Does Everyone Understand? We’re Building This for You. We Won’t Own CNL2 Much Longer.

A message from Jeff Noedel

After investing money in — and working without pay — to build CNL2 for the past 1-1/2 years, Jeremy Tyler and I have decided to give up ownership of CNL2. The process has begun to convert CNL2 into a non-profit.

• The plan is for Jeremy Tyler to serve as CNL2’s Executive Director and General Manager
• I plan to keep doing what I love: interviewing and reporting for CNL2
• But we won’t own CNL2. We will serve at the pleasure of the non-profit’s Board of Directors

With this change, CNL2 will never make us wealthy, no matter how big its audience gets. That was never our goal anyway. We knew from the original CNL in Missouri that there is no pot of gold in local news in a small community. Today, even less so. CNL2’s inability to sell advertising here (we are still trying) means this will always be supported by subscribers, donors, philanthropists, foundations, and grants. Eventually, some businesses may see value in underwriting certain types of programming.

Converting CNL2 to a non-profit is not a risky move. Public radio thrives in America, especially in the Pacific Northwest. After all, NPR affiliate KUOW-FM vies for the #1 share in the huge Seattle radio market. NPR content and style are very popular in the San Juans. So there is good reason to believe the public radio model is the right model for CNL2 Radio and CNL2 TV in the San Juans.

What we are really focused on is CNL2’s longevity. We are forming a Board of Directors and adopting bylaws. We are forming an advisory committee to advise us on radio, TV, and website content. We are creating a new financial framework. As we explore the contours of what can be achieved with a small staff and a lot of volunteers — our decisions are focused on being here for you for decades to come. And it means that CNL2 won’t be sold in the future. This is important because when radio and TV stations are sold, they often make surprising — sometimes unwelcome — changes. CNL2’s non-profit status will further bolster its longevity here.

Our other motive in the conversion to a non-profit is to be best positioned to serve the entire San Juan County community. All 18,000 citizens on the 21 inhabited islands.* San Juan County is one of the very few counties in Washington without a radio station in its county seat. We are fixing that now. And — if we succeed — San Juan County will be one of the smallest (and finest) American populations under 20,000 people with a high-quality streaming radio and television station.

How can you help make this an asset for the San Juans? Subscribe now. Or donate a larger amount. Volunteer to entertain in a show (a band, a singer, a dancer, a comedian). Encourage a student to intern here, to learn broadcasting, podcasting, and video production.

Because this will be a spectacular — and very rare — community asset.

We’re building this for you.

*21 is the number of islands in the County that Opalco serves with electricity, according to the County’s Comprehensive Plan.