KLRU Staffers Laid Off
The management of KLRU, Austin’s Public television station, says 12 people, close to 20 percent of the station’s staff, will be let go by the end of the week. The reason? Decreased underwriting and viewer giving. KLRU’s General Manager Bill Stotesbery said the station had a $900,000 shortfall this year.
“The efforts we’re taking now are to try to get our cost structure aligned, not only for this economically-challenging time but also to make sure that we create a cost structure that’s sustainable, regardless of what happens over the next several months,” Stotesbery said.
KLRU will also be discontinuing “DocuBloggers.” The arts program, “InContext” will go into reruns, while the show is refocused. The station will also begin signing off the air between 1:00 and 6:00 A.M. Stotesbery says cutbacks won’t affect KLRU’s mission.
“I hope that what we’re going to do is to create an organization that will continue to serve Central Texas as we always have, find even new and better ways to serve Central Texas irrespective of the economy,” he added.
The KLRU-produced shows, “Austin City Limits,” “Texas Monthly Talks” and “Central Texas Gardener” are unaffected by the cutbacks. Neither is construction on the new studio for “Austin City Limits” across the street from Austin City Hall.
