OSHKOSH – Life TV appears to be two months away from signing off.
City staff is recommending fully phasing out the nearly 40-year-old public access channel by Aug. 15 after saying a potential partner recently backed out of a possible transition plan for Life TV.
Communications and Engagement Manager Drew Bailey provided the update while addressing Common Council at a June 16 city workshop one month after telling local media producers a final transition from Life TV “will not take place in June.”
Bailey didn’t name the partner but sources with knowledge of the situation said the city approached the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh about moving the operations of Channel 2 to the campus. UWO opted against the move because of capacity concerns, according to those sources.
Council didn’t provide city staff with any direction regarding Life TV’s future, but Bailey asked council to consider Communications and Engagement staff in making a timely decision.
Why is the city transitioning from Life TV?
The update comes three months after the city first revealed plans to end Life TV and move Oshkosh 101.9 FM out of the Oshkosh Media building to make way for a restructured Communications and Engagement division.
Bailey and Oshkosh City Manager Rebecca Grill initially walked back those plans following huge public backlash before extending the timeline for a final transition twice.
Bailey previously explained moving Life TV and Oshkosh 101.9 FM production out of Oshkosh Media would facilitate increasing his department’s staff from three to eight.
The new Communications and Engagement division is also looking to dedicate more time to social media management instead of relying on third parties.
According to Bailey, staff spend 45 hours weekly supporting Life TV, 101.9 FM and Gov TV.
What about the radio station?
Bailey confirmed the city is in the final stages of formalizing Oshkosh 101.9 FM’s move to the Oshkosh Public Library, saying the transition could be completed within a couple weeks, pending contracts.
At a previous workshop, Library Director Darryl Eschete said the radio station would fit seamlessly into third-floor spaces at the library, adding that WOCT-LP’s broadcast equipment doesn’t take up much of a footprint.
The city was even considering leaving the station’s antenna in its current location given Oshkosh’s fiber optic network.
What are the options facing Life TV?
Bailey presented an option for local producers to continue recording programs with current equipment, with the idea of posting that content on social media platforms such as YouTube.
Other options include:
Under the previous Oshkosh Media structure, local producers used the department’s studio, equipment and production expertise to air content on Channel 2, such as “Eye on Oshkosh” and the “Outpost.”
Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@usatodayco.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @justinmarville.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Oshkosh could pull the plug on Life TV in August
Reporting by Justin Marville, Oshkosh Northwestern / Oshkosh Northwestern
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Justin Marville, Oshkosh Northwestern | USA TODAY Network
