Finish Line, Starting Line, and the Bottom Line

      This public television station has been wrestling with our budget as PBS Hawaii ends one fiscal year and gets ready to start another on July 1.  Our station's fundraisers have been flat-out running to make up for lagging individual and business giving, we've taken pains to protect other sources of funding such as 1% of the cable franchise fee, and our voluntary Board has committed extra personal funds to the cause.

      But of course, our first and overarching priority has been to make sure we're worth giving money to. 

      We've created and acquired quality programs, improved interactivity and viewer services, made costly infrastructure changes to switch to digital transmission, provided community outreach and free educational materials,  and operated with transparency and inclusivity.

      We're not perfect. We've made mistakes and probably will make more. But if you have dealings with any of our staff or Board or volunteers, I think you'll conclude we're earnest, honest and embrace our educational mission to serve the people of Hawaii.

     And, I'm relieved to report, our bottom line is holding up pretty well in the distressed economy.

      Which is especially gratifying considering the precariousness of many public television stations in the country.  Nearly one in five public TV stations in the country is thought to be in fragile financial condition. 

      Our viewers, foundations and other stakeholders are dealing with their own financial worries and sebacks but continue to stick with us. In the new fiscal year, we'll start all over again, working hard and smart to deserve their trust and the investment of their resources.

Comments

[Christine]

"But if you have dealings with any of our staff or Board or volunteers, I think you'll conclude we're earnest, honest and embrace our educational mission to serve the people" -

I would agree. I'll be honest and say sometimes I don't know how PBS keeps its head above water. It seems that society has drifted away from the types of programs that you offer - preferring more action packed, fun filled shows. However, as the times have changed - you have learned to flex and shift your focus to ensure you can still compete with all the competition. And in all this, you have kept your underlying goal on serving the people.

I think you are doing a really good job. Keep it up. and I know that sometimes your hard work seems to go unappreciated. But people "are watching" (no pun intended). Thank you...

[lwilcox]

Hi Christine,
Thanks for the boost! Even with hundreds of TV channels to choose from and unlimited web sites to explore, people continue to support the quality that PBS Hawaii works to uphold. The heroes of our story definitely are the people of Hawaii and PBS stakeholders.
Aloha, Leslie