07/18/2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Information:
Jenn Gordon, WTVP CEO & President
[email protected] 309-645-0201
July 18, 2025
WTVP PBS Responds to Loss of Federal Funding with Forward Looking Message
Peoria, IL – On July 17, Congress passed the H.R. 4 Rescission Package which included clawing back previously approved funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to fund PBS stations across the country like WTVP. Historically, funding from the CPB has made up about 30% of WTVP’s budget, or about $1 million annually.
Over the past few months millions of Americans reached out to congress to express their support for federal funding for public broadcasting stations through the Protect My Public Media campaign. “We are grateful for everyone who took time to advocate for continued federal funding for WTVP”, noted Jenn Gordon, President and CEO, “While we are very disappointed that the package passed, we are not facing today with fear. We believe that what we do at WTVP is needed now more than ever. WTVP is essential to the health and wellness of our community, providing a dynamic, community-oriented, and safe alternative to a saturated for-profit media landscape that is largely void of high quality, educational, ‘good-for-you’ content.”
“As part of our commitment to finding a way forward, we will soon launch the We Believe in WTVP campaign”, continued Gordon. “The board leadership has been working on securing some significant matching grants for this campaign, as we will be asking our communities to uniquely help us navigate these new waters, without the support of federal funding.”
Current WTVP Board Chairman, John Wieland commented, “We are not feeling sorry for ourselves today. We are grateful to this community – and fully believe that what we provide is worthy of support whether it comes from the federal government or from members and donors. With the community’s support, we believe this will be a shining moment.”
WTVP will present a WTVP NOW program on Thursday, July 24 at 8:30pm on its main channel, 47.1, including an interview with John Wieland and Jenn Gordon to talk more in-depth about the station’s future and the impact of losing federal funding. The program will be available to stream on-demand through the PBS app.
For more information visit WTVP.org.
# # #
Illinois Valley Public Telecommunications Corporation (WTVP) is a trusted, community-owned public media source that is dedicated to connecting and inspiring central Illinois through quality content that educates, informs, and entertains. For over 50 years, WTVP has broadcast to 17 counties in central Illinois, serving as the region’s premiere (PBS) Public Broadcasting Station affiliate, providing commercial- free quality and educational programming.
