Peconic Public Broadcasting gets an extension to purchase WLIU station

Long Island University has granted Peconic Public Broadcasting Inc., the group that currently runs Long Island’s only National Public Radio affiliate, a three-day extension on the Aug. 31 deadline to make the final $637,000 payment on the station.
LIU released a statement Tuesday evening saying that if the group cannot meet that deadline, the university will offer 88.3 FM’s license and equipment to “several other public radio organizations that have expressed an interest in acquiring WLIU.”
Peconic Public Broadcasting, which was formed last year, beat out two other suitors and signed a $2.4 million deal in October to purchase the station from LIU. At that time, the group signed a letter of intent with the university to purchase the station for about $850,000 in cash, with the rest coming in services.
The group, headed by current staffers at the Southampton-based public radio station, has been operating under the call letters WPPB since then. Station manager Wally Smith did not immediately return calls for comment.
— VERA CHINESE