Peconic Public Broadcasting Gets Another Extension

According to and article in 27 East News, Peconic Public Broadcasting and Long Island University have agreed to another extension in PPB's efforts to raise enough funds to buy WLIU. Since they were granted the extension, I'm assuming PPB has made significant progress in raising more than $600,000 needed to close the deal.
The station is situated in the Hamptons on the east end of Long Island featuring local public affairs, jazz and public affairs programming.
If Peconic Public Broadcasting fails to meet its obligation, the station will be sold to the highest bidder. The rumor (not confirmed) is the highest bidder is a faith based organization.
Right now PPB is seeking matching funds for a George Soros grant. They're also working with a bank to get a loan for the remaining amount. The extension is for 25 days.

Peconic Public Broadcasting Could Default August 31

WLIU still needs to raise $300,000 by August 31. If they fall short, Long Island University says they will sell the station to the next highest bidder.
There's more on this story in the Riverhead News Review. If you're interested, you can donate on-line at http://www.wliu.org/site2009/index.php

Peconic Makes Down Payment

The community group that wants to keep WLIU local to Long Island's East End made their first payment to the University that owns the station. Long Island University accepted $158,000 from Peconic Public Broadcasting according it Radio Ink. The group still needs to raise $850,000 by June. It's as serious undertaking by a radio station that had about 300 contributors a year ago.
There's more detail in 27East.

WLIU Looking For A Home

WLIU is looking for a new home after the successful bid by a community group to purchase the station from Long Island University. They also finished their first fund drive as a community based station. The $90,000 they raised isn't anywhere near the $2.4 million needed to pay Long Island University. But, by far, it's the most they've ever raised during an on-air appeal.
There's more information about the station at 27 East News.

Bids For WLIU Due This Week.

Long Island University is taking bids Wednesday for their radio station WLIU. There's a local group in the running to make a successful bid. The unknown factor is that there might be a religious broadcaster with deep pockets that might outbid Peconic Public Broadcasting.

Robert Altholz, Long Island University's treasurer and vice president for finance, told the AP he has a fiduciary responsibility to accept the highest bid. Those trying to save WLIU as a local public radio station are hoping community goodwill will also be a factor. LIU says it is spending $1million a year on the station. They say they can no longer afford to do that.

Read the rest Frank Eltman's article from the AP.

There are two unsettling aspects to this story. First, Long Island University will sell WLIU to the highest bidder. The community groups that want to buy the station could easily be outbid. Second, it is not clear that the station staff will be paid during the extension period. “In the meantime, Mr. Smith has something else to worry about. The State University at Stony Brook has granted a reprieve that would allow the station to stay on the Stony Brook Southampton campus, formerly occupied by L.I.U.’s Southampton College, until Dec. 3, but the private college’s original Oct. 3 cutoff date still stands, as far as the station’s employees’ paychecks are concerned.”
You can read more in Kate Maier’s article in The East Hampton Star.

Support For WLIU Prompts Involvement From Local Politicians

Hamptons.com is reporting that two Long Island Politicians are becoming involved in the effort to save WLIU. A few weeks ago Stoney Brook Southampton announced they would be selling the station. According to the article Assemblyman Fred Thiele (R-Sag Harbor) and State Senator Ken LaValle (R-1) will be holding a press conference with general manager Wally Smith on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 11 a.m. to highlight the growing support for keeping the community radio station alive.

There's been interest in buying the station from public broadcasters from off the island and from religious broadcasters.



The Long Island Business News reports that religious broadcaster are buying up public radio stations at a quick pace. "From January 2008 to June 2009, 28 public radio stations have been sold, 13 to religious groups."



Two of the religious groups buying up stations are Family Radio and Education Media Foundation. Family Media has been in operation since 1959. Education Media Foundation owns and operates at least 245 radio stations.