Wisconsin Public Broadcasting Facing Cuts

Walker Proposes Big Cuts

Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Television could see as much as 34% of its state funding cut. The cuts are proposed in Republican Governor Scott Walker's Budget. The cuts could affect 8.5 positions out of a staff of 56. Walker spokesperson Laurel Patrick says, "We estimate that the ECB will be able to make up the difference in program revenue through grants, gifts and private donations as program revenue has come in ahead of estimates in recent budgets," Patrick said. "For instance, the ECB anticipated an increase of $1.8 million in additional program revenues during the next two fiscal years."

The Impact Will Be Felt

The cuts would go into effect next year. My experience is raising an extra $5million from listener and viewer sensitive income is not like flipping a switch. It will not happen immediately. If the cuts go through as proposed, some services will suffer and some jobs will be lost. Cuts seem likely. Both houses of the legislature in Wisconsin are controlled by the Republicans.



Gene Purcell, the Executive Director of the Educational Communications Board calls the cuts significant. WPR's and WPT also get support through the University. The Univeristy System in Wisconsin is also facing cuts in the Walker budget of about $300 million.




Read more: http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/jessie-opoien/more-questions-than-answers-on-proposed-cut-to-wisconsin-public/article_bbd80036-ed8e-55a1-b6f1-4f1324cb4367.html#ixzz3Qz9xRh8a

Change Can Be Contentuious

A change to the schedule at Wisconsin Public Broadcasting 

Coverage in the Isthmus reminded of some of press and comments we always got after making changes at the stations I worked for. A thick skin is required, and it is best not to take the comments that result from press coverage personally despite the fact that listeners take the changes to their station very personally.  Most notable were comments likening us to the Philistines. One caller wanted to know who made the birdbrained decision to change the programming. Another asked  who the weisenheimer was, and another combined the two calling me a  birdbrained weizenheimer. My personal favorite described the changes as having torn the fabric of public broadcasting (very descriptive).

http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=42715

The Isthmus focused their article on the abruptness of the change and the fiscal reasons. WPR published FAQ's about the change on their website. Fiscal concerns played a big part in the decision, but aren't the only reasons for the change.  I noticed no comments to the article in the Isthmus. That doesn't mean nobody is upset. In fact, if there are no complaints, problems with audience loyalty run much deeper than the hour or two that are affected. 

Hang in there.

For opera on WVPR, is the fat lady singing?

WVPR West Virginia Public Radio is facing what so many other public radio stations have faced in the past. The traditional programming model model of the 80's included NPR news in drive time with with some other format mid days and perhaps a third format in the evening. Weekends often included a potpourri of programming. I worked at a few stations that followed the same programming model. As funding sources changed, pressure increased to present programming that would generate listener and underwriter support. Decreasing support from taxes put more pressure on this situation.

Programs with declining or small audiences don't generate enough listener sensitive income to keep deficits away and offset declining government support.

An interview in Gazette Mail with WVPR's James Muhammad takes you through the reasons for his programming changes.

I've been through this several times. The changes can result in lots of negative feedback. In the instances I was involved with we rode out the storms. The result were a better community service. It doesn't always work out that way.

About 15 years ago Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) and West Virginia Public Radio tried to move The Met off the air. In both cases there was enough pressure brought about by listeners, major donors and legislators to pressure the stations into putting The Met back on the air. In WPR's case it was a majot contributor to the University that forced the station to reinstate The Met.

So far...published comments and responses to the news has been light

Have you been through similar changes? What was that experience like? What did you learn? What would you do differently?

For opera on WVPR, is the fat lady singing?  - A&E - The Charleston Gazette - West Virginia News and Sports -

WPR - St. Norbert Poll Creates Buzz

Check out the buzz surrounding the latest poll published by Wisconsin Public Radio and St. Norbert College. The poll comes at a time when the recall petition for Governor Scott Walker gains momentum.
I have a link to one of the stories here.

Wisconsin Public Radio is using the poll results for news stories, their Ideas Network and on-line. Poll results has also been picked up by media through out the state.

It's a remarkable partnership between two cultural institutions.

Other stories can be found by searching "WPR St. Norbert."
Here's a sampling of what I found...
From the Chicago Tribune  Poll shows most favor recall of Wisconsin governor
From WPR's Ideas Network 
From the Ashland Current
From the Huffington Post   WI-Walker Recall: 58% Remove, 38% Keep In Office (St. Norbert/WPR)
From WLS, Chicago Wis. Legislature approval rating rises to 37 pct.
From the Green Bay Press Gazette Approval ratings rise for Wisconsin Legislature

Budget Cuts For Public Broadcasting In Wisconsin

The Wisconsin State Journal is reporting that Governor Walker is proposing an 8% cut for Public Television and Public Radio in Wisconsin. Because they also receive funding from the UW-Extension, public broadcasting could get a double cut.
"The agency that helps operate public radio and TV, the Educational Communications Board, would lose about 8 percent of its state funding if his proposal is approved. The ECB works in collaboration with groups like UW-Extension, meaning public radio and TV could face more cuts."
Wisconsin is not the only state proposing cuts to public broadcasting. Cuts are on the way in Virginia. Cuts are proposed in Maine. New Jersey is considering cuts.
Stations will need to focus efforts on listener and viewer sensitive income. That is, programming will need to be self-sustaining.