Sunday, February 28, 2010

NJN TELEVISION

With what I believe to be the most impotant factor in public access television, FUNDING !!
I found information on New Jersey's statewide public television. Below is a short history of the station. Along with that and myself being in the finance area, I thought it would be interesting to see the station's financial records. I think you will find these financial statements very interesting .



The History of NJN

"And away we go. This is WNJT-TV, the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority, Channel 52, Trenton." With those words on April 5, 1971, New Jersey's first and only statewide public television station went on the air. Since then, the network has grown to become one of the nation's top producers of local programming in the PBS system. This award-winning station embodies public television's mission to educate, inform and empower citizens by providing quality programming for all ages and serving as a valuable community resource.
In 1961, WNET-TV moved from Newark to New York City, leaving New Jersey without a television station of its own.
In 1968, the state Legislature established the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority and passed the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority Act. Voters approved a $7.5 million bond issue to construct four transmitters and a broadcast complex. The Act was signed into law on January 13, 1969 by Governor Richard J. Hughes.
By 1971, the network, known as New Jersey Public Television (NJPTV) was on the air with newscasts and instructional programming used by elementary, high school and college students.
In 1972, WNJS-TV, Channel 23, Camden, was added. A year later, WNJM-TV, Channel 50, Montclair and WNJB-TV, Channel 58, New Brunswick, were in operation, giving the network its full complement of four UHF stations serving the entire state with one signal.
1972 also saw the formation of The Friends of NJPTV, a group composed of New Jerseyans interested in helping the network with fundraising activities, and the first printing of Jerseyvision magazine, a precursor to the current NJN Guide. The network opened a Newark news bureau in 1973 and in 1980, a South Jersey bureau was established at Richard Stockton State College in Pomona.
The network officially changed its name to New Jersey Network (NJN) in 1981.
In 1984, NJN received its first Emmy Awards.
Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, NJN continued its community outreach efforts with award-winning productions, including Battered Wives, Shattered Lives in 1985; Throwaway Pets in 1993; and Endangered Flight: The Birds of Siberia in 1995. It has produced many acclaimed public affairs specials.
In 1990, The Foundation for New Jersey Public Broadcasting was established to sponsor activities and raise funds to support NJN, replacing its predecessor, The Friends of NJPTV.
To enhance NJN's tradition of excellence, NJN Radio established its first station, WNJT, Trenton, 88.1 FM, in 1991. Since then, NJN Radio has grown to a network of seven transmitters covering all of New Jersey with programming produced by NJN, as well as national programming from such sources as National Public Radio and Public Radio International.
In July 1993, the network left the former bowling alley in Ewing Township it had called home for more than 20 years for new headquarters: a state-of-the-art broadcasting and production facility located at 25 South Stockton Street in Trenton.
Throughout the 1990s, NJN has remained one of the nation's top producers of local programming among public television stations and has continued to produce documentaries focusing on topics important to New Jerseyans. NJN News covers the politics, education, New Jersey Statehouse, health and medical affairs, environmental issues, youth violence, urban affairs, sports and business in the Garden State.
The network reached landmark agreements with The Television Food Network in 1995 and Atlantic Microsystems, Inc. in 1996, which will add to the network's support over the next 10 years. NJN also held two benefits in 1995 and 1996.
Since its inception in 1989, The Production Center at NJN, the network's media productions department, has seen a steady rise in activity. In 1996, the department attracted the national children's series, Bloopy's Buddies, to NJN studios.
Since 1971, NJN has informed and engaged New Jersey citizens with compelling portraits of the Garden State and ambitious community outreach efforts. By promoting positive change in the community with quality programming and partnerships with community groups and leaders, NJN continues to evolve as one of the country's leading public television stations.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR NJN TV.......
http://www.njn.net/about/NJPBAaudit2008.pdf

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