Governance Options
for Idaho Public Television
Bornstein &
Associates
January
2001
Table of Contents
Executive Summary.. 4
Project Scope.. 7
Background.. 7
Project Process. 7
Description of Idaho Public
Television.. 9
History.. 9
Current Status of Idaho Public Television.. 10
Program Decision-Making.. 10
Services. 11
Competition.. 11
Performance Measures. 12
Controversial Programming on Public
Television.. 13
Public Television Programming Policies. 13
Program Diversity.. 14
Editorial Integrity.. 14
Controversial Programming on Idaho Public Television.. 15
Stakeholder Interviews. 20
Summary of Responses. 20
Remaining a State Agency. 20
Becoming a Nonprofit Organization. 22
Major Obstacles and Problems. 24
Transfer of Facilities and
Equipment 26
Continuation of Services. 27
Funding the Transition to Digital
Television. 28
Other Considerations. 29
PTV Governance Models. 31
Public Broadcasting Licensees. 31
Boards of Directors. 31
Cultural Differences Among Licensee Types. 32
State Involvement in Public Broadcasting.. 33
Illustrative Governance Change Models. 34
Vermont 34
Maine. 35
Oregon. 37
Hawaii 39
Financial Analysis of Privatization.. 42
Assumptions and Methodology.. 42
Current Assets and Digital Conversion.. 43
Transfer of Current Assets. 43
Requirements for Digital Conversion. 44
Projected Digital Conversion Costs. 44
Low Power DTV Alternative. 45
Cautions from Community Leaders. 45
Capital Campaign Option. 45
Financial Issues of Privatization.. 47
Replacing State Funding. 47
Subsidized Services at Market Rates. 47
Additional Expenses. 48
Intangible or Unpredictable Costs
and Benefits. 48
Alternative Strategies for Addressing Increased Costs. 49
Methodology Used. 49
Comparison to Peers. 49
Raising Additional Revenue. 50
Revenue and Expenses. 51
Increasing Traditional Fundraising
Activities. 52
Reducing Expenses. 54
Other Sources of Revenue. 55
Summary of Financial Conclusions. 56
Legal Considerations. 57
Strengths and Weaknesses of
Licensee Types. 59
Funding Security..