WMHT
Better broadcasting
Public TV and radio network needed to
go digital – and Rensselaer County was ready
Situation:
| The Rensselaer County IDA - prepared an innovative financing package to accommodate
the public broadcaster's needs
- assisted in the development of the new, state-of-the-art
facilities
- showed its support for a critical contributor to the
region's culture and quality of life
|
In 2001, WMHT
Educational Telecommunications Inc., which operates multiple
publicly-funded, education-focused
television and radio stations throughout New York's Capital
Region, was forced to look for a new home.
With new federal mandates issued by the Federal Communication
Commission requiring public stations to
switch to a digital broadcasting platform, WMHT's current facility
in Rotterdam, NY (Schenectady County)
was not equipped to provide sufficient or reliable power supply to
accommodate these changes. Unable to
withstand the financial burden of building a new facility and with
no viable prospects in sight, WMHT
was in a difficult situation.
Solution:
The answer was just a click away.
Understanding the cultural value (and hundreds of jobs) that WMHT
brings to the community, Rensselaer County Industrial Development
Agency worked to secure $5.2 million
in bonds to remodel a facility in the Rensselaer Technology Park.
The acquisition and renovation of
this new building lowered the overall cost of the project by $8
million, a significant savings when
compared to building a new, modern structure – making the purchase
affordable, and achievable, for
WMHT. In fact, the additional funding increased the broadcaster's
TV studio space and upgraded its
technological infrastructure – preparing it for further growth and
innovation.
Results:
Rensselaer County IDA was able to save
a precious regional asset. The secured funding was critical
in propelling WMHT into digital broadcasting... creating a
facility the entire region can be proud of.
The new facility is expected to be fully operational by summer
2005.