An attempt by the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) to purchase bankrupt television station WTGI in Philadelphia has failed.
Trinity’s efforts to buy the station had been challenged by Dan Borowicz, president of the Ethnic Programming Legal Defense Fund and manager of operations and engineering at WTGI. In May, Borowicz petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to disallow TBN’S bid for the station. At issue was who would truly control the station should the network purchase it. FCC regulations limit to 12 the number of full-power stations one corporation may own but allow ownership of two additional stations if they are controlled by racial/ethnic minorities.
According to TBN, which owns 12 stations, control of the Philadelphia station was to be held by National Minority TV (NMTV). Borowicz has maintained that NMTV is a “sham organization,” citing the fact that of its three voting board members, two are high-ranking TBN employees, including president Paul Crouch (CT, Aug. 19, 1991, p. 52).
An FCC inquiry into the relationship between TBN and NMTV has delayed the process beyond the bankruptcy court deadline for the proposed purchase, explained a TBN spokesman, Washington attorney Colby May. Though the purchase deal is off, the FCC’s inquiry into the relationship between TBN and NMTV continues. May said he regards the FCC questions as “routine” and added that TBN has always complied fully with similar FCC requests.
