Iowans for WOI-TV, Inc.

Local organization. Iowans for WOI-TV, Inc., was formed on 1 June 1992, by a group of citizens (primarily Iowans) opposed to the Iowa Board of Regent's September 1991 decision to sell the Iowa State University-owned station to a commercial interest. Through WOI-TV, Iowa State was one of the first educational institutions to broadcast college-level courses. Founders of Iowans for WOI-TV included ISU Professor of Economics and Agriculture Neil Harl; Ames attorney Donald R. Payer; and former ISU Professor of Journalism John D. Shelley.

On 24 June 1992, Iowans for WOI-TV, Inc., filed a lawsuit against the Iowa Board of Regents contesting the sale of the station. The trial decision was initially in favor of the plaintiffs, but was overturned by the Iowa Supreme Court in 1993. WOI-TV was sold by ISU to Capital Cities Communication in 1994.