11-20-08 City, WNIT-TV to sign pact for public media center

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in the state through one fiber-optic system. We will also be able to provide video on demand, a live video stream on our web site and, with our new Regional Mobile Unit, live broadcasts from anywhere in our 22-county broadcast area. “We are excited and pleased to work with the City of South Bend on this historic venture. The Tax Increment Financing which the City is providing is a significant step to making WNIT’s dynamic vision a reality while keeping downtown South Bend growing and vital. It’s definitely a win-win situation.” “I appreciate the positive role that WSBT has played in making this facility available for WNIT,” Luecke said. “It will continue a tradition of excellence at the site and strengthen quality of life for the greater South Bend area.” WNIT is expected to employ between 30 and 40 people with an annual payroll and benefits package starting at $1.2 million and expenditures exceeding $1.5 million. The City’s contribution to the project comes from Tax Increment Financing revenues from the downtown Central Business District. In a TIF district, the increase in tax revenue generated by new development stays within the boundaries of the district to fund infrastructure improvements, including curbs, sidewalks, streets, landscaping and other public improvements. These resources are available for economic development but not for general city services. WNIT already has provided video coverage of South Bend Common Council meetings, and City staff have discussed a potential long-term relationship with WNIT regarding public education, governmental and community-affairs programming. The station’s programming interests include convening community stakeholders around specific topics for televised town meetings, developing an Indiana Channel that would feature live coverage of sessions from the Indiana Statehouse and creating awareness of community challenges with an invitation to residents to participate in their resolution. WNIT will provide meeting space to individuals and community groups. “The station will become a hub for the region, attracting arts and cultural events and activities to the downtown area,” according to the agreement. “Connectivity between arts and cultural venues in the city will be engaged through the technology assets owned by the station.” WNIT, which provides media training for students, will conduct a studio and field- production training program organized into a five-semester program in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College in South Bend. The City’s portion of the work, conducted under the auspices of the Board of Public Works, is expected to take six months. The entire project is expected to be complete by Oct. 1, 2009. - 30 -