One of the ongoing sagas may finally come to an end in Orlando.
WMFE-TV and radio had been the primary outlets for NPR and PBS programming. WMFE, however, was not alone in the Orlando area. In many large markets there are additional part-time PBS stations that carry up to 25 percent of programming from PBS.
One of the problems facing WMFE-TV is cable carriage. While all non-commercial educational (NCE) station are given must-carry status by the FCC, this meant WMFE-TV was in a market with three opportunities to see PBS programming. The so-called overlap stations can pick and choose the PBS programming they wish to carry. Under carriage rules, the overlap stations may not carry a PBS program as it is fed on satellite. Under old carriage rules overlap stations were only able to carry a PBS primetime show after an eight day waiting period. This gave the primary station, in this case WMFE, an advantage in attracting viewers.
New carriage rules implemented in 2009 allowed all overlap stations to delay primetime programs only one day. Most of the advantage to a primary station especially weak primary stations was now gone.
Carriage aside, WMFE-TV's problems stemmed from a worsening economy, fewer stations members and declining viewers. Underwriting revenues for TV were down 68 percent since 2007 and individual giving was down 40 percent. WMFE-FM continued to succeed in a highly competitive Orlando market.
Like KCET, WMFE attempted to negotiate membership dues with PBS. Unlike KCET, the Orlando based station did not decide to leave the PBS family.
Station leaders at WMFE began to wonder about the operation model and viability of the station.
Station leaders decided to sell WMFE-TV and keep the well performing radio station.
The first deal for the station was with Daystar. Daystar is a well known religious broadcaster that has been looking to buy public television stations for several years. The FCC delayed proceedings for more than a year. The FCC's concern was true local ownership - a topic that was never resolved. The sale was called off and for a lengthy period of time Orlando had no primary PBS station. With money problems of their own, the licecees of the overlap stations did not want to assume the additional financial burden of becoming the primary station.
While the oending sale of WMFE contiued, the Unversity of Central Florida stepped in and patterned with one of the overlap stations top create WUCF-TV as the primary PBS member station in Orlando.
The search for a buyer continued until a few weeks ago the University of Central Florida decided to buy the licensee and resources of WMFE. The sales agreement will end the partnership with the overlap station and UCF will become the primary PBS station in Orlando alone. As a university licensee, the new station will have some advantages, but could continue to see money problems as the state of Florida reduces aid to public broadcasting.
The sales is currently awaiting FCC approval which should be quicker this time.
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