The Austin Music Network (AMN) was funded mostly by the city of Austin until last fall.
Once funding was cut, the city and the network began looking for alternate financial resources. City leaders decided the network will have to look for money outside the city budget once its $150,000 contract expires in September.
A private media group, Austin Music Partners, offered Wednesday to privatize AMN. Longtime TV producer Connie Wodlinger would be in charge of programming.
Her proposal comes just two months after city leaders questioned the network's financial viability.
"We are offering an option which would privatize the network. We've put together a group that is going to offer them the option of taking on the music network, assuming all the responsibility and expanding it very substantially," Wodlinger said.
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Austin Music Network
A private media group wants to invest $5 million in the local music channel.
 
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According to Wodlinger, Wodlinger would be in charge of programming, media investment bank Daniels & Associates would operate on a $5 million yearly budget and Time Warner Cable- the parent company of News 8 Austin - would distribute the network.
Wodlinger said she envisions AMN becoming a regional music channel.
"The idea is to make this a 24-hour showcase for Austin, statewide, so you would obviously want your crew, your personalities from here in Austin. There's such a wealth of talent here," she said.
AMN general manager Louis Meyers worries the channel will lose its community appeal if it goes from being a nonprofit to commercial venture.
"If you're going to invest $5 million a year it has to show a return. You can't show a return and service the local community. Those things just don't go together," he said.
Under the proposal, Austin Music Partners would make a five-year commitment to the network.
Wodlinger said the next step is to propose the offer formally at a city council meeting, and wait and see whether city leaders accept it.
