Elkhart NPR Affiliate WVPE Finishes Up Record Fund Drive
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Staff Report-
“Close to 1,400 people across the region called in during our week-long, on-air drive,” Hunt says, “bringing in a record $145,000 – exceeding our $120,000 goal. This will help us maintain the current level of programming that our listeners have come to expect. Additionally, it will improve the station’s budget that has struggled due to reduced underwriting support over the past two-year economic downturn.”
During the drive that recently ended, 408 new members and 783 renewing members responded. “We heard comments from many of our listeners that they sincerely appreciate the fact-based journalism and the quality programming we provide on a daily basis,” Hunt added. This was in reference to the concern expressed by many over the initial proposal in Congress to cut or severely reduce allocations to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which includes both public radio and public television stations.
Federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting accounts for 12 percent of WVPE’s budget, although for smaller, more rural stations it can mean up to 60 percent of their budgets. Locally, state funding amounts to 3 percent with underwriting from area businesses providing approximately 35 percent.
The greatest source of revenue is membership contributions, yielding 50 percent of WVPE’s operating budget.
Two years ago, the station improved its signal strength. While programming continues to reach north to Schoolcraft and St. Joseph, Michigan and west to Michigan City, the station’s signal now travels as far east as Angola and as far south as Warsaw, Peru and Rochester.
Arbitron, a national radio survey company, reports WVPE serves more than 70,000 individuals every week, ranking the station as one of the 30 most listened to public radio stations in the country. Hunt and his staff believe that more and more people are discovering its “inform not inflame” conversational style, resulting in the station’s growth in the region.
“While the threat of losing federal support for NOR stations was very real,” according to Hunt, “the silver lining here is that the awareness generated combined with the significant educational service that WVPE provides to the region resulted in listeners actually stepping up to becoming members of their local NOR station. And for that we are sincerely grateful.
88.1 WVPE Public Radio is a member-supported service of the Elkhart Community Schools, broadcasting primarily news and information programming from National Public Radio (NOR), plus programs for jazz, blues, folk music and entertainment. The station’s mantra is to “inform, entertain and inspire” its listeners and the communities it serves through objective international, national and regional news coverage and stimulating programming.
Further information is available on the station’s website wvpe.org[[In-content Ad]]
“Close to 1,400 people across the region called in during our week-long, on-air drive,” Hunt says, “bringing in a record $145,000 – exceeding our $120,000 goal. This will help us maintain the current level of programming that our listeners have come to expect. Additionally, it will improve the station’s budget that has struggled due to reduced underwriting support over the past two-year economic downturn.”
During the drive that recently ended, 408 new members and 783 renewing members responded. “We heard comments from many of our listeners that they sincerely appreciate the fact-based journalism and the quality programming we provide on a daily basis,” Hunt added. This was in reference to the concern expressed by many over the initial proposal in Congress to cut or severely reduce allocations to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which includes both public radio and public television stations.
Federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting accounts for 12 percent of WVPE’s budget, although for smaller, more rural stations it can mean up to 60 percent of their budgets. Locally, state funding amounts to 3 percent with underwriting from area businesses providing approximately 35 percent.
The greatest source of revenue is membership contributions, yielding 50 percent of WVPE’s operating budget.
Two years ago, the station improved its signal strength. While programming continues to reach north to Schoolcraft and St. Joseph, Michigan and west to Michigan City, the station’s signal now travels as far east as Angola and as far south as Warsaw, Peru and Rochester.
Arbitron, a national radio survey company, reports WVPE serves more than 70,000 individuals every week, ranking the station as one of the 30 most listened to public radio stations in the country. Hunt and his staff believe that more and more people are discovering its “inform not inflame” conversational style, resulting in the station’s growth in the region.
“While the threat of losing federal support for NOR stations was very real,” according to Hunt, “the silver lining here is that the awareness generated combined with the significant educational service that WVPE provides to the region resulted in listeners actually stepping up to becoming members of their local NOR station. And for that we are sincerely grateful.
88.1 WVPE Public Radio is a member-supported service of the Elkhart Community Schools, broadcasting primarily news and information programming from National Public Radio (NOR), plus programs for jazz, blues, folk music and entertainment. The station’s mantra is to “inform, entertain and inspire” its listeners and the communities it serves through objective international, national and regional news coverage and stimulating programming.
Further information is available on the station’s website wvpe.org[[In-content Ad]]
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