The boards of KET and Channel 15/WKPC-TV announced Wednesday that they have reached an agreement which will lead to the acquisition of the Louisville community license by the state network. The planned acquisition is part of what officials are calling "The Kentucky Plan," a cooperative initiative by Kentucky's public television licensees to eliminate duplication and improve service while maintaining and enhancing educational programs and services to Kentuckians.
In a related development, the Channel 15 board has accepted the resignation of President John-Robert Curtin and has appointed Ed Shadburne, a retired Louisville broadcasting executive, as interim president of WKPC-TV until the phases of the merger are complete.
"The Channel 15 board wishes to express appreciation for John-Robert Curtin's many years of service to our community," said board Chairman Steve Wood. "We look forward to working with KET in the coming months towards a revitalized future for public broadcasting in the Louisville area," continued Wood.
The first phase of the acquisition begins today with the approval of the management and license-purchasing agreements which the two entities have been working on for months. The management agreement provides for KET to act as chief executive officer in the day-to-day operation of Channel 15 facilities while the WKPC board retains responsibility for personnel, programming, and financial decisions as required by FCC regulations. As interim president, Shadburne, a former WHAS executive with a long career in broadcasting, will be responsible for operations and production at the facility.
During this initial phase, papers will be filed with the Federal Communications Commission requesting the transfer of Channel 15's broadcast license to KET, other necessary approvals will be obtained, and legal agreements will be signed. Approval is expected to take four to six months. Until the license transfer, Louisville area viewers should continue to receive WKPC's regular broadcast schedule virtually unchanged.
When the FCC approves the license transfer, the channel on which viewers have been receiving Louisville's Channel 15 will become KET and will carry KET's statewide broadcast schedule. A differentiated service will be broadcast by KET on its Louisville transmitter, Channel 68. This change will eliminate the duplication of both KET and Channel 15 carrying many of the same PBS programs and both paying for broadcast rights.
During the second stage, KET will lease Channel 15's tower, transmitter, land, and equipment. The final transfer cannot occur until the 1998 General Assembly approves the funds for KET to purchase the Channel 15 assets it will be leasing.
"We believe this move will position Kentucky to take advantage of emerging educational and technological opportunities," said KET Authority Chairman Steve Newberry, "and at the same time offer Louisville productions more opportunities for statewide -- and national -- exposure. KET looks forward to this new partnership with the Louisville community."