OPT?s transfer to SMSU official

Southwest Missouri State University assumed licensee's responsibilities for Ozarks Public Television July 1, having met all conditions for the transfer.

According to a news release from SMSU, the physical transition of the station from Drury University's Shewmaker Hall to SMSU's Public Affairs Class-room Building is well under way.

Four senior OPT staff members already have moved to SMSU, and most of the remaining staff will be moved by Aug. 1. Some staff members will remain at Drury until the end of the fall 2001 semester.

"The transition is progressing well. The master control area is under construction, the office areas are being renovated and we are beginning to purchase and install the microwave link between the Public Affairs Classroom Building and the transmitter site," said Arlen Diamond, PhD, director of broadcast services.

A management committee of SMSU administrators is helping to guide the transition and operation of the school's broadcast services unit.

Sarah White remains the general manager of OPT, and Tammy Wiley is the general manager of KSMU-FM, the public radio station that also is part of the unit.

There were three conditions that had to be met by SMSU in order for the television station's license to be transferred.

The transition required the approval of the Federal Communications Commis-sion, which was granted in May.

The U.S. Department of Commerce also had to confirm that ownership of equipment purchased with grants from the Public Telecommunications Facili-ties Program could be transferred from OPT to SMSU. That transfer was approved in June.

The final condition of the transfer was that SMSU obtain "an acceptable tower agreement," which the school did in June with the American Tower Company. The American Tower Company owns the tower where the KOLR antenna is located and where the television station's KOZK antenna has been located.

The company agreed to continue the lease for KOZK on its tower, and Spectrasite, with owns the tower where the KOZJ antenna is located, agreed to continue the lease for OPT's Joplin station.

Diamond said even though the station is now licensed through SMSU, community support will remain a key factor in OPT's success.

SMSU officials have said that OPT's operating expenses will be paid by outside revenues such as memberships, underwriting, grants and gifts, and Diamond said increasing memberships and other support will be a high priority for the coming months.

Another priority will be the completion of a five-year plan for the station, which should be published in early 2002.

(The preceding article originally appeared in the July 18, 2001, issue of the SBJ Daily Update, a subscriber-only service.)