Northwest Public Broadcasting Cuts Costs by $1.8 Million

Northwest Public Broadcasting (NWPB) has announced plans to reduce its annual operating costs by $1.8 million, a move that will lead to the closure of KWSU-TV, its public television station located in Pullman, Washington, by the end of the year. Leaders from NWPB and the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University revealed the decision in a post on WSU Insider.

The cuts will not affect NWPB’s radio network, which serves communities across the region. Dean Bruce Pinkleton emphasized the station’s commitment to its radio services, stating, “NWPB Radio serves an important land-grant function by reaching many smaller and rural communities.” He reaffirmed that this vital community resource will continue to operate.

NWPB has faced financial challenges in recent years, with a net position decrease of $1.6 million in 2023 and projected losses of $1.7 million in 2024. The organization had invested in digital initiatives aimed at meeting the needs of a new audience, but these efforts have not yielded the expected returns. The latest budget report indicates that NWPB operated on just over $7 million in revenue, a figure that is expected to decline due to the federal government rescinding nearly $2 million in funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for the next two years.

Impact on Staff and Community Services

Projected revenue over the next three fiscal years is insufficient to cover rising costs in public broadcasting, prompting the need for these reductions. The budget adjustments aim to achieve balance by the end of fiscal year 2029. However, these cuts will have implications for staff, a concern that Pinkleton acknowledged. He stated that officials are committed to minimizing the impact on employees as they navigate the necessary adjustments.

The announcement comes shortly after a vote supporting the unionization of KWSU-TV’s broadcasting reporters and creative content providers. All changes will be coordinated with their union, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

KWSU-TV has served the Pullman and Spokane markets for decades, operating alongside other public television stations, including KSPS-TV in Spokane and KUID-TV in Moscow, Idaho. Despite the closure of KWSU-TV, NWPB’s donors will continue to access television programming through its PBS station in the Tri-Cities, KTNW, which will remain fully operational.

Pinkleton highlighted the extensive reach of NWPB Radio, stating it currently covers approximately 80% of Washington State by land mass. Established in 1922, NWPB has the potential to reach 3.6 million people across 44 countries through various media platforms.

KWSU-TV holds historical significance as one of the earliest educational television stations in the Northwest, originally launching as a fully operational facility on campus in 1952 and beginning broadcasting in 1962. The station was rebranded in 1969 to align with Washington State University’s name and its license holder.

As NWPB moves forward with these adjustments, both the organization and its community will adapt to the new landscape of public broadcasting.