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Connecticut School of Broadcasting Shuts Doors

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The Associated Press

Published: March 5, 2009

Updated: 03/05/2009 08:03 pm

HARTFORD, Conn. - A private Connecticut-based broadcasting school with campuses in more than a dozen states abruptly shut down this week and said Thursday it will seek bankruptcy protection.

The Connecticut School of Broadcasting blamed its financial woes on a tightening of the private student loan market. Tuition for 16-week courses is as much as $12,000.

"I am extremely disappointed that, after 44 years of operations, CSB will not be able to fulfill its mission of providing a quality education to students interested in working in the broadcast industry," school president David Banner said. "I am also disappointed that the actions of our lender precipitated this sudden disruption in the lives and careers of our students and employees."

The school, which has 26 locations in 16 states, was founded in Farmington in 1964 by Hartford broadcaster Dick Robinson.

Robinson, who hosts a radio show from his yacht in Palm Beach County, Fla., said he learned of the closures Wednesday night and was crushed by the news, saying the school "is like a beloved child to me."

"Everything as far as I knew was going wonderfully there, and then last night people began to call me and said 'You can't believe this,' and I said, 'I can't, you're right,'" he said Thursday.

The school's current owners said it had to shut down when its lender, Pittsburgh-based PNC Financial, seized control of the school's accounts and froze them as it was attempting to find other ways to fund the business.

In a statement, the school said it would "promptly seek protection under applicable insolvency laws."

PNC spokesman Fred Solomon said the company does not discuss its customers or their accounts because of bank confidentiality rules.

PNC recently acquired Cleveland's troubled National City Corp. and last week slashed its quarterly dividend by 85 percent. Its stock was down more than 12 percent Thursday, trading under its 52-week low $20.33.

At the school's Farmington location, students say they found out by text message Wednesday night while others showing up for class found the doors locked.

Tracy Miller, a January graduate, said she was upset about losing the lifetime job placement help and studio privileges that the school agreed to in the contract she signed. She also was angry because radio demos she recorded for potential employers were on computers inside the locked school.

"I just want some answers. I'm in the dark right now," said Miller, 22, of Plainville.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said Thursday his office was looking into the closure, including whether school officials kept taking money from students when they knew it would be shut down.

The office will seek tuition refunds for students if it finds any violations of law, Blumenthal said.

The state Department of Higher Education was also seeking refunds and options for students to complete their studies.

Robinson, the 70-year-old founder, said Thursday that his family wants to reopen a new broadcast school, to be called the Robinson Media Institute, in Farmington. He said cannot participate because a five-year noncompete clause remains in effect from his 2006 sale of the school, but that his daughters have contacted state officials about letting students complete their studies at no cost.

"I can't be involved — only from the heart — but the girls are in there, they graduated from there, they want to rehire all of the staff," he said. "The biggest thing is these kids. It's unconscionable to leave the students hanging, because they really want to do this and have a passion for broadcasting."

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