The Wilmington City Council voted to accept the Cable, Video & Telecommunications Commission’s recommendation to select DETV as the next manager of its Public Access/Leased Access (PALA) television station.
By a vote of 7 to 4 Council Members endorsed the recommendation to select DETV to take over the broadcast operation of Channel 28. DETV aggressively pursued the contact. The company says it focuses “on nothing but positive stories that highlight people, organizations & communities!”
City council Adopted #4619 Sub. 1 Ord. 19-006 “7-3” Approve and Authorize the Public Access and Leased Access
Management Agreement Between the City of Wilmington & DETV Foundation, Inc. pic.twitter.com/jzNUoHSNH2— Wilm City Council (@WilmCityCouncil) March 14, 2019
The current agreement with the Leased Access Preservation Association (LAPA) is set to expire on March 31 which prompted a Request for Proposal to be sent out to the public in November soliciting interested Third Party Operators (TPO).
The CVT Commission, chaired by Council President Hanifa Shabazz, is made up of representatives from the Wilmington City Council and the Mayor’s Administration.
The Commission reviewed the proposals it received from LAPA and DETV, and conducted interviews, which began on November 26.
The process culminated with the commission submitting a recommendation for the agreement between the City and DETV at tonight’s meeting, which garnered the necessary votes to move forward with the new arrangement.
Per the agreement, DETV will formally take control of the station on April 1 for three years with two, one-year options to extend the contract.
