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In more than 40 years of public broadcasting nationwide, including three stints where she was president, CEO or executive director, WEDU President Susan Howarth has seen a lot.

But nothing in Howarth's nonprofit experience prepared her for what happened last year when Tampa-based WEDU was offered the chance to take over the programming of area rival public station WUSF-TV. The unique opportunity wasn't without it risks, from upset customers to ballooning programming costs to a host of logistical issues.

WEDU went forward with the plan. WUSF, affiliated with the University of South Florida, officially went off the air Oct. 15 — though WEDU agreed to maintain temporary “placeholder” channels to help ease viewers' transition to the new home of their favorite programs.