Pensacola State College (PSC) has released a statement addressing what it calls “misinformation” about its decision to end WSRE-TV’s PBS affiliation, clarifying that the College owns the broadcasting license and that WSRE and PBS are separate entities. The College acknowledges a lawsuit filed by what it describes as the “decertified WSRE Foundation” and states it is preparing a legal response. PSC emphasizes it has paid an annual fee to affiliate with PBS for years, which has created public confusion about the relationship between the two organizations.
- Important Detail: PSC contends that the WSRE-TV Foundation was established in 1990 specifically to support WSRE Public Broadcasting, not PBS, citing the Foundation’s Articles of Incorporation which make no reference to PBS. The College points to an amendment stipulating that if the Foundation ceases to exist while PSC continues operating WSRE, the Foundation’s assets should transfer to the College for WSRE’s use.
The College attributes the decision to end its PBS affiliation to federal and state funding cuts that previously provided over $1.5 million annually to support the PBS fee and WSRE staffing. In the current fiscal year, PSC budgeted more than $1 million for WSRE operations—primarily staff salaries supporting the Foundation—while the Foundation was expected to contribute approximately $600,000 for local programming and community outreach. The statement notes that viewers can still access PBS programming through internet streaming.
The College President has formally requested that Foundation representatives Amy Day and Jerrod Dawson transfer the Amos Endowment to the PSC Foundation, arguing these funds are dedicated to maintaining the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio located on campus.
- PSC is also seeking transfer of the Foundation’s remaining unrestricted funds as an endowment for WSRE’s local programming and community outreach, plus reimbursement for studio maintenance and other costs already incurred.
- The College maintains it will continue providing public broadcasting services to the community despite budget cuts and remains committed to finding collaborative solutions.
STATEMENT
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Pensacola State College has issued this statement to correct misinformation circulating in recent news reports regarding WSRE-TV and the College’s decision to end its affiliation with PBS. The College is aware of a lawsuit filed by the decertified WSRE Foundation, and we are currently developing a legal response.
Pensacola State College owns the broadcasting license for WSRE Public Broadcasting. The College has long paid an annual fee to affiliate with PBS, a relationship that has existed for many years and has understandably led to public confusion about whether WSRE and PBS are the same entity. They are not.
The College ended its PBS affiliation because of federal and state funding cuts that previously provided more than $1.5 million annually to support the PBS fee and WSRE-TV staffing. In the current fiscal year, in addition to those diminishing federal and state grants, Pensacola State budgeted more than $1 million for WSRE operations—primarily salaries for staff who supported the WSRE Foundation. The Foundation was expected to contribute approximately $600,000, mainly to fund local programming and community outreach.
The WSRE-TV Foundation, Inc. was established in 1990 to support WSRE Public Broadcasting—not PBS. This is explicitly stated in the Foundation’s Articles of Incorporation, Section III, which identifies its purpose as supporting WSRE Public Broadcasting. PBS is not referenced anywhere in the Articles.
Furthermore, the Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation stipulates that if the Foundation ceases to exist and Pensacola State continues to operate WSRE Public Broadcasting, the Foundation’s assets are to be transferred to the College, as the licensee for WSRE-TV, for the explicit use of WSRE-TV.
The Pensacola State College President has sent a letter to Amy Day and Jerrod Dawson, representatives of the decertified WSRE Foundation, requesting the transfer of the Amos Endowment to the Pensacola State College Foundation. Under the endowment agreement, these funds are dedicated to supporting maintenance of the Amos Studio, which is located on the campus of Pensacola State College. The letter also requests that the Foundation’s remaining unrestricted funds be transferred to the College Foundation as an endowment for WSRE’s local programming and traditional community outreach. Additionally, the College is seeking reimbursement for invoices related to Amos Studio maintenance and other costs already incurred by the College to continue local programming and community outreach activities. Viewers have access to PBS programming through internet streaming.
The Pensacola State College Public Broadcasting license is a valuable asset of the College, and the College, regardless of federal and state budget cuts, fully intends to continue to provide this public service to the community without the added expense of an affiliation with PBS. The College remains committed to finding collaborative solutions for the ongoing issues.
WSRE FOUNDATION RESPONSE
From Amy Day: “This is a dispute that we sought to settle amicably without any effort by PSC to compromise. So now, the facts and truth need to properly be placed in front of an impartial federal court.”
