OETA ends relationship with charitable foundation

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma’s public television network has ended its relationship with a charitable partner amid a dispute over management of the statewide network.

The Oklahoman reports that the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority’s board voted Tuesday to terminate its relationship with the OETA Foundation.

The foundation says it has raised more than $67.5 million to benefit OETA since 1989. Foundation President Daphne Dowdy says OETA refuses to be transparent on how it spends money.

OETA has accused the foundation of misspending funds donated for public television. A new nonprofit, Friends of OETA Inc., has been created to replace the foundation in fundraising.

OETA is supported by donations and state appropriations, but the Legislature cut OETA’s annual appropriation by 45 percent between 2008 and 2016. State funding accounts for about one-third of OETA’s budget.