Senators are slated to decide Monday whether to block a deal that would transfer operations of New Jersey Network to a New York public TV station.
Gov. Chris Christie has said the state can't afford to be in the television business. He has cut off all future funding for NJN.
An agreement negotiated by the state treasurer calls for WNET-TV in New York to take over operations starting July 1.
The Legislature can scratch the deal. Some Democratic lawmakers have questioned the process and the Assembly voted to block the deal last week.
State Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff told a Senate hearing on Thursday that New Jersey Network would "cease to exist" as most know it if lawmakers scrap the transfer.
He said the network would continue to broadcast only the bare-minimum programming required keep its license, but layoffs would still take place and there would be no nightly newscast.
