Across the board spending cuts could impact what you see and hear.
Public broadcasters in our area are facing sequestration cuts.
Last year the State of Virginia cut all funding to public broadcasters.
Now that the sequestration deadline has come and gone, even the expected six to eight percent cut in federal funding has local radio and TV stations feeling added pressure.
Last year, WVTF lost $250,000 in revenue from Virginia.
And now because of federal cuts; around another $25,000.
Its biggest challenge from these cuts -- making sure listeners have no clue so they continue donating.
“Without them voluntarily contributing a dollar amount that works for them within their budget, public radio just wouldn't be what it is today,” Glenn Gleixner, WVTF General Manager, said.
Phone fundraisers like this one aren't a new phenomenon for public broadcasters.
WVTF's General Manager says the main funding for the station comes from listeners.
“Listener support, people that actually listen and contribute to the radio station account for well over half of the revenue for our public radio station,” Gleixner said.
Blue Ridge general manager James Baum said:
“Same story on the television side here at Blue Ridge public broadcasting. Tomorrow they'll have their phone bank where they'll hope to raise a significant part of their budget as well.”
PBS Blue Ridge lost even more state funding than its radio counterpart -- $770,000.
And sequestration cuts could deal them another $40,000 blow.
The combination of cuts in state funding and sequestration put added pressure on PBS to raise money from its viewers.
PBS Blue Ridge President James Baum says the station provides educational programming across the state and in 54 school districts.
Keeping those programs on the air is a big cost and a priority that could be at risk.
“We're getting to the point where we're such a bare-bones operation that may not be possible,” Baum said. “We may actually have to take some of the programs that we know and love and enjoy and just not be able to refund them.”
Both the radio and TV station say things are slim, but they're still able to make it work at the level listeners and viewers expect.
Both groups say they're optimistic they'll stay afloat because of the loyalty of those listeners and viewers.
