Rick Johnson
General Manager
WGCU
Fort Myers, FL
#aptsthesummit
The Florida Story
Florida Public Broadcasting Service is a nonprofit association of Florida’s public television
and public radio stations. Our mission is to
strengthen the community, empower families
and educate the public through public media
and community outreach.
Florida CSG History
10,000,000
9,000,000
8,000,000
$ Millions
7,000,000
6,000,000
5,000,000
4,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
0
Fiscal Year
Three Key Issues….
• What is the State’s return on its investment?
• Why not a State Network vs. the existing model?
• What is the impact of the loss of State funding?
Return On Investment
• $1 Invested = $10.59 in Services Provided
------• $29.3 mil – Educational Programming
• $12.8 mil – Outreach and Operations
• $14.1 mil – Florida Knowledge Network
• $15.7 mil – The Florida Channel
State Network vs. Local Stations
• State funding for existing State Networks ranges between $4.5 to $20
million compared to $6.8 million in Florida support.
• Florida is an diverse and populous state. One size does not fit all.
What flies in South Beach may flop in Sopchoppy. Local service means
better membership and corporate support.
• Huge capital investment in interconnection technology.
• Nine state college/university licensees = significant political cost in
eliminating stations.
• Loss of millions of dollars in federal and foundation grants that
support educational initiatives which benefit the state.
Impact
• Loss or severe reduction of educational outreach services in over half
the counties in the state.
• Station staff RIFs ranging from 35-50 percent.
• Loss of Florida Channel carriage in half of markets.
• Threatens Public Radio Emergency Management network
infrastructure and State EOC’s ability to communicate with public.
• Reduces station’s ability to collaborate with community partners to
generate funding and provides services ranging from Early Learning
Coalitions to Elder Abuse prevention.
Results
• FY ‘13 - Partial TV funding ($3.9 mil) restored tied to Martha Speaks
Reading Buddies demonstration project (1,100 students, 200 teachers).
• FY ‘14 - TV funding maintained. Radio funding restored ($1.3 mil) +
non-recurring $2.6 mil in Radio infrastructure improvements
• FY ‘15 – TV and Radio funding maintained + $450K in matching grants
and $1 mil in support of Florida PBS LearningMedia initiative
• FY ‘16 – Governor’s budget recommendation maintains TV and Radio
funding + $1 mil for FPBSLM + $1.6 mil in matching grants
The Florida Story
The End