PBS cuts budget by 21%, reduces station dues
PBS’ board of directors voted Wednesday to cut the organization’s budget by 21% and reduce dues paid by stations in fiscal year 2026 by $35 million.
PBS President Paula Kerger informed station leaders about the budget changes in a memo obtained independently by Current and first reported on by The New York Times. The decision follows last month’s vote in Congress to rescind FY26 and FY27 federal funding to CPB. CPB will begin winding down operations Sept. 30.
“We recognize that even with the dues reduction, adjusted payment schedule and efforts to raise funds for initial financial stabilization, we all face hard choices about the future,” Kerger said in the memo. “We are stronger together, and together, we will continue to stay focused on our mission.”
PBS’ board approved a budget in June that held station dues flat at $227 million. The board vote Wednesday reduces total dues revenue by about 15%. PBS laid off 24 staffers last year and cut seven vacant positions, affecting 4.5% of staff. This year, it furloughed 25% of PBS Kids staff after the Department of Education cut funding for Ready To Learn, which supported children’s programs.
Last year, PBS’ board approved a new dues model for stations. It continues to use a station’s nonfederal financial support as a factor but weighs it differently under a tiered system.
Since its adoption, smaller stations have been paying less into PBS’ pool of dues money. The formula also stopped using population in a station’s area to set dues, which previously caused shifts in station payments that were difficult to predict. The new model also increased the funding credit for stations that produce national programming, namely GBH in Boston, WNET in New York and WETA in Washington, D.C., from 60% to 65%.
“All stations will see reductions in their dues assessments, and these reductions will be roughly in line with your respective reliance on CSG [CPB Community Service Grant] funding,” Kerger said in the memo Wednesday, adding that updated assessments to be sent to stations Thursday would include information about early payment discounts.
“In addition, the Board took action to give stations more time to plan for and pay their dues this year,” Kerger wrote. “Instead of paying 85% of your dues in November, the updated payment schedule calls for 65% of dues to be paid by November 30th. The second installment on March 31 will be for 25% and a third installment of 10% will be due on June 30th.”
