Public Broadcasters – Do You Hold an EBS License? It May Be Worth More Than You Think

Changes in FCC rules regarding the Educational Broadband Services (EBS) spectrum may affect the approximately 30 public broadcasters that own EBS licenses. If your station is one of these, learn how it may impact you and what you can do about it. EBS has its roots in the 1960s when FCC dedicated a portion of spectrum for educational purposes. Public TV stations and other...

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FCC to Hold Auction for Radio Construction Permits in 2021 

The FCC recently announced an auction of 136 FM and AM broadcast construction permits across the country and is currently seeking comment on the competitive bidding procedures. This auction may seem familiar; the auction was slated to take place last year, but was delayed due to the pandemic.  Auction 109 is scheduled to commence on July 27, 2021 and you can see the complete list of the construction permits...

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New Agreement Gives KALW Nonprofit More Control of Station

Public Media Company is pleased to have helped KALW with business modeling and guidance as it enters this new chapter. FROM CURRENT… The San Francisco Unified School District has agreed to relinquish some operational control of public radio station KALW to a nonprofit formed last year by the station’s management. The school district’s board approved a public service operating agreement Dec. 8 with the...

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WMUK Announces New Programming, Classical FM Service Launch

Public Media Company congratulates General Manager Stephen Williams of WMUK at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on completing a very important transition! Stephen Williams identified an opportunity to acquire a non-commercial FM signal, enabling WMUK to move from a mixed news/classical format to two services – one all news, and the other serving classical listeners in the region. Public Media Company worked to...

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Greater Public Unveils Pilot Program to Improve Major-Gift Fundraising

Public Media Company is proud to have provided planning & financial modeling to Greater Public, doing our part to help roll out this important major donor development program, which aims to transform the economics of a public media station.   FROM CURRENT: Greater Public has partnered with Veritus Group, a fundraising consultancy that specializes in major donor programs, to accelerate major-gift fundraising at four...

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Public Media Company Announces Changes to Strengthen, Secure and Expand Public Media’s Role in Emerging Broadcasting Technologies

Public Media Company today announced organizational changes to strengthen and expand newly emerging technology infrastructures for the benefit of public media audiences nationwide. Last year, Public Media Company co-founded the Public Media Venture Group (PMVG) along with 31 leading public television stations. Currently housed at Public Media Company, PMVG will become an independent non-profit organization, established to focus on issues related to public television...

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Courting Future Business Models: Are Public Media and Scrappy Startups the Next Trend for Mergers?

FROM THE NIEMAN JOURNALISM LAB: In these potential pre-recession days, everyone is watching consolidations and combinations (and private equity purchases). But what about mergers — between public media and spry startups that keep the teams intact and the mission of impactful journalism alive? Colorado Public Radio’s scooping up Denverite from the promising Spirited Media flashed extra bright on much of Media Twitter’s radar, as it also signaled the end of Spirited...

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New England Public Radio and WGBY Television Join Together to Create New England Public Media

Public Media Company helped plan and facilitate this innovative collaboration between New England Public Radio and WGBY Television, which will provide valuable service to Western Massachusetts. Public Media Company worked closely with license holder WGBH to develop the plan to expand capacity for journalism and multi-platform content across the state. Springfield, Mass., (April 11, 2019) – New England Public Radio and WGBY Public Television...

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Creating a Capital Needs Plan for Indiana

Think collaboration, even when replacing broadcast infrastructure. Public Media Company recently developed a 5-year capital investment plan for Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations, a consortium of 11 public broadcasting entities that own and operate 32 radio and television signals in Indiana. Public Media Company surveyed the current state of broadcast and production equipment owned by IPBS members. We also documented a shared vision for future...

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