New Jersey Network
Encyclopedia
The New Jersey Network, or NJN, was a network of public television and radio
stations serving the U.S.
state of New Jersey
. NJN was a member of the Public Broadcasting Service
(PBS) for television and the National Public Radio (NPR) for radio, broadcasting their programming as well as producing and broadcasting their own programming, mostly relating to issues in New Jersey. With studios in both Trenton
and Newark
, NJN's television network covered all of New Jersey, plus parts of Pennsylvania
, New York
, Connecticut
and Delaware
. The state radio network primarily serves several areas of New Jersey that were not covered by the Philadelphia and New York City
public radio stations.
New Jersey Network ended operations on June 30, 2011. The television network was succeeded by NJTV
, and the radio stations were split through two separate outright sales to different public broadcasting entities.
establishing the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority (NJPBA). New Jersey already had a public television station licensed within the state—WNET
, licensed to Newark. However, for all practical purposes, WNET was a New York City station, effectively leaving New Jersey without a public station of its own. With state funding and four UHF licenses assigned years earlier by the Federal Communications Commission
, the NJPBA went to work building the state's public television stations. The first station, WNJT in Trenton, went on the air April 5, 1971, with the other three stations signing on over the next two years. The system was known on-air as New Jersey Public Television (NJPTV) until 1981, when it adopted the New Jersey Network identity.
Due to New Jersey being split between the New York City and Philadelphia markets, NJN's television network reached viewers in parts of five states. While this gave NJN one of the largest potential audiences in the country, it also forced it to compete directly with three of the highest-rated PBS stations in the nation—WNET, secondary New York City member station WLIW
, and WHYY-TV
in the Philadelphia area. NJN spent most of its existence searching to carve out a niche of its own.
One of its solutions had been to air some of the more popular PBS shows on a delayed basis. Another solution has been to focus its efforts on its news operation. The latter worked very well, as NJN and its reporters won many awards for their journalistic efforts. In the 1980s, NJN was the first media outlet to break the "Taggart Affair" political patronage
scandal. NJN's newscasts and public affairs programming were co-produced (initially) and simulcast on WNET for that station to fulfill its licensing commitment to Newark.
NJN's radio network began operation May 20, 1991, when WNJT-FM in Trenton signed on; eight other stations would be established over the following seventeen years.
After assuming the office of New Jersey Governor
in 2010, Chris Christie voiced his support for transforming NJN into a not-for-profit organization in his March 2010 budget speech. On October 15, 2010, a bipartisan legislative task force called for a "dramatic reconfiguration" of the state network, but not full privatization. Christie nonetheless moved forward with plans to remove state funding. On November 17 NJN handed layoff notices to 130 workers, leading to speculation that the state network would shut down on January 1, 2011, when funding from the state would end. On December 17, 2010, Gov. Christie signed legislation for transferring the state network to independent funding. The legislation also suspended layoffs.
On June 23 the New Jersey State Assembly voted, 45 to 30, in favor of rejecting the WNET/Caucus proposal for transfer of control of the NJN television stations. The state Senate, however, passed the resolution on June 27 by a 20 to 19 margin, allowing the deal to go into effect as scheduled on July 1. All 130 NJN employees were either laid off or reassigned, or retired as a result of the system's closure.
The last scheduled program aired on NJN television was Theatre Talk, followed by a previously-aired news report and pre-taped, farewell message by Janice Selinger, NJN's acting executive director.
Notes:
Signal Reach
. Each of the four NJN stations remained on their pre-transition digital assignments using PSIP to display virtual channel
s for each NJN station corresponding to their former analog channel numbers.
, with a simulcast of the audio of the television network's NJN News following All Things Considered
.
Public broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
stations serving the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. NJN was a member of the Public Broadcasting Service
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
(PBS) for television and the National Public Radio (NPR) for radio, broadcasting their programming as well as producing and broadcasting their own programming, mostly relating to issues in New Jersey. With studios in both Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
and Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, NJN's television network covered all of New Jersey, plus parts of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. The state radio network primarily serves several areas of New Jersey that were not covered by the Philadelphia and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
public radio stations.
New Jersey Network ended operations on June 30, 2011. The television network was succeeded by NJTV
NJTV
NJTV is a public television network serving the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is operated by WNET.org, the parent company of New York City's flagship public television stations, WNET and WLIW...
, and the radio stations were split through two separate outright sales to different public broadcasting entities.
History
The system was founded in 1968 by an act of the New Jersey LegislatureNew Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
establishing the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority (NJPBA). New Jersey already had a public television station licensed within the state—WNET
WNET
WNET, channel 13 is a non-commercial educational public television station licensed to Newark, New Jersey. With its signal covering the New York metropolitan area, WNET is a primary station of the Public Broadcasting Service and a primary provider of PBS programming...
, licensed to Newark. However, for all practical purposes, WNET was a New York City station, effectively leaving New Jersey without a public station of its own. With state funding and four UHF licenses assigned years earlier by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
, the NJPBA went to work building the state's public television stations. The first station, WNJT in Trenton, went on the air April 5, 1971, with the other three stations signing on over the next two years. The system was known on-air as New Jersey Public Television (NJPTV) until 1981, when it adopted the New Jersey Network identity.
Due to New Jersey being split between the New York City and Philadelphia markets, NJN's television network reached viewers in parts of five states. While this gave NJN one of the largest potential audiences in the country, it also forced it to compete directly with three of the highest-rated PBS stations in the nation—WNET, secondary New York City member station WLIW
WLIW
WLIW, channel 21, is a non-commercial educational public television station licensed to Garden City, New York; which serves as a secondary Public Broadcasting Service member station for the New York City television market...
, and WHYY-TV
WHYY-TV
For the former channel 12 in Wilmington, see WVUE .WHYY-TV, channel 12, is a non-commercial educational television station licensed to Wilmington, Delaware, USA...
in the Philadelphia area. NJN spent most of its existence searching to carve out a niche of its own.
One of its solutions had been to air some of the more popular PBS shows on a delayed basis. Another solution has been to focus its efforts on its news operation. The latter worked very well, as NJN and its reporters won many awards for their journalistic efforts. In the 1980s, NJN was the first media outlet to break the "Taggart Affair" political patronage
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
scandal. NJN's newscasts and public affairs programming were co-produced (initially) and simulcast on WNET for that station to fulfill its licensing commitment to Newark.
NJN's radio network began operation May 20, 1991, when WNJT-FM in Trenton signed on; eight other stations would be established over the following seventeen years.
Transition
In 2008, in the face of a proposed 35 percent cut in funding, NJN officials asked the state legislature for permission to become an independent nonprofit entity. Under this proposal, the state network would likely be transferred to its nonprofit fundraising arm, the NJN Foundation. Two consultants looking into fundraising options say that breaking off from the state would trigger an avalanche of private funding.After assuming the office of New Jersey Governor
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
in 2010, Chris Christie voiced his support for transforming NJN into a not-for-profit organization in his March 2010 budget speech. On October 15, 2010, a bipartisan legislative task force called for a "dramatic reconfiguration" of the state network, but not full privatization. Christie nonetheless moved forward with plans to remove state funding. On November 17 NJN handed layoff notices to 130 workers, leading to speculation that the state network would shut down on January 1, 2011, when funding from the state would end. On December 17, 2010, Gov. Christie signed legislation for transferring the state network to independent funding. The legislation also suspended layoffs.
Endgame
On June 6, the split of NJN's radio and television operations was announced by Gov. Christie. They were as follows:- Television: WNET assumed control of NJN's television stations for a five-year term under a new nonprofit entity called Public Media NJ. The television network was renamed NJTVNJTVNJTV is a public television network serving the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is operated by WNET.org, the parent company of New York City's flagship public television stations, WNET and WLIW...
, and has promised to feature increased coverage of news and issues pertinent to New Jersey, as well as programming from the WNET and PBS libraries. Caucus Educational Corporation, which produces Caucus: New Jersey, will serve as a producing partner with NJTV for New Jersey-focused public affairs programming. The deal does not include the station licenses, which will be retained by the NJPBA. As the contracts do not involve license transfers but are instead tantamount to local management agreements, they do not require approval from the FCC. - Radio: NJN's radio network was divided in a pair of multi-station sales, with New York Public Radio (owners of WNYC-AM-FMWNYCWNYC is a set of call letters shared by a pair of co-owned, non-profit, public radio stations located in New York City.WNYC broadcasts on the AM band at 820 kHz, and WNYC-FM is at 93.9 MHz. Both stations are members of National Public Radio and carry distinct, but similar news/talk programs...
in New York City and Newark-licensed WQXR-FMWQXR-FMWQXR-FM is an American classical radio station licensed to Newark, New Jersey, and serving the New York City metropolitan area. It is the most-listened-to classical-music station in the United States, with an average quarter-hour audience of 63,000...
) acquiring four stations and WHYY-FMWHYY-FMWHYY-FM is an NPR member station serving the Delaware Valley area, which is the metro area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The station is located in Philadelphia. Its transmitter is located in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia.-History:...
in Philadelphia obtaining the other five. New York Public Radio used its stations to start a new New Jersey-oriented network, New Jersey Public RadioNew Jersey Public RadioNew Jersey Public Radio is an NPR member network serving portions of northern New Jersey. It is owned by New York Public Radio , which also owns WNYC and WQXR-FM in New York City. The network comprises the four northernmost radio stations of the former New Jersey Network...
, while WHYY used its stations to expand the reach of its existing radio service. These sales must also be approved by the FCC.
On June 23 the New Jersey State Assembly voted, 45 to 30, in favor of rejecting the WNET/Caucus proposal for transfer of control of the NJN television stations. The state Senate, however, passed the resolution on June 27 by a 20 to 19 margin, allowing the deal to go into effect as scheduled on July 1. All 130 NJN employees were either laid off or reassigned, or retired as a result of the system's closure.
The last scheduled program aired on NJN television was Theatre Talk, followed by a previously-aired news report and pre-taped, farewell message by Janice Selinger, NJN's acting executive director.
Television
The NJN television stations were:- CamdenCamden, New JerseyThe city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
: WNJS (channelVirtual channelIn telecommunications, a logical channel number , also known as virtual channel, is a channel designation which differs from that of the actual radio channel on which the signal travels....
23/RFDigital terrestrial televisionDigital terrestrial television is the technological evolution of broadcast television and advance from analog television, which broadcasts land-based signals...
22) - MontclairMontclair, New Jersey-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
: WNJN (channel 50/RF 51)1 - New BrunswickNew Brunswick, New JerseyNew Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
: WNJB (channel 58/RF 8) - TrentonTrenton, New JerseyTrenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
: WNJT (channel 52/RF 43)
Notes:
- 1 WNJN used the callsign WNJM (the M standing for Montclair) from 1973 sign-on to 1994.
Signal Reach
- WNJS: all of southern New Jersey (including Atlantic City), as well as Philadelphia and Wilmington, DelawareWilmington, DelawareWilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
- WNJN: all of northern New Jersey (including Newark, Jersey City and PatersonPaterson, New JerseyPaterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
), as well as southern New York state (New York City and western Long IslandLong IslandLong Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
) and southwestern Connecticut - WNJT: most of central New Jersey (including the city of TrentonTrenton, New JerseyTrenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, MonmouthMonmouth County, New JerseyMonmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
, MercerMercer County, New JerseyAs of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...
and OceanOcean County, New Jersey-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 510,916 people, 200,402 households, and 137,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 803 people per square mile . There were 248,711 housing units at an average density of 151/km²...
counties) - WNJB: most of north-central New Jersey (including HunterdonHunterdon County, New JerseyHunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
, SomersetSomerset County, New JerseySomerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In 2010, the population was 323,444. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Somerville....
and MiddlesexMiddlesex County, New Jersey-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 750,162 people, 265,815 households, and 190,855 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,422 people per square mile . There were 273,637 housing units at an average density of 884 per square mile...
counties)
NJN-produced television programs
- Another View
- Caucus: New Jersey
- Classroom Close-up, NJ
- Congress Watch
- Due ProcessDue Process (TV series)Due Process is a legal television show on New Jersey Network. First started in 1996, Due Process has been continually broadcasting about New Jersey's legal community for 14 years. In its 15th season, Due Process is NJN’s award-winning weekly series on law and justice issues.Hosted by Raymond M...
- Homeless Tails
- Images/Imagenes
- Inside TrentonInside TrentonInside Trenton is a weekly half hour public affairs program covering issues important to people from New Jersey. It is hosted by Steve Adubato and Rafael Pi Roman. It airs in both New York City on WNET Saturdays and on New Jersey Network on various times during the weekend....
- New Jersey Works
- NJN Classics
- NJN NewsNJN NewsNJN News was a half-hour daily broadcast television news program by the New Jersey Network which also aired in New York City on WNET Monday through Friday. It was sometimes preempted on holidays by special programming....
- On the Record
- Reporters Roundtable
- Shepherd's Pie (monologue program hosted by Jean ShepherdJean ShepherdJean Parker Shepherd was an American raconteur, radio and TV personality, writer and actor who was often referred to by the nickname Shep....
) - State of the Arts
- Tomorrow's Medicine Today (produced by Medical Missions for ChildrenMedical Missions for ChildrenMedical Missions for Children is an independent, non-profit organization that works to improve health outcomes of the world's critically ill children by providing individual telemedicine consultations and implementing education programs focused on narrowing the knowledge gap between healthcare...
) - The Uncle Floyd Show (aired in the 1980s)
Digital television
The state network's digital signals was multiplexed:| Sub-channel | Programming |
|---|---|
| xx.1 | main NJN/PBS programming |
| xx.2 | NJN2 |
| xx.3 | AudioVision (audio only) |
Analog-to-digital conversion
The four NJN stations shut down their analog signals on June 12, 2009, as part of the DTV transition in the United StatesDTV transition in the United States
The DTV transition in the United States was the switchover from analog to exclusively digital broadcasting of free over-the-air television programming...
. Each of the four NJN stations remained on their pre-transition digital assignments using PSIP to display virtual channel
Virtual channel
In telecommunications, a logical channel number , also known as virtual channel, is a channel designation which differs from that of the actual radio channel on which the signal travels....
s for each NJN station corresponding to their former analog channel numbers.
Radio
Unlike its television counterpart, NJN Radio covered mainly southern New Jersey, with only two transmitters in the northern part of the state. Due to the crowded state of the noncommercial end of the FM dial in the northeastern United States, the nine stations all operate at relatively low power. Much of the programming came from NPRNPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
, with a simulcast of the audio of the television network's NJN News following All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
.
- Stations acquired by WHYY, Incorporated:
City Call letters Frequency Atlantic City Atlantic City, New JerseyAtlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
WNJN-FM 89.7 Berlin Berlin, New JerseyBerlin is a Borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,588.Berlin was incorporated as a borough on March 29, 1927, from portions of Berlin Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 26,...
WNJS-FM 88.1 Bridgeton Bridgeton, New JerseyBridgeton is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States, in the south part of the state, on the Cohansey River, near Delaware Bay. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 25,349. It is the county seat of Cumberland County...
WNJB-FM 89.3 Cape May Court House Cape May Court House, New JerseyCape May Court House is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Middle Township, in Cape May County, New Jersey. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 4,704...
WNJZ 90.3 Manahawkin Manahawkin, New JerseyManahawkin is a census-designated place and unincorporated area contained within Stafford Township, in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. Manahawkin translates to 'land of good corn' although this has been disputed by recent scholars claiming that it translate to “fertile land sloping into...
WNJM 89.9
- Stations acquired by New York Public Radio:
City Call letters Frequency Netcong Netcong, New JerseyNetcong is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 2,580. Its estimated population in 2006 was 3,292...
WNJY WNJYWNJY is a radio station licensed to Netcong, New Jersey. The station is owned by New York Public Radio , and is an affiliate of their New Jersey Public Radio network....
89.3 Sussex Sussex, New JerseySussex is a borough in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 2,130.Sussex was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on October 14, 1891, as Deckertown, from portions of Wantage...
WNJP WNJPWNJP is a radio station licensed to Sussex, New Jersey. The station is owned by New York Public Radio , and is an affiliate of their New Jersey Public Radio network....
88.5 Trenton Trenton, New JerseyTrenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
WNJT-FM WNJT-FMWNJT-FM is a radio station licensed to Trenton, New Jersey. The station is owned by New York Public Radio , and is an affiliate of their New Jersey Public Radio network....
88.1 Toms River Toms River, New JerseyToms River is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Toms River Township and is the county seat of Ocean County, New Jersey. It is part of a larger Toms River Township...
WNJO WNJO (FM)WNJO is a radio station licensed to Toms River, New Jersey. The station is owned by New York Public Radio , and is an affiliate of their New Jersey Public Radio network....
90.3