A group calling itself “Fix Channel 11” wants new leadership at Chicago’s WTTW television network and has outlined a new vision for the public station.
The ad hoc group was formed in 2013 and has reignited its mission with a new blog post. The post comes a week before WTTW votes to renew its leaders’ contracts.
“The two top guys have been in charge of Chicago’s major Public TV station the entire 21st century and have earned in the neighborhood of $8 million total salaries and benefits during their tenures. It’s hard to point out any significant improvements during that period.”
Fix Channel 11 wants a more localized experience:
WTTW has not lived up to its potential as a local player for a long time. Because Channel 11 has practically stood still for so long, we think it’s missing the most important trend in broadcasting. Not unlike what Tip O’Neil said about politics, all television is local. Localism is the lifeblood of TV, particularly in a 500-channel, digital content, YouTube, DVR universe.
The group wants public TV supporters to join their cause and help write plans for what they call better public programming.
