We're doubling down on our commitment to Southern Nevada and looking to pivot away from federal funding while turning to our viewers, grants, and other sources of income.
Mare Mazur, Vegas PBS President & General Manager
Over the weekend, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced it was winding down operations, putting the fate of PBS stations throughout the country (and my Ken Burns addiction) at risk. So what’s going on?
📺 Let’s Clear Up Some Confusion
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a government-funded, privately run nonprofit since 1967, isn’t the same as the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), a non-commercial television network — although their efforts are intertwined. The CPB acts as a steward of federal funding for public media.
💰 Money Matters
PBS doesn’t rely on CPB to exist. Only about 15% of the network’s revenue is from federal funding. (The figure is even lower at 12% for Vegas PBS.) The rest is from sponsorships, donations, and on a national level, licensing and merchandise sales.
💸 So What’s the Problem?
CPB was gutted by $1.1 billion in a recent rescissions bill, since President Trump and Congressional Republicans think the programming has a left-wing bias (although last I checked, Daniel Tiger’s voter registration wasn’t available).
“ The White House telegraphed their intent, so that wasn’t a surprise,” according to Mare Mazur, president and general manager of Vegas PBS. “It’s clearly been a disappointment. It’s been extremely disruptive to our operation, but PBS is not going away and Vegas PBS is not going away.”
📻 Radio Stations Are Affected Too
National Public Radio (NPR) was also targeted in the cuts, although the network only receives about one percent of its operating budget from federal funds. However, radio stations that operate in smaller, rural communities have a greater reliance on federal grants and are most at risk.
🧾 Every Dollar Counts
Whether it’s TV or radio, larger budgets allow programmers more flexibility to tailor programming on a local level. The Vegas affiliate is one of the top-10 most watched PBS stations in the country per capita, balancing national favorites like “Sesame Street” and “Masterpiece Theater” with local content like “Nevada Week” and “Outdoor Nevada.”
“The programming isn't going to radically change,” Mazur says. “We’ll see fewer episodes of ‘American Masters’ and other national programs will go on hiatus. We’ll see more reruns in the kids genre. But the people of Southern Nevada will see more local production. My commitment is to pivot and ramp up the stories of Southern Nevada.”
👷 More Than Television
Vegas PBS partners with the Clark County School District on workshops and materials for children and parents, and is also involved in workforce development programs. “ We've graduated more than 900,000 students with certificates in everything from HVAC maintenance to healthcare billing,” Mazur points out.
🫵 What You Can Do to Help
You can always make an online donation or sign up for a Vegas PBS membership, which comes with perks, including an array of content on the Passport streaming app.
“I've been so touched by the number of people who've called, the volume of email, and the increase in donations we've received,” Mazur says. “It's enormously gratifying to know that people are taking time out of their day to say, 'Hey, we're here. We're supporting you.'”
