CPB webpage
Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)
CPB is the largest single source of funding for public radio, television, and related online and mobile services. Its funding provides the “public” part of the public-private partnership. By design, it’s not the only source: Public media’s strength is that its funding comes from many sources including individuals, businesses, non-profits, educational institutions, and local and state government. CPB does not produce or distribute programs, nor does it own, control, oversee, or operate any broadcast stations.
Public Broadcasting System (PBS)
PBS is a private, nonprofit media enterprise owned by its member public television stations. PBS distributes programming to approximately 350 locally controlled and operated public television stations across the country. It is funded principally by these member stations, distribution revenue, and underwriting support. CPB provides direct grant support to PBS for national content and for the infrastructure that distributes content and emergency alerts from PBS to public television stations.
National Public Radio (NPR)
NPR is an independent, nonprofit membership organization of separately licensed and operated public radio stations across the United States. NPR produces and distributes news, information, and cultural programming across broadcast and digital platforms. It has more than 1,000 member and affiliate stations. NPR is principally funded by member stations, distribution services, underwriting and institutional grants, and individual contributions. CPB provides direct grant support to NPR for its international reporting bureaus and for the infrastructure that distributes content from NPR and other national public radio producers to every public radio station.
How is CPB funded?
CPB is a private nonprofit corporation that is fully funded by the federal government. Ninety-five percent of CPB’s appropriation goes directly to local public media stations, content development, community services, and other local station and system needs. Less than 5% is allocated to administrative costs – an exceptionally low overhead rate compared with other nonprofits.
CPB’s appropriation originates with the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittees of the Appropriations Committees in Congress. CPB receives a two-year advance appropriation, which means that Congress decides the amount of federal support for public broadcasting two years prior of the fiscal year in which the funding is received. In other words, Congress approved the FY 2024 funding level for CPB during the FY 2022 appropriations process. This is done to insulate content from political pressure, to allow for advance planning, and to help stations leverage funds from other sources.
For more information on CPB’s appropriation please see: Federal Appropriation.
