State funding cuts would adversely affect public TV

Published 07:13 a.m., March 12, 2010

Minnesota Public Television, which reaches Fergus Falls area viewers, would be adversely affected by funding cuts from the state of Minnesota. Pioneer Public TV, based in Appleton, Minn., and K49FA Channel 49, Fergus Falls, could possibly lose $226,800 from July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011.

“This would obviously be devastating to stations that serve viewers in the Appleton and Fergus Falls areas,” said Pioneer General Manager Les Heen.

He said that a low-power station reaches viewers in the Fergus Falls area, with a TV tower located at Erhard, a community between Fergus Falls and Pelican Rapids.

“We raise money from viewers,” said Heen, “and receive a matching grant from the state of Minnesota. That, in turn, results in some federal matching dollars.”

The proposed state cutbacks would, said Heen, put a monkey wrench into that scenario. He said that, as the definition implies, those cuts would likely lead to public TV obstacles and dilemmas — something unexpected and troublesome for producers and viewers alike.

Jon Panzer, Pioneer’s station manager and director of engineering, agrees.

“Hopefully, in working with members of the state legislature, we can work out some funding solutions,” he said, “so that public television viewers in the Fergus Falls area and other areas of Minnesota won’t be so adversely affected.”

In addition to the Appleton and Fergus Falls areas, public TV cutbacks also are projected for Austin, Bemidji-Brainerd area, stations that serve the Moorhead and Crookston areas and Duluth-Hibbing. As part of his modified budget proposal, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has called for a $1.36 million cut to the state's public broadcasting stations.

Additionally disturbing to Heen, Panzer and others is that the governor’s proposal extends funding cutbacks into the year 2013, three years from this summer.

Some public TV stations around the state, if the cutbacks go through, would have to take looks at budget cuts, staffing, etc. As of now, Heen, and Panzer have no specifics on what might be done for service to the Appleton and Fergus Falls areas.

“We rely on assistance from the state legislature,” said Panzer.

On a statewide basis, under a worst-case scenario, public television weeknight series such as “Garden Connections,” “Health Connections,” “Cities on the Move,” “Farm Connections,” “Diversity Connections” and “Entre Amigos” could be eliminated.

Some stations meet certain thresholds of local funding to qualify for federal dollars. Not meeting the threshold — and not qualifying for federal funds — could cost some stations in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The good news is that a State Senate proposal calls for significantly smaller cuts, something that Heen, Panzer and other station managers say they could live with. At stake, they say, is the well being of programs focused on the arts, culture and local histories.

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