>> The Wisconsin version of C-Span has gone dark.
Wisconsin. I now shows this message on its website
saying it is off the air. The private nonprofit
service started in 2007, providing live and archived
online and cable TV coverage of state
government. But money to run the operation ran out.
Wisconsin ESSER Roe Jon Henkes joins us now. And
thanks very much for being here.
>> My pleasure. Thank you. >> So what has been the
reaction from the Wisconsin I audience to the fact that
it went off the air? >> Different audiences have
slightly different takes on on the reaction. On the
positive side, we have seen an outpouring of small
gifts made via online, the likes of which we've not
seen. So in a period of about two weeks, we've
generated almost $60,000 in gifts ranging from $5 to
$1000. That's been very encouraging. And it says
that citizens at large really do care about
Wisconsinites future. Disappointing to a degree
has been we've not heard from those larger donor
philanthropist types who who are capable of of
supporting Wisconsin. And we know that they value it
from the perspective of elected officials. They are
anxious for Wisconsin. I to light up the archive, which
can happen very soon, as well as return to full
coverage of of live events. So there are discussions
going on behind the scenes right now. Our credit goes
to the elected officials in the legislature and the
governor's office. These are the folks who over time,
different people, but the same bipartisan sentiment
have said unequivocally that an independent
approach to state government coverage is the
Wisconsin way. >> Because I know that you
were hoping for $10 million in state funding, but that
had to have those matching funds, as you just talked
about from donations. But was that ever a realistic
goal and how are you working around that? Are
you able to get some of that state funding without
having to do the match? >> The hope is that by
state action, those dollars that had the match
requirement can be released in some portion, in whole
or in part to help Wisconsin, I move forward.
We've got five employees and a budget of less than a
million, and we're producing on a busy day in
the capital, up to 10 or 11 events, five of them
simultaneously live. So we can make a very strong
argument that this is a lean operation that
delivers quality at a very affordable price. We're not
asking for new state money. These dollars have already
been allocated toward Wisconsin. So with with
some simple assurances of forward progress, I believe
we can achieve both. Reactivate the archive
quickly and be on the air quickly and be on the air