Public broadcasting models

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Public broadcasting, also known as public service broadcasting, where radio, television, and potentially other electronic media outlets receive funding from the public, has traditionally been the dominant form of broadcasting around the world. The broadcasters' funds can come directly from individuals through donations or fees, or indirectly as state subsidies that originated in taxes or other national funding sources. Some public broadcasters supplement this with contributions from corporations, which may be granted a limited amount of advertising time in return. However, when advertisements occur on public broadcasting outlets, they are usually much shorter and less attention-grabbing than on commercial broadcasting stations.

Public radio is a generic term for radio stations or programming that is not funded by advertising — specifically commercials. It is the opposite of commercial radio, the funding setup for most radio stations in the United States. PRI and NPR are the two largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the United States, and they compete with each other for slots on public radio stations and the attention of listeners. Any given public radio station may be an NPR member and an affiliate of PRI simultaneously. Nationwide, about 25% of the typical public radio station's programming is produced by NPR. PRI produces about 20%, and the remaining 55% is produced by the local radio station itself.


Contents

NPR

  • National Public Radio (NPR) is an independent, private, not-for-profit membership organization of public radio stations in the United States.
  • NPR produces and distributes news and cultural programming.
  • Its member stations are not required to broadcast all of these programs and most public radio stations broadcast programs from all three providers.
  • As a membership organization, NPR was now charged with providing stations with training, program promotion, and management; representing public radio before Congress; and providing content delivery mechanisms such as satellite delivery.

Purpose/mission

The original "purposes" of NPR, as ratified by the Board of Directors, are the following:

  • Provide an identifiable daily product which is consistent and reflects the highest standards of broadcast journalism.
  • Provide extended coverage of public events, issues and ideas, and to acquire and produce special public affairs programs.
  • Acquire and produce cultural programs which can be scheduled individually by stations.
  • Provide access to the intellectual and cultural resources of cities, universities and rural districts through a system of cooperative program development with member public radio stations.
  • Develop and distribute programs for specific groups (adult education, instruction, modular units for local productions) which may meet needs of individual regions or groups, but may not have general national relevance.
  • Establish liaison with foreign broadcasters for a program exchange service.
  • Produce materials specifically intended to develop the art and technical potential of radio.

Funding

  • Money raised from listeners
  • Charitable foundations and corporations, and less from the government.
  • Advertising - In contrast to commercial radio, NPR does not carry traditional commercials, but has advertising in the form of brief statements from major donors, such as Wal-Mart, Merck and Archer Daniels Midland. These statements are called underwriting spots, not commercials, and are bound by FCC restrictions unlike commercials; they cannot advocate a product or contain any "call to action."
  • Corporate sponsorship - In 2005 corporate sponsorship made up 23% of the NPR budget. Since NPR is not as dependent on advertising revenue as commercial stations, its programming decisions may be less ratings-driven.

Production facilities and listenership

  • NPR's major production facilities
    • Washington, D.C.
    • Culver City, California

Audience

  • About 20 million listeners tune into NPR/week.
  • On average they are 50 years old and earn an annual income of $78,000.
  • predominantly white; only about 10% are either African American or Hispanic.
  • In recent years, NPR has made some changes to appeal to younger listeners and to minority groups.

More info

Public Radio International

Public Radio International, or PRI, is a not-for-profit corporation based in the United States founded in 1983 to develop non-commercial audio programming for public radio and other audio venues.

  • United States' largest distributor of non-commercial radio programming.
  • PRI produces or co-produces some of the programs it distributes, but most of them are produced by other entities.
  • Although many National Public Radio (NPR) stations broadcast shows distributed by PRI, NPR and PRI are distinct, competing radio producers and distributors.

Purpose/mission

Engage listeners with distinctive radio programs that provide information, insights, and cultural experiences essential to understanding a diverse, interdependent world.

Funding

PRI programming receives funding from station fees, corporate underwriting, and individual and corporate grants. Less than 2% of PRI's operating budget comes from the U.S. federal government.

More info

American Public Media

American Public Media is the brand under which Minnesota Public Radio distributes public radio programming outside of the state of Minnesota. American Public Media's most recognizable weekend program is Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion program. American Public Media's most recognizable weekday program is Marketplace.

PBS

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is a non-profit public broadcasting television service with 349 member TV stations in the United States.

Purpose/mission

  • Develop, fund, and schedule content that can contribute to a more healthy society
  • Encourage the active involvement of citizens to trust, connect and act collectively to address social challenges.
  • Increase awareness, provide multiple viewpoints, treat complex social issues completely, provide forums for deliberation, and strengthen ties between our viewers and Web users and their communities.

Organization

  • member stations pay substantial fees for the shows acquired and distributed by the national organization.
  • no central program production arm or news department. All of the programming carried by PBS, whether news, documentary, or entertainment, is created by (or in most cases produced under contract with) individual member stations. Once a program is distributed to PBS, the network (and not the member station that supplied it) retains all rights for rebroadcasts; the suppliers do maintain the right to sell the program in non-broadcast media such as DVDs, books, and licensed merchandise.
  • PBS does not own any of the stations that broadcast its programming.

Programming

  • PBS is not the only distributor of public television programming to the member stations.
  • Member stations themselves also produce a variety of local shows, some of which subsequently receive national distribution through PBS or the other distributors.

More info


Influential stations and shows

KCRW

KCRW (89.9 FM) is a public radio station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California that carries a mixed talk radio and freeform music format. It is the flagship station of National Public Radio (NPR) on the west coast.

KEXP

KEXP (formerly KCMU) is a public radio station based in Seattle, Washington, that specializes in independent and alternative rock programmed by its disc jockeys. Its broadcasting license is owned by the University of Washington, which operates the station in a partnership with Paul Allen's Experience Music Project.

WXPN

WXPN is a public radio station operated by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia that broadcasts a varied music format called adult album alternative. It may be best known for the World Cafe music program, which is distributed by National Public Radio to many non-commercial stations across the United States.

WGBH

WGBH is an established public television and public radio broadcast service located in Boston, Massachusetts. WGBH is a member of PBS in regard to its television broadcasts, and both a member of NPR and an affiliate of PRI for its radio broadcasts. The license-holder is the WGBH Educational Foundation. WGBH produces many shows for the above organizations, including nearly a third of PBS's national prime-time TV.

Tool and service providers

Public Interactive

Public Interactive, the premier provider of cost-efficient online applications, services and content for the public broadcasting industry, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Public Radio International.

WGBH Services for Hire

Public Radio Exchange

Public Radio Exchange is a nonprofit service for distribution, peer review, and licensing of radio pieces.

Production resources and guidelines


Additional info

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