Updating an earlier column, the Texas Network (TXN) has finally succeeded in cracking the Austin market (see “Media Clips,” Feb. 19, 1999). The News of Texas, TXN’s daily, 30-minute roundup of the state’s news, can now be seen locally on KNVA (channel 54, cable 12), which is owned by NBC affiliate KXAN. The broadcast airs every weekday at noon.
“Media Clips” readers may recall that TXN is owned almost wholly by James Leininger, the San Antonio multimillionaire who has attracted media scrutiny in the past year for funding numerous right-wing causes and heavily bankrolling the successful election campaigns of state Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander and Lt. Gov. Rick Perry.
It would be nice to report that the new program is introducing some higher standards to the news programming of the Austin area, but a few viewings in recent weeks disappointingly have seemed as lacking in substance. “Media Clips” will revisit this program again for a more in-depth look in the near future.
As for the other two regional news networks discussed in that edition, neither Texas Cable News (TXCN) nor Time Warner’s News8 can yet be seen by Austinites. Both are cable-based networks similar to CNN’s Headline News network, with TXCN focusing on Texas news, and News8 specifically reporting on Austin.
Because Time Warner owns the cable franchise in Austin, TXCN isn’t likely to be added to our channel lineup. However, News8, which has suffered some construction and permitting delays, expects to be up and running from its new headquarters near the Capitol by late summer.
KOOP in Court
And still more updates: In case you’re beginning to miss the KOOP melodrama, it will resume in earnest on Tuesday, June 29, in the 98th District Court of Travis County. Followers of the community-owned and (supposedly) cooperatively run radio station will recall that the station was forced to re-run the station’s community board election in February, due to a lawsuit filed by station member Michael Zakes and former station engineer Jerry Chamkis (see “Media Clips,” March 5, 1999).
Dissatisfied with how the second community board election was conducted, and with what they feel to be continued mismanagement of the station, Zakes and Chamkis filed a contempt of court motion, to be taken up June 29. “Media Clips” would like to see this sordid affair come to an end, but given the arrogant actions of the people now running KOOP, we’re hard-pressed to criticize the plaintiffs for continuing with this suit.
An interesting fact regarding the case that pretty much sums up what’s wrong with current station management: In the plaintiff’s first requests for admission, a preliminary fact-finding move in which the plaintiffs submit a list of statements to the defendants and request answers of “admit” or “deny,” Zakes and Chamkis posed this statement: “Defendant KOOP is run by and as a cooperative.” The answer from KOOP’s lawyer, Jerry L. Zunker: “Deny.”
That would seem to be the crux of this whole problem. The current management does a whole lot of talking about democracy at KOOP, but very little about cooperation. It is a subtle but very important distinction.
This article appears in June 18 • 1999 and June 18 • 1999 (Cover).