Northwest Public Broadcasting to downsize public TV operations, cut staff

The university licensee of Northwest Public Broadcasting in Pullman, Wash., is taking steps to cut jobs and shut down its public TV station KWSU-TV following the rescission of federal funding for public broadcasting.

Washington State University officials are aiming to reduce the dual licensee’s annual operating costs by $1.8 million by the end of the calendar year, according to a news release.

KWSU-TV will go dark at 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31, according to an email statement from Bruce Pinkleton, dean of the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication.

“Beyond this, we’re in the process of determining next steps. The equipment and license do have value,” Pinkleton said. “As a result, WSU Board of Regents members will vote to approve or disapprove of any decisions regarding the sales of anything related to the closure.”

Pinkleton said that regarding potential staff cuts, the university is “assessing staffing levels and operational needs given our current budgetary challenges, and we’re committed to following all policies and collective bargaining obligations before moving forward with any changes.”

NWPB reporters and content creators signed a petition in July to unionize with the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and received an interim certification this month. SAG-AFTRA did not respond to requests for comment.

“WSU will notify SAG-AFTRA union representatives to discuss and potentially bargain over potential impacts,” Pinkleton said. “Beyond this, everything is in process, and I’m simply unable to comment about it.”

KWSU-TV has been a PBS station since 1970 and serves the Pullman and Spokane markets. Its coverage area overlaps with those of KSPS PBS in Spokane and Idaho Public Television. As a station under PBS’ Program Differentiation Plan, KWSU-TV “has smaller audiences and a limited opportunity to show top-tier public broadcasting programming,” Pinkleton said.

NWPB also operates KTNW-TV in Richland, Wash., as well as the World channel, the PBS Kids 24/7 channel and the Create channel. Create will also be discontinued Dec. 31, according to Pinkleton. KWSU-TV viewers who are NWPB donors will continue to have access to their PBS Passport membership benefit through KTNW.

Pinkleton said NWPB’s radio operations, including a station it received as a gift last year, will not be impacted.

“NWPB Radio serves an important land-grant function by reaching many smaller and rural communities through its radio services,” he said. “NWPB Radio is a valuable, community resource we all share. This will not change.”

NWPB received more than $1 million in Community Service Grants from CPB in fiscal year 2024, according to audited financial statements, with $708,000 going to TV operations. Washington State University gave NWPB $1.8 million in FY24, as well as more than $1 million in donated facilities and administrative support.

NWPB had a deficit of almost $1.7 million in FY24, according to the financial report. With the reductions, WSU leaders expect that NWPB will have a balanced budget by the end of FY29, according to the news release.

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) criticized the Trump administration for the rescission in a news release Wednesday, also citing cuts at Cascade PBS in Seattle. “At a time when we need more local journalism, now is not the time for short-sighted funding cuts that mean Washingtonians are going to lose vital sources of news and emergency information like KWSU-TV and at Cascade PBS,” Cantwell said. “We must push back on this Administration’s continued efforts to denigrate and weaken the free press and local journalism.”