PubTV’s revenues down again in FY03, radio’s boom in key sectors
For the second year in a row, public TV’s revenues declined in fiscal 2003, according to the latest CPB system revenue report.
Combined revenues for the radio and TV systems — $2.3 billion, up 2 percent — rose over the 2002 level only because of growth on the radio side. In nonfederal revenue, pubradio gained more than $48.6 million, while pubTV declined $47 million in a year.
“In this period, the recession was in full force,” recalls CPB Senior Vice President Andy Russell. Anecdotal reports indicate that the crunch continues but has been less severe in FY04 and FY05, he says.
In spite of the recession, pubradio’s subscriber/member revenues rose $15.7 million and corporate underwriting $15.5 million.
The major factor in pubTV’s decline: corporate underwriting dropped $40 million or nearly 16 percent in FY03. Its member/subscriber revenues were flat, as were its revenues overall. A bright spot for pubTV was a gain of $9 million in foundation aid.
One apparent uptick for TV and radio is partly illusory: Some of the $32 million rise in non-CPB federal aid comes from a delayed payout of Public Telecommunications Facilities Program grants that squeezed more than a year’s PTFP money into FY03, explains Russell. But about $15 million of the gain came from new Agriculture Department grants to rural stations, APTS said.
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posted June 10, 2005
Copyright 2005 by Current Publishing Committee
