• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
MENUMENU
  • About
  • Send News Tips

Media Moves

Covering Latinos in the Media Industry

MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
  • Send News Tips
  • People
  • TV & Radio
  • Programming
  • Print
  • Digital
  • Job Board
  • Archives

More stations consider withdrawing from PBS

May 23, 2011 by Veronica Villafañe

The high cost of dues is making many stations around the country reconsider its affiliation with PBS, according to the NYT.

A second station this year has ended its contract with the public broadcaster. WMFE in Orlando announced in April it was selling its TV station because it couldn’t afford to pay almost $1 million in annual dues.

The president of the WMFE, José A. Fajardo, says the public television model is no longer viable because of decreased donations, which include a 34% drop in viewer pledge contributions.

The first station to withdraw from PBS was KCET in Los Angeles, which would have had to pay $5 million in dues to remain an affiliate. It went independent on Jan.1, after 40 years as a PBS affiliate. WTTW in Chicago almost pulled out as well earlier this year.

Among the biggest complaint from the stations in L.A., Chicago and Orlando, is that there are multiple PBS stations in these markets where viewers can see PBS programming. The problem is that the larger stations pay much higher dues for the rights to key programming, while smaller stations pay considerably less and still get to show some of the most popular shows 8 days later.

In the case of the Orlando station, Fajardo says the competition from smaller PBS stations in Daytona and Cocoa “dilute the brand,” making it impossible to stay afloat with dwindling viewer support.

Meanwhile, PBS is retooling its dues formula, requiring each market’s secondary stations to pay more.

 

Filed Under: TV & Radio Tagged With: dues, Jose Fajardo, KCET, PBS, WMFE Orlan

Primary Sidebar

Veronica Villafañe, Editor & Publisher

Emmy award-winning journalist and former president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). Currently a reporter for Voice of America, she has worked as an on-air reporter, anchor, writer and producer for Spanish and English-language TV, print and online media, including Univision, Telemundo, Fox 11 News in L.A. and the San Jose Mercury News.

Hispanic media and entertainment contributor to Forbes.

Full bio here
Alice Solis

Alice Solis named regional VP of Sales of Telemundo’s Arizona and El Paso stations

March 23, 2023

Tsi-tsi-ki Felix

Anchor Tsi-tsi-ki Félix exits Entravision San Diego

March 22, 2023

Alexa Rodriguez

Alexa Rodríguez upped to news director at WNJU

March 22, 2023

Maria Elena Ponticiello

Meteorologist María Elena Ponticiello joins Univision Chicago

March 16, 2023

Annabelle Sedano

Annabelle Sedano crosses over from Univision 34 to NBC4 as weekday anchor

March 15, 2023

VIEW ALL ARTICLES

Secondary Sidebar

Media Moves is a mission-driven digital publication aimed at raising the visibility of Latinos in the media. Since its inception in 2007, the site has covered thousands of stories. To keep moving forward, we need your help. That’s why we launched a crowdfunding campaign.

Learn more about why Media Moves needs your support here.

You can contribute to the campaign clicking the button below.

SUPPORT MEDIA MOVES
Get the week’s stories in your inbox. The Media Moves Wrap newsletter is sent Friday mornings.
SUBSCRIBE
Veronica Villafañe, Editor & Publisher

Emmy award-winning journalist and former president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). Currently a reporter for Voice of America, she has worked as an on-air reporter, anchor, writer and producer for Spanish and English-language TV, print and online media, including Univision, Telemundo, Fox 11 News in L.A. and the San Jose Mercury News.

Hispanic media and entertainment contributor to Forbes.

Full bio here
Copyright © 2023 Media Moves · All Rights Reserved | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy