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READERS SEND INFO ON PLAGUED PUBLIC ACCESS STATION
On Friday, The Palmetto Scoop posted a story about some behind-the-scenes ramblings that had arisen from a recent shake-up at ETV. I asked you the reader to send me any information on the hidden but growing mess at South Carolina’s largest taxpayer-funded, government-owned, public access television and radio station.
And respond you did, including one message from outgoing President and Chief Executive Officer Moss Bresnahan and another from an insider close to the situation.
“Like you, we’re committed to transparency,” Bresnahan wrote. “When I accepted a new position, I gave my commissioners about seven-weeks notice, and I’m now working to ensure a smooth transition. Tom Fowler retired from ETV after a long and distinguished career, a message he conveyed publicly to his colleagues.”
The problem is, few people were informed of Bresnahan’s resignation until a story was buried in The State newspaper 10 days ago. As for Fowler, I never got the message and I don’t know anyone else who got the message, and I can’t seem to find it anywhere.
And, as FITSNews noted, “since hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars are potentially at stake… it might be a good idea” to know what’s going on at ETV.
An insider close to the ongoings of higher-ups at the station sent TPS a very different story than the rosy picture painted by Bresnahan.
“[There have been proposals] to contemporize ETV’s neglected radio operations so that ETV Radio would achieve the audience shares that other successful NPR affiliates achieve in their markets and increase external fundraising and underwriting sales to radically move ETV Radio away from the state as a source of funding,” the source wrote. “To do that would require some major changes that ETV was not willing to make… [but] it can be done.”
The source also said that Fowler’s reign at ETV Radio “languished with an outdated 1980’s public radio presentation,” but added “the television side is not nearly as bad, although it too needs a fresh injection of ideas.”
Again, if you know any information, leave a comment below or send a tip.
ETV radio (a stuped oxymoron) could not survive on its own in its presnet form. It might mke in Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston, but since Heny Cauthen, a sleazy politico, killed the local operations in Greenville, and Charleston, there is no local service to those aress, In fcct , there is little local service at all, most of the progrmming taken off the satellite. It has always been the bastard step child, and has languished under enept managers, specifically William Hay and Tom Fowler. Considering ETV’s state funding, the radio operation has also been historically under-funded, thus producing today’s dismal situation. It never becme good enough to be self supporting, nd now is proppped up by the dole. It is the welfare family of public broadcasting, nd will probably die with a whimper.
I leave ETV Radio on the dial all the time. I love the news, talk, info. I have no idea what everyone is talking about. It sounds good to me. I donate every time.
I read the story in the newspaper, and it looked like a nice enough story to me.
I don’t like to see good people atacked, like in the comment above.
I did like seeing the ETV debate, posted on your site earlier.
Trust me, those may have been “good” people, Cauthen excepted, but they were incompetent.
This is odd, since most “insiders” I know say good things about the network. I’ve been there a few times and I was impressed with the TV facility and staff. I’d say the proof is in the puddin’, and from what I watch and listen to, it’s pretty good. I recall reading a big story about ETV and his leaving, so not sure what that’s about.
If radio operations are struggling, let’s write our legislators and ask them to invest more funding in radio studios, or better yet, let’s send them funds during the next drive. Rather than tear people down from the past, let’s help support it for the future. Public radio is so unique.
I listen to NPR all the time and love the dual channel format in Columbia. I admit I don’t listen to the classical as much as the talk format and that sometimes I am irritated when they double up and cover the same local show at the same time (meaning, for instance, I have to listen to a call-in show about people’s pets). Additionally, I think some of the talk format veers a little far to the left, but overall NPR is still a great source of news and entertainment.
Marcy, have you ever lived outside South Carolina? If you had. your view of ETV would not be so rosy. I also find your suggestions somwwhat niave. Building an audience for radio takes many years, and then giving lags behind listening by seven to ten years. I also doubt the legislature is in a mood to increase radio funding, what with developing technologies, rapidly making thier service obsolete. Even a massive infusion of money and expertise, plus major programming overhaul, may not save the radio network. For example, they have no streaming access, somehting most public radio listeners taek for granted in other states and have for several years. The gross mismanagement of the radio facility has cost them dearly in terems of time, time they may not have.
“If radio operations are struggling, let’s write our legislators and ask them to invest more funding in radio studios…”
You clearly are listening to NPR. Otherwise you’d know we are in the middle of a global fiscal crisis, and taxpayer funded radio is not going to be on the top of the funding agenda. They’d proably laugh in your face if you asked for more money for ETV, considering the legislature is reconvening cuts across the board for state government. “Invest” means give our tax money to a radio network that cannot compete in the marketplace.
The state is making cuts because the legislature screwed up the tax code. They have no right to laugh in anyone’s face. The Wall Street crisis hasn’t really impacted the state budget …yet.
I do listen to NPR and their coverage has been awesome.
This blog is an angry place…first, anger at public radio for not having more modern facilities, then anger at the suggestion it should be better funded.
Public radio is “public” for a reason– so it won’t have to be commercial. I agree it’s not more important than police or schools, and priorities must be set, but I think it makes the state a better place. That’s my opinion. I’m not naive and I’ve lived other places.
Actually, I don’t think it should be funded by taxpayer money at all! If it can’t compete the way every single other radio station does, be it satellite or terrestrial, then its not really a news media outlet, its government funded radio. I’m not angry Marcy, just conservative.
How much credibility can someone have when they don’t even know how to use spell check or if they can spell are just too lax to bother?
A.) John Dozier lost his job with SC ETV and any claim to credibility due to substance abuse.
B.) How much credibility can someone have when they don’t even know how to use spell check or if they can spell are just too lax or stoned to even bother?
Mr. Dowtin is obviously a delustional psychotic.