MPBN to silence 3 towers
12/19/08 | 27 comments

MPBN to silence 3 towers


Layoffs, wage reductions accompany station closures
By Eric Russell
BDN Staff

LEWISTON, Maine — Maine Public Broadcasting Network announced Thursday that it will close two of its seven radio towers and one of its five television transmitters, citing decreasing federal and state subsidies as well as member donations.

Radio stations 89.7 WMED in Calais and 106.5 WMEF in Fort Kent, along with WMED-TV Channel 13 in Calais, will be shut down in January, according to an announcement made by MPBN President and CEO Jim Dowe.

“In response to reductions in funding at all levels, and particularly to cuts in state funding and the loss of various federal grants, it is essential that we take steps to protect MPBN’s valued programming on radio, television and on the Web,” Dowe said in a statement. “However, we have no choice but to make changes elsewhere in how we operate.”

MPBN also announced it would lay off six of 86 full-time staff members and impose a hiring freeze that will affect three open positions. Finally, employees will see temporary wage reductions of 5 to 20 percent and a temporary suspension of MPBN’s contributions to employees’ 403(b) retirement plans. Those on the lower ends of the pay scale will see 5 percent cuts while management will take the highest salary reductions.

“We had to look at the whole basket,” explained Craig Denekas, chairman of MPBN’s board of trustees. “We looked at everything and came up with a complete package. We made the best possible decision out of a bad situation.”

The specific positions to be eliminated will be announced later this month, but MPBN said it would not reduce its reporting staff.

“These changes will allow us to keep our local focus on news and public affairs while maintaining the cultural, science and children’s programming provided by our partners,” Dowe said.

Senate Minority Leader Kevin Raye, who represents Washington County, was among those unhappy with the news.

“It’s a very disturbing decision, and I think that it should be reversed,” Raye said Thursday, shortly after he conveyed the same message to Dowe. “I understand that MPBN is under pressure budgetwise, we all are, but it is profoundly disturbing that MPBN would determine that an appropriate response to those pressures is to abandon certain parts of Maine.”

“It’s incredibly concerning that folks will lose access. Public broadcasting is supposed to be statewide,” Maine Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven, said Thursday. “I suspect this will be one of many issues the Legislature takes up in January.”

According to David Morse, MPBN vice president for advancement and new media, the stations that were targeted for closure were simply those that generated the least interest in terms of membership, likely small consolation for rural Mainers. MPBN also operates radio stations in Presque Isle, Bangor, Waterville, Camden and Portland, and television stations in Presque Isle, Bangor, Waterville and Portland.

MPBN was founded in 1992 through a Legislative Act that ensured more than $2 million in funding annually from the state. However, while the state appropriation has remained the same and recently decreased slightly, MPBN’s operating costs have jumped.

“To put this in perspective, since MPBN was created in 1992, our annual operating expenses related to transmission and infrastructure have risen by 50 percent,” said John Isake, the station’s chief financial officer. “Meanwhile, the state of Maine has increased its annual general fund spending by 97 percent while reducing MPBN’s appropriation by 8 percent over that same period.”

Denekas said the state’s appropriation used to cover transmission costs but no longer does.

“We don’t want to shut down any towers,” he said. “To lose any listener or viewer is disappointing.”

Another concern, Morse said, is how the closures will affect the emergency alert system. The state uses MPBN’s airwaves to announce emergencies, which is one of the reasons the state subsidized the radio station in the first place.

“I think it’s obvious that the emergency alert system will not be as effective,” Morse said.

David Farmer, spokesman for Gov. John Baldacci, said the governor has real concerns about the potential effect on the state’s emergency broadcast system, but Farmer said MPBN’s decision to close stations “seems drastic.”

“Support from the state has been consistent for MPBN,” he said. “And they have other places to go for funding. The state pays for 20 percent of their operating budget.”

While Raye was upset with the decision, he was not as optimistic as Pingree that state leaders will address MPBN’s gap in funding.

“We are in times where it’s extraordinarily difficult to increase anything,” he said. “But the savings associated with abandoning the station is $120,000 a year. I think they can find that somewhere else, and I’d like to see them examine every potential opportunity without abandoning rural Maine, which I believe is not in keeping with their responsibility.”

Dave Sharp, spokesman for the Maine Public Broadcasting Corp. Employees Association, which represents about 65 employees, said Thursday that morale among workers is “as good as can be expected.”

“We want to do what’s best for the company, but we don’t want to hurt the workers either,” he said.

Sharp said the union’s hope is that the wage cuts are indeed temporary, but he’s working on drawing up a memo of understanding to ensure workers are protected.

“That’s just good union practice,” he said. “And, frankly, sometimes management doesn’t always tell the truth.”

On the Web: www.mpbn.net

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Comments
27 comments on this item
On 12/19/08 at 6:44 AM, rodney wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The Gov. should like this move. It gives him more money to throw at a waste in Dirigo Insurance. Good Job Gov, keep up the good work.

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On 12/19/08 at 6:55 AM, moosetopia wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Lawrence Welk is slowly losing his market..anna one..anna two!

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On 12/19/08 at 7:12 AM, kylie00 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

How is this the govenor`s fault.

With the closing of these areas then it no longer should have any state funding as it isn`t serving the entire state

and refunds should be given to all that have donated from those markets

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On 12/19/08 at 7:22 AM, Bangorian wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

This has nothing to do with the Governor - you're just looking for a way to throw a dart a dirigo

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On 12/19/08 at 7:30 AM, JMill85 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

thats okay, we needed to free up some space for more clearchannel radio stations. We don't have enough of those type stations. Next stop WKIT... So much for neutral news for maine people.

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On 12/19/08 at 8:21 AM, billmoores wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Shutting down transmitters and reducing coverage rather than finding ways to more efficiently operate them is the worst choice. They have an obligation to the people of Maine and, in reality, the people of Maine ultimately own MPBN. I would think that this would be the very last option after all other expenses were dealt with. This is a stupid and irresponsible move. But then, MPBN management is known for making stupid moves. Remember CEO Rob Gardiner? I wonder...since MPBN is partly government funded...do they really have permission to shut down a whole coverage area?

However, maybe it's time to rethink the "necessity" of Public Broadcasting. If the public no longer sees a need to support it and are finding their services elsewhere, maybe shutting down the whole thing might be the better option. They could put the money into some new kind of Emergency Activation Service delivery system.

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On 12/19/08 at 8:26 AM, Larryt39 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Shameful. Now what will the poor listeners have in Fort Kent and Calais..no liberal biased radio to listen to..so sad, so glad..Can Bangor be far behind? Why should Uncle Sam be paying for this network anyway? Sorry that some folks will loose their jobs..unfortunate.. Larry T. Doughty, South Brewer. larrytdoughty@yahoo.com..www.ourstory.com/larrytdoughty/

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On 12/19/08 at 8:35 AM, David889327 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I stopped listening to MPBN 5 years ago and my thoughts of suicide declined dramatically.

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On 12/19/08 at 9:24 AM, pcme2000 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

It should be closed tax payers should not have to pay for the radio stations. If they can't make it on there own then let them shut down.

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On 12/19/08 at 9:43 AM, RevGerald wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

If Maine Public Broadcasting were truly a "public" broadcasting company, they wouldn't have to worry about getting donations especially if they offered an alternative the vast wasteland that television is. Instead most people I know refer to PBS as Petroleum Broadcasting System or the Pentagon Broadcasting System......They've just become cheerleaders for the administration. As Lawrence Grossman, former head of PBS, said. "It's the president's job to set the agenda...Our job is to follow his agenda."

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On 12/19/08 at 10:08 AM, David889327 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Hey all you computer scientists, you can get MPBN over the internet at http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/mpbc/ppr/index.shtml. For driving just get a cigarette lighter plug and a satellite receiver for your laptop and you're off and running.

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On 12/19/08 at 10:18 AM, CommonsensePaine wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

It was predictable that critics would come out of the woodwork from all points on the spectrum when MPBN made this announcement. Some people feel entitled to this broadcasting at no charge, even though the government has virtually turned its back on helping fund the networks. Some people just wish public broadcasting would go away. Others feel they can complain about and dictate its programming without actually contributing any support. Grow up!

When I read this news, I immediately went on line and increased my contribution to MPBN. Jim Dowe deserves credit for courage and making difficult decisions where others would have tried to please everyone, and in the process allowed the quality of programming to go completely in the trash. It's a shame that Washington County is losing access, and it would never have happened if listeners and viewers would just pony up a few dollars each.

With commercial television almost completely lacking anything watchable, it would seem like a no-brainer for people to get behind public broadcasting. And if they can't bring themselves to admit that a civilized government should do more to pay the cost and do less to try to control the content, they should at least be willing to make the very small contributions it would take to bring programming totally across the state.

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On 12/19/08 at 11:03 AM, djm1953 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

So, we in Downeast Maine are going to lose our public broadcasting station because we "...generated the least interest in terms of membership..." Between prices for everything being higher here and wages being lower - it's not a surprise that we don't become members. Another loss for a poorer population of our state!

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On 12/19/08 at 11:24 AM, Pozole wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Yep, all persons who donated from the areas to be shut down SHOULD get their money back. Such a wonderful deal, donate, then have the pliug pulled...

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On 12/19/08 at 11:37 AM, CeeBlue wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

'If' this a [even a small] step in reversing what has been an incremental, self serving and ultimately harmful left coast agenda then it should be celebrated by those who [hopefully will] step forward and right the course of this state toward the fair minded, fiscally responsible fiercely independent heritage that was once Maine----

it was never 'public' radio; just another left/Dem Gov. sponsored platform for the 'It Takes a Village' crowd--

Maybe --just maybe, when the eco nazis have completely shut down all viable opportunity, the populace has had enough of Augusta robbing from Peter to pay Paul, we stop looking at education as a way to suppress our guilt---and tell the Gov. to fix our roads / protect the border --No More! Maybe then the idea that there ever was a radio station [sponsored by the Gov.] that bulimicly spewed a left coast agenda will be considered a waste of taxpayers money--

Maybe-

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On 12/19/08 at 1:08 PM, UcantFIXstupid wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Go govna. If you want real radio, buy an xm or sirius(one in the same now). They don't solicite donations, and you can choose what you want to listen to. Over 100 channels. From playboy to left, right, rock, comedy, religious, news. Good bye MPBN.

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On 12/19/08 at 1:25 PM, glitt01 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I'm not at all surprised that this economy has affected public broadcasting at all. It's a shame that the poorest areas of the state have to be affected by this, but it takes a LOT of money to run broadcast towers day and night. If folks who weren't in a position to donate before are tightening their belts more now, then that just descreases the income potential for the network. The network is shutting down these transmitters in addition to pay cuts for the employees, so this is a pretty drastic measure. Since I'm not involved with the system, I'm not sure what other avenues they explored. My understanding would be that all donations go to the entire network and not just regional stations so the whole rebate argument is debatable on a legal level.

It's laughable at best to declare public broadcasting to be a left-wing propaganda machine. Just because subject matter may seem to be left of your views doesn't mean it's radical. I've watched some very interesting programming that would make tree-huggers cringe; including an insightful biography of Ronald Reagan that painted him as more of a concerned caretaker of this country as opposed to a crazed warmonger. Besides, it's not like you can turn on a radio in central Maine and not hear any right-wing talking head any time of the day on more than one station anyway. Please. Most of what I've seen on MPBN is programming about MAINE and those who live here. That's what I enjoy and I challenge any commercial station to devote as much time and resources to that kind of local programming as MPBN does.

Also, as it turns out, Clear Channel sold off their holdings in Bangor and other areas around Maine. They're basically retreating from the area. Time to put that war drum to rest, too.

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On 12/19/08 at 1:39 PM, Inland wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I haven't been able to even get MPBN on the car radio in years. In those odd times it seems to come in it's left-wing Garrison Keilor or Click & Clack. Ii can stand for about 15 minutes and I'm searching the airwaves for something - anything to entertain me. Useless to keep ppouring any Government money into that wasteland. Yeah - all of Maine wants to listen to hours of opera...

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On 12/19/08 at 1:48 PM, CeeBlue wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

''retreating from the area'

* glitto1

---With the [lack of] opportunity policy we have in place--MPBN is a metaphor for a State set to follow CA. into bankruptcy ---Unless.

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On 12/19/08 at 2:22 PM, jgordon wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Public broadcasting, radio and TV, lost my support when they started selling advertising time and that was many years ago now. They use a euphimism to hide this by calling it "underwriting" but that's just semantics. Advertising is advertising no matter what you call it. Thats when public broadcasting stopped being public. The trouble was, they got greedy and wanted advertising dollars, public pledges, and government support too. The feds and state should have ceased funding them completely at that time. Maybe if they gave up advertising they would get more pledge dollars. Personally I think they could stand on their own without government support because there will always be a market for the content of their broadcasts.

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On 12/19/08 at 3:27 PM, tamara wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

the State of Maine subsidies MPBN to the tune of 2 Million dollars a year. How can they eliminate part of the state? Do those areas get a rebate on their taxes?

I cannot see how most of the televion programing can be characterized as liberal or right wing: Sesame Street, American Experience, Mystery, BBC news.?

As for the radio; they have bent over backwards to reperesent multiple sides of various political arguements even to allowing points of view proposed by obvious idiots.

Karen

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On 12/19/08 at 3:47 PM, Bangorean wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Here's how it works tamara: talk about a position that doesn't conform to the far-right agenda and its LIES! LIES! LIES! and liberal bias. These turds make up all kinds of stuff and lay it all off on "liberal bias." We've had MPBN since what, the 1960's? And without a communist revolution? That's how much credibility people like LarryTD and some of the other jack booted hate mongers around here have. But Fox is good! VOM(it) hate radio is good. Unbelieveable. And these idiots believe everything they say.

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On 12/19/08 at 4:25 PM, UcantFIXstupid wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

SIRIUS!!!!!! lISTEN TO WHAT YOU LIKE. CNN, FOX NEWS, NBC, BLOOMBERG RADIO, GAY RADIO ( if you are so inclinde), HOWARD STERN, CHRISTMAS MUSIC, CURRENT POP HITS. I have not listenned to terrestrial radio in years, and I have no plans in doing so in the near future. I buy satellite service for myself, my wife, and as a Christmas gift for another. 13.95 a month for the 1st radio, and 7.95 a month for any additional on your account.

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On 12/19/08 at 4:32 PM, treesqueak wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Does this mean I won't be able to listen to Rush Limbaugh every afternoon without a laptop and a satellite connection? So that's why the governor wants to shut these stations down??

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On 12/19/08 at 5:22 PM, CeeBlue wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Idiots / jack booted hate mongers / turds / communist revolution ----: the usual even minded language we have come to expect when one questions a left coast position---.

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On 12/19/08 at 8:21 PM, Larryt39 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Please have compassion for "Bangorean", as he is the master here on such name calling,. Put your real idenity on this web page. It appears to me that the overwhelming response's here to this story are right in tune with my thinking. Now we can only wait and see if the rest of the MPBN will collapse..just as soon as the federal funds dry up, that will be the cats meow..sorry Bangorean..Larry T. Doughty, South Brewer..larrytdoughty@yahoo.com..www.ourstory.com/larrytdoughty/

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On 12/20/08 at 10:26 AM, therese wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

MPBN has been part of my lifestyle. I listen to it on the road going to and from work. I listen to it at night to relax and unwind before dozing off for a good night's sleep...Being so rural and far north in Fort Kent...it was a life line. Very sorry to hear this.

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