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KZLN has first birthdayBy BRAD FARB3 p.m. when instructional programming is(tSAN BENITO — In spite of many setbacks discontinued while school is not in session during its time of operation, Valley public Plans are to increase Valley school systems’television station KZLN marked its first year use of that programming in the fallThursday.I feel the station has established its credibility as a bonafide PBS station,” said Francisco Briones, who worked to get the facility on the air since 1974.Briones, KZLN’s former president and general manager, says surviving this first year shows the public’s support for the station in poor economic conditions.He cites internal operations, including KZLN’s board realizing its responsibility as a licensee, among the problems.John Toland, former chief engineer, served as acting station manager from late February to mid-April. He adds that the board has not sought public input or assumed what he calls its sole purpose — raising money.Lack of money led to temporary loss of telephone service and near power shutdowns in February.The situation has begun to change, according to Philip Freedman, station director of programming and development.“He (new station manager Reyes Cortez) is the person we should have had a year to a year and a half ago,” Freedman said. If KZLN had had Cortez when the station signed on, “we wouldn’t be in this messCortez, experienced in business and managerial skills, lacks previous public TV experience. “He’s teaching us, and we’re teaching him,” Freedman said.From the outset, a lack of trained staff included Freedman and others who may have had experience in commercial TV, but not public.Staff positions changed every few months at the outset. Many station workers walked out Feb. 19 and returned only after Briones resigned his positions.Plans to initiate any local programming were postponed when equipment valued at about $150,000 was taken in a Sept. 22 station break-in. The FBI recently reclaimed one recorder and camera unit, and the rest may be returned soon, Freedman says.Transmission problems, including a recent period of more than one week on low power, have affected KZLN for the worse. “If you’re not on the air, people start to lose.” Freedman said.If“When you have no (or little) money to do preventive maintenance, this is what happens.” Freedman said.People need to be reminded, he says. The station was hurt by not being listed in TV Guide for its first 10 months.“Monies have dropped off (since the emergency plea in February), but they always do,” Freedman said. A small staff has meant delayed mailing of pledge envelopes for the most recent March fund-raiser. People still harbor a “let’s see how it goes’’ attitude, he says.Little reaction has been received for programming cutbacks in late March that eliminated weekend morning shows and set week-night sign-offs at 10 p.m.“It was costing us more money to show those programs than what we were getting in,” Freedman said.More savings in power and personnel will occur in a few weeks with weekday sign-ons at
Newspaper Details
Brownsville Herald
Brownsville, Texas, US
Fri, May 06, 1983
Page 19
Full Page
Clipped by
Sammi B.
NA 08 Feb 2020
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