Cuts to US public broadcasters to impact PBS station near Kingston

Canadian viewers have supported WPBS and the station has a long history with Kingston and surrounding areas.

News of funding cuts to public broadcasting in the United States could have an impact for those watching and listening in Canada.

The US Senate approved a bill on Thursday that would see $1.1 billion to the Corporation of Public Broadcasting be eliminated over the next two years.

CPB operates as a conduit distributing the money to outlets such as Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR).

One of the PBS stations that is likely to be impacted by the funding cuts is WPBS in Watertown, New York.

Station President and General Manager Mark Prasuhn says each PBS station will be affected differently depending on the size of the market.

Prasuhn hopes to weather the storm and maintain the current programming the best he can.

WPBS is one of 14 stations that broadcast near the Canada-US border.

Its signal is carried on Canadian cable and satellite services into communities along Eastern Ontario.

Prasuhn is a native of Kingston with a vast background in broadcasting in Canada.

He has been president and general manager at WPBS since 2019 and is currently the only person in charge of a PBS station that is not a US citizen.

Prasuhn says WPBS has a long history with Kingston and surrounding areas.

He also appreciates the support he is getting from Canadian viewers.

Prasuhn says WPBS will continue to serve communities in Eastern Ontario despite what is now a bleak outlook.

Story by Ken Hashizume