Public broadcasters in Kentucky tell their audiences to call their congressmen to stop cut to millions in federal funds

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Millions of dollars are on the line for public radio and TV stations across Kentucky.

According to Congressman Morgan McGarvey, $11,021,581 in annual federal funding could be lost if Congress cuts funds to public broadcasting.

Louisville Public Media (LPM) currently operates on an annual budget of $6.5 million.

“Most of it comes from memberships, it comes from donors in the community,” LPM President Kenya Young said. “It comes from our underwriting and our sponsorship from sponsors of our programming.”

But five percent of the LPM budget, $376 thousand dollars, comes from now-endangered federally funded grants.

Young said that is enough to pay for 3 reporters, or a staff of podcasters, or an afternoon of programming.

There is also a concern beyond Louisville where smaller stations could lose a larger percentage of their budgets.

“We’re talking about educational programs, and we’re talking about emergency alert systems,” Young said. “These are the stations that are the pinnacle and point of contact for tornadoes.”

And it is not just a problem for public radio.

On KET’s website, there is an urgent message calling on viewers to contact their senators to save funding for public broadcasting.

The network’s 16 stations count on 4.2 million federal dollars, much of it paying for locally produced programs.

Its array of transmitters also connects schools and public safety.

“We’re talking about teachers, educators, who rely on those educational services coming into their schools every day,” KET marketing director Todd Piccirilli said. “We’re talking about first responders, those that use the fact that we’re the primary source for emergency alerts in Kentucky.”

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