CLEVELAND, Ohio — Public media outlets in Northeast Ohio are responding swiftly to fill budget gaps and preserve services after Congress voted to eliminate all federal funding for public broadcasting in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 — an unprecedented move that could reshape the future of PBS, NPR and nearly 400 local stations nationwide.
The money, administered through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), has helped sustain noncommercial TV and radio stations for more than 50 years. Despite bipartisan attempts in the Senate to protect the funding, the House narrowly passed a rescission bill early Friday morning, clawing back $1.1 billion previously appropriated for the next two fiscal years.
In Northeast Ohio, the loss is already being felt.
Ideastream Public Media, the state’s largest public media outlet and home to WVIZ, WKSU, WCLV and JazzNEO, said it stands to lose $2.6 million — nearly 10% of its annual operating budget. The organization says it’s already developing a plan to maintain current service levels.
“What will not change is our unwavering commitment to providing trusted news and information, music, arts and culture and educational services that our audiences across Northeast Ohio and beyond have relied on for decades,” said Kevin Martin, Ideastream president and CEO, in a statement.
PBS Western Reserve, based in Kent, operates WNEO Channel 45 in Youngstown and WEAO Channel 49 in Akron, reaching 4.9 million viewers in Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. The station’s $1.2 million in annual federal support represents more than 22% of its budget. In response, the station has launched a campaign to raise $1.5 million to sustain operations and grow its endowment.
“The vote may be over, but the consequences are just beginning,” the station said in a statement.
“PBS Western Reserve’s mission will not change, and neither will our dedication to our community that counts on us,” added Natalie Pillsbury, PBS Western Reserve’s president and CEO, in a video message to viewers.
The nonprofit will host two public “State of the Station” events next week to rally support and outline its next steps.
The Summit FM, the Akron-based community radio station known for its local music focus and social impact programs, said it has lost its $130,000 CPB grant — about 10% of its budget. The funding supported scholarship programs, musical instrument donations, wellness initiatives and the promotion of local music.
“The federal support that sustained community radio for decades is gone,” the station posted on social media. “But we’re not giving up.”
The station is asking listeners to help fill the gap by donating at thesummit.fm.
Though public media accounts for just 0.01% of the federal budget, station leaders say it plays an outsized role — particularly in smaller markets and underserved communities, where local news and educational resources are scarce.
Still, an analysis by Public Media Company found no stations in Ohio at immediate risk of shutting down due to the cuts. That doesn’t mean the challenge ahead isn’t significant.
“We recognize the uncertainty this development brings, but we also know that our greatest strength lies in our people, our community, and our shared purpose,” Ideastream’s Martin said. “We will continue to operate with resolve and transparency as we work to build a sustainable path forward for public media.”
Previously: How Northeast Ohio’s public media stations are reacting to proposed federal funding cuts
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