OSHKOSH − The Oshkosh Public Library is coming to the rescue again.
Two months after agreeing to house Oshkosh 101.9 FM, the library said it’s also exploring relocating a “dedicated Life TV studio” to its 106 Washington Ave. premises.
OPL Head of Communications and Engagement Laura McDonald made the announcement in a news release just two days after Common Council voted to keep Channel 2 as a content distribution platform.
“The library is open to exploring opportunities that support community needs and align with our core values,” Library Director Darryl Eschete wrote in the release, saying the Library Board of Trustees will make the final decision. “In the meantime, Life TV producers and on-air talent are welcome to continue to use the library’s meeting rooms, which are available at no cost to individuals, businesses and organizations.”
If approved, Channel 2 would become the second major local broadcast entity saved by OPL mere weeks after Oshkosh 101.9 FM permanently moved into the third-floor spaces at the library.
Local producers have already begun using spaces at the library to record shows for Life TV, but the future of Oshkosh’s nearly 40-year-old public access channel seemed bleak when the city couldn’t find a viable partner for Channel 2.
Common Council then agreed to keep Life TV in a narrow 4-3 vote under an amended resolution that reduces the city’s responsibility to merely maintaining Channel 2 without providing production, recording or editing support.
Most responsibilities now fall to local producers, who will have to find places to record, edit and produce their own content. The content will be sent to the city for upload to Life TV.
“Library leaders believe it is important to consider opportunities that may benefit residents while ensuring any proposal receives thoughtful consideration and careful review,” the OPL release stated.
Why Oshkosh considered ending Life TV on Channel 2
The city first revealed plans to end Life TV and move Oshkosh 101.9 FM out of the Oshkosh Media building back in March to make way for a restructured Communications and Engagement department.
But Communications and Engagement Manager Drew Bailey and City Manager Rebecca Grill initially walked back those plans after strong public backlash before extending the timeline for a final transition on three separate occasions.
Sept. 1 had been floated as the latest transition date, but Council Member Paul Esslinger asked the council last month to consider keeping Life TV and shifting most of the channel’s responsibilities to local producers in an amended resolution.
That motion failed in a split 3-3 vote in the absence of Deputy Mayor Karl Buelow before Esslinger successfully brought the resolution back to the floor Aug. 4.
Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@usatodayco.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @justinmarville.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Oshkosh Public Library explores home for Channel 2 studio
Reporting by Justin Marville, Oshkosh Northwestern / Oshkosh Northwestern
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Justin Marville, Oshkosh Northwestern | USA TODAY Network
