AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Public Broadcasting Network says a $1.7 million funding cut proposed in Gov. Paul LePage’s budget would devastate the service.
MPBN executives and supporters spoke Wednesday at a legislative hearing against the cut, which is among others in LePage’s supplemental budget.
Maine Today Media says the state provides 17.4 percent of the network’s $11.2 million annual operating budget. Sixty-four percent comes from members’ contributions.
MPBN President and CEO Mark Vogelzang said the network needs the $1.7 million and an additional $200,000 cut last year. He said the network’s board is looking for ways to replace state money with private fundraising, but it needs more time.
LePage has compared state funding of public radio to corporate welfare, and believes the money going to MPBN should be used elsewhere.
Someone call the Waaaambulance!!! The cash cow is gone, MPBN. Time to enter the real world and compete for more sponsor’s…errr…advertiser’s dollars!
Either that, or perhaps the bleeding heart libs on here who constantly push for tax increases will put their money where their mouth is and pony up the dollars to keep you afloat.
Yeah, real cash-cow, not even 2 million out of billions.
Ok than take away welfare from companies too
Public broadcasting is more like a library or a museum than it is like entertainment, at least in regard to news and interviews. It serves a legitimate educational purpose and therefore should be funded in part by the state. Other than public radio, what do we have here in rural Maine, country and pop music stations and WVOM. I know they have their listeners, but sometimes it’s refreshing to hear something that appeals to the listener’s intelligence.
I wrote this comment just awhile ago and here it is again.
There is a state/federal mandate requirement that non-profit broadcast corporations such as MPBN not advertise. But we all know what advertising sounds and looks like so lets be honest here, they do advertise. The only difference is in name. MPBN calls their advertising “corporate sponsorship” or “underwriting” thinking that a different name for this will divert attention. It doesn’t. Semantics aside, MPBN really no longer serves a public function. Yes they do provide the emergency alert service however one simple law could require ALL broadcast operations to provide this service in time of need. MPBN claims that without government support it’s listening audience would be deprived of their particular style of broadcasting. Hogwash! MPBN enjoys great and loyal customer support as well as a full advertising schedule so the money will keep rolling in. If anything, their unique broadcast style should guarantee an ever increasing market share of the listening audience. MPBN is already well down the path of utilizing private/commercial broadcast operating policies and the time has come to embrace this mode of operating and complete the change-over to a commercial system. That or, heaven forbid, stop the dang advertising and truly be public. You cannot have both. So, for the first and only time, I have to agree with Lepage on this one. It is time to stop funding MPBN.
Did you ever hear a political candidate claim they would not raise taxes but then when they got in office every state mandated fee on the books went up a major amount along with diminished services? Well they kept their word and didn’t raise taxes but in our hearts we know when we’ve been lied to. Well when MPBN, or any other public broadcast corporation, claims they don’t advertise they are correct technically but in our hearts we know they are not telling the truth. WatchdogME is right, MPBN does advertise. I used to contribute to the operation every year. (Back then there was only 1 annual membership drive. Remember those days?) However when they started advertising many years ago they lost me as a supporter. As far as I am concerned that was when public broadcasting went commercial and should have lost it’s non-profit status as well as any public funding.
Yes, we read you once before. It would appear you are speaking for the commercial broadcasting sector, since you propose forcing its dismal standards upon the public broadcasting channels. I have nothing against commercial broadcasting and pay dearly for a few hundred cable channels, most of which that have little to offer in terms of content and those that do must be enjoyed between incessant commercial interruptions. Let’s not dumb American broadcasting down even further by removing some of the best it has to offer.
If the funding is restored by the legislature it should be
with an amendment that stipulates that the MPBN board must meet with any individual
or group that is adversely affected by the addition of said monies and to explain
to them why MBPN deserves the funding and they do not.
I say, if you want to argue that MPBN needs to entire self-fund, why not argue that those that LePage wants to give tax cuts to should self-fund? Poliquin could have some billboards on his trees. Maybe those dead estate owners could have little engraved corporate logos on their tombstones?
In Boston I get 2 local Public TV stations, plus the ones from RI and NH. I truly enjoy many of their programs, but with the gov’t money pulled out the begathons now go on for weeks! Even donating to all 3, I have to suffer through nothing but days of preempting good shows with “Energize your brain with physical exercise” type crap.
If you enjoy some of their shows, may I suggest you tell Augusta to continue some funding? If not, then I don’t blame you. :)
Big media hates public broadcasting, and that’s the reason public broadcasting is being viciously attacked by Republicans, who are lapdogs of the greediest wealthiest elites.
What alternate reality do you live in? Who is this “Big Media” of which you speak? If you’re referring to the Big Media, meaning the Big 3 networks, along with CNN, they’re no friends to Republicans. Charlie Rose works for both CBS and PBS. Most of the greediest and wealthiest elites and the majority of big corporate donors support Democrats over Republicans.
Wow.
Bunch of rich executives come crying for more tax dollars. Single moms should pay more state tax so these guys can rake in top dollar.
From MPBN’s own website:
2010 IRS Form 990 Year Ending 6-30-11, Page 7 Officer Salaries:
James Dowe, President and CEO $175,537 plus $11,484 benefits
Alexander Maxwell, SR VP and CTO $103,464 plus $7,356 benefits
John Isacke, VP Admin and CFO $85,556 plus $6,176 benefits
Form states they each average 40 hours per week.
Sure I understand the people like MPBN, that is fine. However, no one is asking whether or not they actually budget expenses wisely. The answer is NO. They have horribly bloated staffing and top of the line, gold plated technology in triplicate. With the vast, overwhelming majority of the programming fed from away, via satellite, what exactly are we getting for our 11 million dollars locally? Not much.
If your going to cut them than give no tax breaks (welfare ) to all companies .
I think we need to appeal to Gov. LePage in terms he can relate to and understand:
Govenah, if you do not pay off MPBN, then they will use the last of their funding to do some investigative reporting on your Administration. Can you afford that ? Do the smart thing, and get a tote bag, too.
The title say it all..
supporters speak out against plan.. Are you sure opponents should have a say
kill all funding to MPBN
We will all benefit from a leaner and meaner Public Broadcasting Corporation.
Less redundancy.
Less “record spinning disk jockeys”.
Fewer highly paid CEO, CFO, Presidents, Vice Presidents etc etc.
And finally knowing that our hard earned pledges won’t be wasted on posh administrative salaries and perks.
I do love public broadcasting !