New Hampshire PTV cuts 20 full-time employees anticipating state funding fall

New Hampshire Public Television is eliminating some 20 full-time positions to offset an “impending loss” of $2.7 million in state funding, which will be a 30 percent reduction in its $8.8 million annual operating budget. NHPTV spokesperson Grace Lessner tells Current that the full-time staff of 49 will fall to 30 as of July 1. Most of the affected staffers were notified on Wednesday (June 1), spokesperson Lessner told Foster’s Daily Democrat. She said cuts come from all departments, including administration, production and content. “It was devastating,” she said. Remaining staff will receive salary cuts of  between 4 percent to 10 percent and reductions in the station’s staff retirement plan contribution. Dozens of contracts and services will be canceled and the station’s Educational Engagement services will be scaled back. Also, NH Outlook and Granite State Challenge, two local programs produced by NHPTV, will be placed on hiatus. The station will be working with other New England public broadcasters to develop “a strategic and sustainable model” to continue providing PBS national and local programs, Board Chairman Mark Collin said in a statement.