US TV
Public TV station WETA-TV in Washington DC threatened to pull the plug on the Walford-based soap due to acquisition costs, prompting Judith Hallett, a University of Maryland professor and Michael Gordon, a local lawyer, to start a campaign in a bid to save the show.
The broadcaster marked up the cost for two years' air time at $50,000 and were surprised when campaigners presented 143 cheques totalling $52,504 - just over £26,000.
Mary Stewart, WETA's vice president of external affairs, said: "It’s an amazing group who really rallied to save what they care about."
EastEnders launched in the US in 1988 and, at its peak, broadcast on more than 50 PBS-affiliated stations - a number which has now reduced to a mere nine.
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2012-13 Season
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