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Committee will recommend that Benton purchase TV 95 |
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Friday, 17 July 2009 |
The city of Benton is considering purchasing the assets of TV 95, a locally produced cable channel that ceased operations a few months ago.
A recommendation to make the acquisition is coming from the Benton City Council’s Finance Committee, which discussed the issue Thursday night.
Three of the aldermen voted to recommend the purchase to the council and two voted against it.
According to Alderman Brad Moore, who conducted negotiations with TV 95 owner Sam Stueart, those voting for the purchase Thursday were Aldermen Jerry Ponder, Greg White and Moore. Voting “no” were Aldermen Steve Lee and Bill Donnor. Alderman Charles Cunningham, who was present for the discussion, had to leave the meeting early, but indicated previously that he favored the proposal, Moore said.
The proposal the council will consider at its July 27 meeting will be to purchase the TV95 assets and enter into a lease agreement with the Courier for studio space previously occupied by the television station.
Donnor said today that he isn’t against the plan, but needs more information before voting to spend the money.
According to Moore, the TV95 assets can be acquired for $35,000.
In response to Donnor’s and Lee’s desire for more information, Moore said he was not asked to put together a full, complete proposal.
“Because this was time-sensitive, I was asked to research the inventory on hand and to negotiate a price with Sam Stueart and to negotiate a price with the Courier,” he said.
Donnor said today that Thursday night’s presentation “was the first time he had heard a price.”
“We don’t know who’s going to run it if we acquire it, and I want more information,” he said. “I just couldn’t spend $35,000 without having knowledge of who’s going to operate it or if we can get someone to operate it.
“I plan to talk to the folks at the school to see if they want to develop an audio-visual class and maybe run it,” Donnor said.
“We’ve already got a bunch of equipment, and I’m very much in favor of the city developing an educational channel and would love to see the schools behind it.”
In a meeting Monday night, the council discussed the future of the Benton Community Access channel (Channel 12), but made no decisions regarding it.
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Razorbacks
