Mixed Results for WNET Membership Drive WNET, the New York City public television station, this week ended its 18-month campaign to encourage new donors and the mixed results are in. The drive added 52,800 new members, above the target of 50,000. The catch, however, is that the total ended up right back where it started, at about 180,000 members over all, since the new donors replaced those who let their membership lapse. Nonetheless, the campaign, which marked the station's 50th anniversary and included some cheeky ads, means 2013 will be the first year since the 2008 recession that WNET was able to keep its membership at the same level as the previous year. The drive was able to "stem that tide" of membership losses, said Lisa Mantone, WNET's vice president of development. "The fact that we are at the same place this year gives us something to build on," she said. In another bright spot, the amount donated by members went up in 2013, to $23 million, from $22 million the previous year.