CPTV, PBS AND 8 OTHER LOCAL PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS RECEIVE $2.2 MILLION IN GRANTS FROM NEWMAN'S OWN FOUNDATION

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31

Release Date: 12/03/2010

Membership Challenge Grants to Strengthen Local Fundraising Efforts, Empowering Local Communities with Education, News and Arts Programming

A multiplatform leader in public service and educational media, Connecticut Public Television (CPTV), along with PBS and eight other local public broadcasting stations, received “membership challenge” grants totaling $2.2 million from Newman’s Own Foundation to help strengthen fundraising efforts and increase support for programs and services that inform, educate, entertain and inspire audiences.

“We’re thrilled to receive this generous award from Newman’s Own Foundation, and to be recognized for the services we provide to the state of Connecticut,” said Jerry Franklin, president and CEO of the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network, parent company of CPTV. “The grant will provide us with the opportunity to garner additional support for the programs and services that best serve our diverse audiences.”

“Our mission is to use the power of media to change lives and help all Americans ‘be more,’” said Paula Kerger, president and CEO, PBS. “Local stations are just as diverse as our country, and each meets the unique needs of its local community. These grants will help us continue to serve those communities, foster rich civic dialogue, encourage participation in the arts, and provide access to quality education.”

“Paul Newman believed in the power of civic engagement and conversation to make ours and the future’s a better world,” said Robert Forrester, president of Newman’s Own Foundation. “Today we underscore our commitment to public broadcasting, a relationship that Paul deeply valued and one we hope continues to inspire and expose people to new ideas, issues and dialogue.”

In total, $2.2 million was awarded to the PBS Foundation – to advance the organization’s commitment to ensuring all Americans have access to the arts – and nine local public broadcasting stations:

· CPTV (Connecticut Public Television), Connecticut's only locally-owned media organization, producing TV, print and Internet content for distribution to the state’s wide-ranging and diverse communities. CPTV serves the entire state of Connecticut, reaching an estimated 750,000 television viewers each week.

· KCET in Southern and Central California. KCET produces and distributes award-winning programs that explore the people, places and topics that are relevant to its region.

· KCTS, serving Seattle, Central Washington and British Columbia. KCTS reaches over 1.6 million people in Washington and 828,000 in Canada with programming that entertains and inspires.

· TPT, Twin Cities Public Television, providing services to the people of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The station has long been a trusted resource of information and inspiration to the Twin Cities and for the state of Minnesota, offering a diverse range of programming.

· WAMC Northeast Radio, a regional public radio network serving parts of seven northeastern states: New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. Stations and translators are in twenty locations throughout the region, sharing quality programming with listeners.

· WETA, the leading public broadcasting station in the nation’s capital, serving Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia with educational, cultural, news and public affairs programs and services. WETA TV reaches 1.3 million Washington area viewers in an average week.

· WNET, the premier public media provider of the New York City metropolitan area and parent company of public television station, THIRTEEN. THIRTEEN, the most-watched public television channel in the nation, reaches millions of people with programming that celebrates arts and culture, offers insightful commentary on the affairs of the day, explores the worlds of science and nature and invites young people to have fun while learning.

· WSHU Radio, serving listeners in Fairfield, New Haven and New London counties in Connecticut and Suffolk County in New York. The station broadcasts exemplary NPR News, local reporting, classical music, and cultural programming to foster intelligent discourse and contribute to an informed electorate.

· WTTW, providing unique, relevant and valued content and services that enrich, engage and educate diverse communities in Chicago and around the world.

About CPTV

CPTV is a media service of the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network (CPBN/www.cpbn.org). It is a locally and nationally recognized producer and presenter of quality public television programming, including UConn Women’s Basketball, original documentaries and educational programming. CPTV has built a reputation as a leader in children’s programming, including playing an historic role in bringing Barney & Friends™, Bob the Builder™ and Thomas & Friends™ to public television. The station offers 11 hours of positive, nurturing children’s programs each weekday, reaching 50,000 to 70,000 households daily. The Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network also includes WNPR, an affiliate of National Public Radio, Public Radio International and American Public Media. WNPR serves over 200,000 listeners in Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island with news and information. Its award-winning local programming includes The Faith Middleton Show and Where We Live. Overall, the network brings a broad spectrum of public affairs, entertainment, sports and educational programming to viewers, listeners and readers. For more information, visit www.cptv.org.

About PBS

PBS, with its nearly 360 member stations, offers all Americans -- from every walk of life -- the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches more than 118 million people through television and nearly 21 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and other performances. PBS' broad array of programs has been consistently honored in the industry's most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS' premier children's TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents' and teachers' most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet.

January

CPTV, PBS AND 8 OTHER LOCAL PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS RECEIVE $2.2 MILLION IN GRANTS FROM NEWMAN'S OWN FOUNDATION

WNPR Flickr Images