Bush Budget Slashes Public TV

After scrutinizing Bush's proposed budget, public TV officials and congressional staffers report that at least $114 million of the $460 million Corporation for Public Broadcasting budget for FY 2008 would be cut.

The cuts include the $50 million already appropriated by Congress for next year, elimination of additional funding for digital conversion of public TV stations, and a slight decrease in the Ready to Learn program. In addition to those cuts, the traditional advance funding for future years' programs would disappear, potentially making it harder for public stations to commit to future TV programming. The Association of Public Television Stations said the total impact could be $145 million when cuts in related programs are added, including a program to upgrade radio station satellite facilities.

"In a 24-7 television world with content often inappropriate for young children, the public broadcasting system represents an oasis of quality, child-oriented educational programming," said Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's telecom panel. "We owe America's children and their parents this free, over-the-air resource."

"For PBS, it could mean the end of our ability to support some of the most treasured educational children's series and primetime icons to which CPB funding contributes," said Lea Sloan, VP-communications. "We are hopeful that Congress will recognize the unique value public stations offer to their communities in everything from advancing literacy, math and science skills among children to providing rich, diverse cultural arts as well as news and public affairs programming to people of all ages."

Past proposals to cut the budget for public TV have been rejected by Congress.