Overview
- WisconsinEye went dark on Dec. 15 after citing a collapse in private funding, leaving more than 30,000 hours of archived footage inaccessible.
- Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill to create an Office of Public Affairs Network to deliver live, nonpartisan coverage and guarantee free public access.
- The measure directs the Department of Administration to try to acquire WisconsinEye’s digital archives, though the nonprofit’s contract assigns custody to the Wisconsin Historical Society.
- Key details remain unresolved, including costs and staffing plans, as sponsors say they hope to hire experienced WisconsinEye personnel.
- WisconsinEye previously said it could resume for one year with $887,000 in donations and sought removal of a $10 million state matching requirement tied to an endowment.