Any possibility I can get the Straight Dope on exactly what the overall breakdown is for where PBS, NPR, etc. get their funding? I have two angles with this question: a comparison with the BBC and arguments with British friends for/against its privatisation, and the need for PBS “beg-a-thons” a couple times a year. The fundraisers during pledge breaks are so earnest in their insistence that “we can’t do it without you”, but I’ve heard allegations that the amount raised during such pledge breaks amounts to barely 10% of their total budget.
Politics aside, is PBS/NPR really as dependent on viewer contributions as they claim? Or could a few more overt foundation shake-downs fulfill their needs, albeit at the expense of their commumal/community/“bleeding-heart liberal” image?
A factual answer is going to be difficult to come by, since there are so many different organizations involved. I believe as a general rule, local stations rely on individual donations, while the national networks receive primarily foundation and governmental support.
All I know is this…about 3 years ago I pledged $25 to the local PBS station. They’ve since spent easily in excess of $1000 in postage, printing costs, salary for phone solicitors, blah blah etc trying to get me to give them MORE. Since then I’ve not only refused to send them any more, I’ve actively taken up writing them nasty letters to get them to stop pestering me (and explaining WHY I refuse to give them any more $$$!); and yet they STILL continue to send me some aggressive, hard-sell pap every few weeks (“We KNOW you watched Sesame Street last week, so PAY UP!!!”)
I’m actually considering hiring a lawyer. I honest-to-gosh think I have a harassment suit in the making. I do not care how much you love This Old House do NOT give them any money. You will NEVER hear the end of it!!!
P.S…this is KQED in San Francisco. I think if they can show they pester people $.20 worth they must get $1,000 from the government or something. Why else would they make my life such hell?
What I hear on my local NPR station (WBUR, Boston) is that they get roughly 8% funding from the US Gov. The rest is grants from private institutions, listener support (the largest category), and sponsorship.
From this annual report http://www.npr.org/about/place/2000ar.pdf NPR receives about 2% from the NEA, 45% from donations, and 40% from member stations paying for programming. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting supplies about 13% to member stations, which in turn often is used to pay for NPR programs.