WTTW joins cost saving, single master control venture

Dan Schmidt, WTTW CEO/president

A $7 million grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will fund start-up costs for a single master control venture called the Digital Convergence Alliance (DCA), between WTTW/Ch. 11, lead station WJCT, Jacksonville, Florida where the transmissions will take place, and eight other public TV stations. 

The master control, scheduled to become operational in the spring of 2013, will provide DCA stations with a reliable, long-term broadcast traffic and control operation and meaningful cost savings.   

As a founding DCA member, WTTW will benefit from future cost efficiencies and be involved in venture management. “The station has a long history of quality content creation,” said Dan Schmidt,  WTTW CEO/president, “and combining our master control operation frees up financial and personnel resources to create more, new Chicago-focused programming.”

The station’s master control, which has been digitized for several years, will be maintained for transferring WTTW current local content and other programming to the DCA, and to take local control during special live broadcasts. 

No layoffs any kind are planned, said a WTTW spokesperson.