As of July 1, 2011, Brevard Community College will work in partnership with the University of Central Florida to provide PBS to the Orlando and Central Florida market. WBCC has been a PBS affiliate since 2001, but has been a secondary member and therefore limited in its programming due to WMFE being the primary member serving the area.
WMFE announced in April of this year that it would discontinue PBS television service as of June 30. WMFE also operates a radio station that provides NPR to the Orlando market and the public explanation has been that the television sell off was to give them the ability to focus on radio. The WMFE broadcast equipment is being sold to another television station, but it has been unclear what would happen to Orlando's PBS broadcasting. That has been answered.
According to the WUCF TV website, here are the partnership details regarding PBS broadcasting:
While BCC will provide the broadcast facilities, engineering and program support for the new flagship channel, UCF will coordinate and oversee the fundraising and development campaigns and maintain the website. BCC will hold the FCC license and ensure FCC compliance.
The channels for cable subscribers is still being worked out, but it is known that WUCF's digital broadcast will be available on channel 68.1 over the air.
Over the next few weeks, more details will be forthcoming leading into the transition on the WUCF TV website at
www.wucftv.org.