts supporters and classical music listeners decided Wednesday to form a committee in opposition to a proposed sale of Kilgore College's classical music station KTPB.
"We need everybody to understand that it's at risk and something can be done," said Otis Carroll, a listener and donor to KTPB-88.7 FM.
The meeting, held by the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, spurred discussion among leaders in the arts, education and economic development in Tyler about how to protest the possible sale of the 15-year-old station and keep classical music programming on the airwaves in the Tyler-Longview-Kilgore area.
Kilgore College trustees approved selling KTPB's broadcasting license and equipment to national Christian pop music broadcasters Educational Media Foundation. Under the sale, the college would be paid $2.46 million over 10 years for the station.
The FCC, which must give final approval of the sale, started a 30-day public comment period Tuesday.
Kilgore College officials have said an impending cut in funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and waning listener donations contributed to the decision to sell the station.
"It's admirable and we can appreciate the public stance on wanting to maintain the arts," said Chris Moore, Kilgore College spokesman, in response to Wednesday's meeting. "We can respect that and appreciate that, but the bottom line is we've made a decision. It was a decision that was unanimously supported by the board and the administration. .. With the revenue generated from the sale, we feel that revenue will better benefit our number one concern, and that's students."
Gene Decker, a Jacksonville resident who attended Wednesday's meeting, said having a public radio station contributes to quality of life — a key factor in attracting businesses and new jobs to the area.
"We have a lot of potential for good quality of life in East Texas, but we're throwing it away fast," Decker said.
Nancy Wrenn, executive director of the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, said Christian popular music is already broadcast on several stations in Tyler, while KTPB provides the only radio outlet for classical music and the arts.
She said the group's opposition to the sale isn't about being opposed to Christian music.
KTPB broadcasts religious and Christian music in classical styles, she said.
The group discussed recruiting a lawyer, inviting already-established Christian pop music stations to the effort and finding ways to oppose the sale to the FCC.
"A public asset like a public radio station is not a money-maker," Carroll said during the meeting. "It's not supposed to be a profit-center."
Thursday, May 25, 2006
'We've made a decision,' Kilgore College official says
TYLER — A group of Tyler-area arts supporters and classical music listeners decided Wednesday to form a committee in opposition to a proposed sale of Kilgore College's classical music station KTPB.
"We need everybody to understand that it's at risk and something can be done," said Otis Carroll, a listener and donor to KTPB-88.7 FM.
The meeting, held by the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, spurred discussion among leaders in the arts, education and economic development in Tyler about how to protest the possible sale of the 15-year-old station and keep classical music programming on the airwaves in the Tyler-Longview-Kilgore area.
Kilgore College trustees approved selling KTPB's broadcasting license and equipment to national Christian pop music broadcasters Educational Media Foundation. Under the sale, the college would be paid $2.46 million over 10 years for the station.
The FCC, which must give final approval of the sale, started a 30-day public comment period Tuesday.
Kilgore College officials have said an impending cut in funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and waning listener donations contributed to the decision to sell the station.
"It's admirable and we can appreciate the public stance on wanting to maintain the arts," said Chris Moore, Kilgore College spokesman, in response to Wednesday's meeting. "We can respect that and appreciate that, but the bottom line is we've made a decision. It was a decision that was unanimously supported by the board and the administration. .. With the revenue generated from the sale, we feel that revenue will better benefit our number one concern, and that's students."
Gene Decker, a Jacksonville resident who attended Wednesday's meeting, said having a public radio station contributes to quality of life — a key factor in attracting businesses and new jobs to the area.
"We have a lot of potential for good quality of life in East Texas, but we're throwing it away fast," Decker said.
Nancy Wrenn, executive director of the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, said Christian popular music is already broadcast on several stations in Tyler, while KTPB provides the only radio outlet for classical music and the arts.
She said the group's opposition to the sale isn't about being opposed to Christian music.
KTPB broadcasts religious and Christian music in classical styles, she said.
The group discussed recruiting a lawyer, inviting already-established Christian pop music stations to the effort and finding ways to oppose the sale to the FCC.
"A public asset like a public radio station is not a money-maker," Carroll said during the meeting. "It's not supposed to be a profit-center."