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Wednesday, 09 June 2010 11:03 |
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Unless it is able to solicit more funding, the local public acces television channel URTV will have to close this year, according to the organization behind URTV.
The Rev. Jerry Young, head of the board of Western North Carolina Community Media Center, recently wrote to local government officials that URTV, “with the current level of funding ... cannot operate beyond September 2010.”
Operating on a budget of about $240,000 to $250,000, the nonprofit center needs $300,000 to $330,000 a year to stay afloat, URTV officials say.
The center’s revenue largely is derived from a fee paid by cable
television subscribers in Buncombe County and then is channeled through
the city and county governments. URTV officials have said they have been
unable to raise enough additional money from foundations or other
charitable sources.
URTV is available on Charter cable television Channel 20 in the
county, with programming that is produced entirely by volunteers. Its
content ranges from broadcasts of local church services to political
talk shows and programs on music and local culture. The center also
offers video training and is also starting an Internet-only radio
station.
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