NOLA Radio: UtilityCompany Cuts Support Of WBOK

Entergy New Orleans has cut its financial support of Talk WBOK 1230 AM, apparently because the utility didn’t like the talk radio station’s coverage of Entergy’s proposal to build a $210 million natural gas-fired power plant in New Orleans East.

Entergy, which sponsors multiple organizations in the New Orleans area, claimed it cut ties because the station — which has a mostly black audience — has repeatedly broadcast false statements about Entergy matters in recent weeks.

The New Orleans Advocate reports Entergy’s CEO, Charles Rice, declined a recent request by the station to discuss the power plant proposal, which was approved by the City Council.

“The continued misrepresentation of facts and discussion of untruths about multiple Entergy matters recently have driven the decision to decline the interview and discontinue the partnership,” Entergy spokeswoman Yolanda Pollard said.

WBOK General Manager Susan Henry said Rice on Friday stopped payment on a $20,000 check that Entergy had already issued to WBOK in an attempt to punish the station for interviewing multiple parties about the power plant, including those who didn’t support it.

“I guess this was an effort to show that they could bully us, but we will not be bullied,” Henry said. “The people have a right to know what is going on in politics and how it will affect them.”

The $20,000 represents about 5 percent of the station’s overall operating revenue, Henry said.

Though WBOK has repeatedly invited Rice to give Entergy’s position, he has declined, Henry said.