CPB wants WSEC to "become sustainable"

CPB's Mark Erstling, a senior veep, said the struggling WSEC in Springfield, Ill., needs "to have a plan so we can change their trajectory so they can become sustainable." Erstling told the local State Journal-Register that he and COO Vinnie Curren met with station managers in May in Springfield. “Our goal is to make sure no one loses public television service in America,” Erstling said. “We’re a funder for public television and radio stations, but there’s not a lot of discretionary funds for dealing with situations like this.” Jerold Gruebel, CEO of the PBS affiliate, on May 29 told The Hannibal Courier-Post in Missouri that CPB is trying to “dismantle” smaller PBS stations.