PBS Chief Calls for Arkansas Public TV Commission to ‘Take a Pause’ on Leaving National Network
PBS CEO Paula Kerger urged the Arkansas TV commission to pause its planned disaffiliation from the national PBS network, arguing the decision should involve public input. Arkansas TV, citing unsustainable dues after the Corporation for Public Broadcasting lost federal funding, voted last year to leave PBS, with the split slated for July 1. The move sparked donor withdrawals and prompted former first ladies Barbara Pryor and Gay White to launch the Friends of Arkansas PBS advocacy group. Kerger highlighted procedural inaccuracies and warned of content gaps for Arkansas’s underserved children.
Vision Maker Series Features Shorts by Young Filmmakers
Vision Maker Media (VMM) has launched "First People, First Stories," a public‑TV series that stitches together short films created by emerging Native American filmmakers. The series draws from VMM’s Creative Shorts Fellowship and its Native Youth Media Project, packaging two...
FCC Rejects Petition to Block WLRN Purchase of Palm Beach Station
The FCC declined to block South Florida Public Media Group’s $6.45 million acquisition of Palm Beach’s The Flame 104.7 (WFLM), stating the pending lawsuit by the Miami‑Dade County School Board is a private contractual dispute outside its jurisdiction. The school board, which licenses...
KERA Acquires Producer of Public Radio’s ‘From the Top’
Dallas‑based public media station KERA is acquiring the nationally syndicated classical music program From the Top, which airs on more than 200 stations. The deal gives the nonprofit producer a permanent North Texas home, access to KERA’s new facilities, and...
Luis Estrada to Lead KVMR Community Radio
Luis Estrada, a veteran public‑media professional with more than 11 years at KPBS, will become general manager of KVMR Community Radio in Nevada City on March 2. He also founded the bilingual production firm ES Creative Gang, giving him a strong...
Wyoming Public Media Birthday Party Turns Into Funding Rally
Wyoming Public Media celebrated its 60th birthday with a rally that turned into a funding push. A Wyoming Senate amendment, championed by Sen. Ogden Driskill, would restore roughly $1.7 million that the Freedom‑Caucus‑aligned budget had cut. The amendment cleared the Senate,...
KSPS PBS Appoints Skyler Reep GM
Skyler Reep has been appointed president and general manager of KSPS PBS in Spokane, Washington, effective immediately after serving as interim GM. Reep joined the station in 2017 as membership director and was promoted to director of development in 2023,...
Rob Wiseman Named CEO of Classical KING
Classical KING announced that Rob Wiseman will assume the chief executive officer position on March 10, succeeding long‑time leader Brenda Barnes. Wiseman, who joined the Seattle‑based public radio station in 2024 as chief advancement officer, brings a track record in development...
PBS Kids Official Visits Arkansas as Campaign Aims to Keep Public Television Affiliation
PBS Kids senior vice president Sara DeWitt visited Little Rock to headline a public forum organized by the newly formed Friends of Arkansas PBS. The group, chaired by former first ladies Gay White and Barbara Pryor, is urging the Arkansas...
Phil Hoffman to Lead New Mexico PBS
Phil Hoffman will assume the role of General Manager and CEO of New Mexico PBS on April 1, 2024, following the retirement of Franz Joachim on March 31. He will serve as co‑GM starting March 24 to ensure a smooth transition. Hoffman brings extensive...
KCBX Names Chris McBride GM
Chris McBride has been appointed General Manager of KCBX Central Coast Public Radio, taking over from Frank Lanzone, who led the station for 45 years. McBride joined KCBX in 2023 as development director and later served as assistant GM, bringing a background...
Vegas PBS GM Mare Mazur to Retire
Mary Mazur, who has led Vegas PBS as president and general manager since early 2021, announced she will retire later this year. During her tenure, the station deepened its role as an educational partner for the Clark County School District...
How YouTuber Johns Hopkins Brings Stories of Baltimore History to WYPR
Johns Hopkins, a historian‑producer for Baltimore Heritage, launched the YouTube series “Five‑Minute Histories” during the pandemic, amassing nearly 400 videos and 18,000 subscribers. The series, despite its name, averages six‑minute episodes. WYPR partnered with Hopkins to reformat the stories into...
January CDP Index: High-Dollar Gifts, New Donors Fuel Standout Year for Membership Revenue
Public media organizations saw a 42% jump in membership revenue in 2025 versus 2024, driven by higher‑value gifts and a surge in new donors. The High‑Dollar Gifts Index rose 88%, indicating far more $500+ contributions, while the New Donor Index...
FCC Approves Reassignment of UEN-TV License Within Utah University System
The FCC approved a pro forma reassignment of the UEN‑TV (KUEN) license from the Utah Board of Higher Education to the University of Utah on Dec. 4, placing the station under PBS Utah’s oversight. No money changed hands in the transaction....
