Federal funding cuts to public media disproportionately affect local stations, particularly those in smaller communities and remote areas like Alaska, according to PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger.
In an interview with Time, Kerger explained that these stations often rely more heavily on federal government support. In Alaska, for instance, public radio and television stations are nearly the sole media outlets, with federal funding comprising almost half of their budgets. Kerger noted this situation aligns with historical concerns about the importance of accessible media, a point first articulated by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
PBS operates on a model where its 350 member stations are locally owned, operated, and governed. While stations pay dues to PBS, the organization leverages these funds, along with additional fundraising, to support programming and infrastructure. PBS manages the broadcast and digital infrastructure, including apps and PBS.org, which stations integrate into their services. The organization also negotiates carriage positions for stations on cable and streaming platforms like YouTube TV.
Furthermore, PBS develops educational content distributed via broadband, which is provided free of charge. Local stations contribute their own content to the PBS network, creating a collaborative, bottom-up system where PBS acts as the unifying element. This model ensures that even with local control, a cohesive national offering is maintained.