Live Radio
Dear viewers and listeners,
What is at stake with last month’s July 25th defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)?
Since the1960s, in the United States, public media has been a shining example of effective implementation of a local/national funding model. It worked well, culminating in 1,500 television and radio stations which partner with the CPB across this nation. With PBS’s and NPR’s growth, generations of Americans embarked on a journey – one of lifelong education and discovery. Trusted media and credible sources of information are scarce, and public media outlets like ours have maintained public trust. Channels for diverse views across our communities, and independence in media production matter for all of us.
Northern California Public Media has reached a milestone of our 40th year of delivering news and outstanding television, radio and digital programs across San Francisco Bay Area. In the current fiscal year, we received $600,000 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and we expected similar funding in Fiscal Year ‘26. Our CPB funds were rescinded on July 25th and with that NorCal faces drastic cuts and reductions of at least 10% and we need to raise $600,000.
Despite new funding constraints, and obstacles ahead, we are committed to covering news, emergency alerts, arts and culture, youth/education, and environmental reporting. You have seen the values of public trust, media independence and delivering essential news underpin our work. This funding claw back is an attack not just on us, but on independent media and freedom of speech. NorCal Public Media has weathered other funding challenges. Through all the past challenges, it is our donors “listeners and viewers like you” who helped us to navigate and overcome difficulties.
Of course, we are prioritizing key programs and taking the long view. We are exploring cost savings, reductions in programming, and will be adding several funding appeals. Our team is assessing how this impacts our radio and television content, and digital media capacities. It is essential that our voices remain at the very moment the nation needs fact-based journalism, genuine storytelling, and community engagement around the issues that matter the most.
The fact is, now NorCal is 100% viewer and listener supported, and our future depends upon our community engaging and finding new ways to help. We know this will not be resolved by 2026, and our organization must secure resources now. NorCal, and public media partners across the nation will continue standing up for first amendment rights. Our values and those of the members across Bay Area communities, and the very sustainability of our democracy demand that we do so.
Please stand by NorCal and donate today!
In partnership,
About NorCal:
Headquartered in Sonoma County, in Rohnert Park, our station was launched as Rural California Broadcasting Corporation, RCBC In 1984, the organization launched KRCB-TV, and just ten years later, added radio programming as KRCB FM. NorCal also broadcasts via a 2nd public television station for San Mateo and San Jose - KPJK TV Channel 60, one with a long, positive history in the South Bay/Peninsula. (Formerly KCSM TV, a PBS station). NorCal reaches 9 Greater Bay Area counties.
