 "Photo: Anna Eskamani/Central Florida Future")
With the Board of Trustees' approval, the Central Florida community will be able to watch PBS grow into WUCF-TV.
"Overall, I know I was a little bit nervous going to the first advancement meeting," Anna Eskamani, a senior political science major and co-creator of the "Keep PBS in Orlando" campaign, said. "Everything went the way our campaign wanted it to go. The advancement committee had a great debate on the issue, but overall I think they saw the pros of the situation."
Eskamani also said that she and co-creator, Ali Kurnaz, enjoyed meeting people who supported the campaign at the BOT meeting, including UCF News & Information Assistant Vice President Grant Heston, former Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty and UCF President John Hitt.
"We were delighted that UCF was able to step up and expand its current relationship with WMFE. We feel UCF has the resources at hand in this community to be the provider of PBS programs," José A. Fajardo, president and CEO of WMFE Public Media, said.
The next steps are to make the transition to WUCF happen smoothly. WMFE will cease airing PBS on its Channel-24 station June 30, and WUCF will begin airing programs July 1, tentatively.
UCF TV will continue to work with PBS to make this official, according to Heston.
Since WMFE-FM 90.7, WMFE's National Public Radio station, is thriving, there are no plans that would include WUCF–FM 89.9, Orlando's jazz station, in the transition.
Fajardo believes the change will allow for new opportunities for Orlando, PBS, Brevard Community College and UCF alike.
"Not just for a robust schedule but also local programs already at UCF that will benefit the community," he said.
Eskamani sees plans for WUCF as an exciting, untraditional way for UCF to grow, "in ways that building garages and buildings can't do."
"We would also like to help in any way we can to help support the station," Eskamani said. She added that a WUCF Facebook fan page has already been created by members of the campaign to help gain support.
Heston also emphasized the success of the transition as a community effort, crediting the broadcasting partnership with WBCC and UCF's existing relationship with BCC.
"Together, we are excited to keep PBS programming in Central Florida and add high-quality local programs to the new WUCF," Heston said.
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