PEORIA - The bell didn't toll for Peoria's WTVP on Tuesday, as threatened. At the same time, the debt crisis that may force the public television station to sign off the air for good "has not been resolved," said station president and CEO Chet Tomczyk.

He added, "It's a day-to-day thing right now."

Tuesday was the deadline for paying off the station's outstanding long-term debt of $6.9 million owed to Bank of America and Commerce Bank.

The banks rejected a final offer made late last week to restructure the debt and keep WTVP operating.

The offer involved $4 million in pledges from a "Save our Station" campaign and a mortgage from National City Bank and the Illinois Facilities Fund.

In a statement released Monday, Tomczyk said, "We need a $2 million angel right now."

Despite the threat of the station going dark Tuesday, WTVP continued airing its regular programming throughout the day.

"There are a number of things that could happen," Tomczyk said Tuesday, "including someone coming in and saying here's two million bucks. But that hasn't happened yet. We're just kind of going along, trying this, that and whatever else."

Tomczyk added, "We haven't received any notification to close or cease operations yet, and, until we do, we'll be here."

Neither bank's Peoria office would comment on the situation.

According to Tomczyk, one scenario would involve the banks coming in to assess the situation and determining "what they can sell off in terms of the building and its assets."

He added that there is the likelihood "they would keep the station operating in some manner until that point."