The bill would return live lottery drawings, which are currently only available online, to TV sets in New Jersey
(TRENTON) – Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) today announced she will introduce a bill that would return live New Jersey Lottery drawings to television.
The bill would require NJTV, the station that replaced NJN earlier this month, to televise lottery drawings for free. The New Jersey Lottery debuted a new live Internet version of the daily drawings after the state changed from the state-run NJN to the privately operated NJTV.
Drawings are now only available online on the lottery’s website and its Facebook page.
“Not everybody owns or has access to a computer, so limiting live drawings to the Internet would leave many residents who play the lottery in the dark,” said Watson-Coleman. “Rather than alienate people who actively play and contribute to the New Jersey Lottery, this bill would continue the tradition of televised drawings in New Jersey’s new TV station. NJTV said it was committed to providing New Jersey content. This is a perfect opportunity for them to do just that, and show New Jersey residents they are indeed committed to showing the news and entertainment content residents grew accustomed to with our previous TV station.”
According to media reports, the reason for the switch from televised to online lottery drawings was financial. Lottery officials chose not to renew the contract with NJN months before a contract was signed with the New York based WNET to operate NJTV to save money, according to media reports.