Oshkosh Media to shut down, replaced by city communications division

The local TV station will cease operations on May 15 as the city centralizes all communications under a new department.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Oshkosh Media, a local TV station that has been operating for over 20 years, will shut down on May 15. The city of Oshkosh is replacing the station with a new Communication and Engagement Division that will handle all city communications and broadcasts of government meetings on the city's website and YouTube channel. The change is part of a restructuring process and not due to budget cuts, according to city officials.

Why it matters

The closure of Oshkosh Media ends a long-running source of locally produced programming in the city, which some residents are upset about. The shift to city-controlled communications raises questions about transparency and public access to local government proceedings.

The details

Oshkosh Media has produced a variety of local programming for over 20 years, including broadcasts of government meetings. The space currently used by the station will now house the new Communication and Engagement Division, which the city says will centralize all communications and reduce costs by eliminating payments to third-party vendors. However, some Oshkosh Media producers, like John Nieman who has hosted a show for 20 years, were not consulted about the decision and are upset that it was made without their input.

  • Oshkosh Media will cease operations on May 15, 2026.
  • The new Communication and Engagement Division will launch on May 16, 2026.

The players

Oshkosh Media

A local TV station that has been operating in Oshkosh, Wisconsin for over 20 years, providing locally produced programming and broadcasts of government meetings.

City of Oshkosh

The local government of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, which is replacing Oshkosh Media with a new Communication and Engagement Division to handle all city communications and broadcasts.

Drew Bailey

The Oshkosh Communications and Engagement Manager, who stated that the change is due to a restructuring process and not budget cuts.

John Nieman

A producer who has hosted a show on Oshkosh Media for the past 20 years and is upset that he was not consulted about the decision to shut down the station.

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What they’re saying

“None of this is happening because the programs or the product, or the services being provided now are bad. They're amazing, they're great. This truly is because of a restructuring process, not because of budget cuts.”

— Drew Bailey, Oshkosh Communications and Engagement Manager (wbay.com)

“I'm a producer, I have sponsors for my show, I have volunteers. Why wasn't any input asked from all of us. A decision was made, without anyone knowing, including the board. So, I'm upset, but I'm almost to the point of being angry now that something could happen to an agency that's been around since 1987.”

— John Nieman, Oshkosh Media Producer (wbay.com)

What’s next

A number of people opposing the change are expected to speak before the Oshkosh City Council on Tuesday night, though the item is not on the agenda.

The takeaway

The closure of Oshkosh Media highlights the tension between local governments' desire to centralize communications and the public's desire for independent, locally-produced media coverage of their communities. The decision was made without input from the station's producers, raising concerns about transparency and public access to local government proceedings.