Idaho Public Television in the News

Idaho public TV cuts scaled back The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee trimmed Idaho Public Television's budget Tuesday, but the damage was far less than Gov. Butch Otter called for earlier.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 3/10/2010

Idaho budget writers approve cuts for substance abuse treatment, public television and higher education Idaho budget writers approved sharp budget cuts for substance abuse treatment, Idaho Public Television and higher education in fiscal year 2011 on Tuesday morning.
Idaho Statesman 3/9/2010

IPTV budget cut, but not as much as Otter wanted The television station that broadcasts the Idaho Legislature, "Sesame Street" and other shows across the state appears likely to escape budget cuts of the magnitude Gov. C.L. "Butch" demanded when the 2010 session started.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 3/9/2010

The squeeze on Big Bird The challenges that Idaho Public Television is facing are emblematic of the decisions that public television agencies and stations around the country will have to make if states decide that public television is no longer a business they can afford to be in.
Stateline.org 3/4/2010

Compassion? Don't look for it here, Butch Speaking to the Idaho Press Club last week, Gov. Otter contended some newspapers have portrayed him as relishing the role of budget cutter but said, "It's not fun." Whatever the governor's experience, it's not the job of the press to give politicians a break.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 3/3/2010

Imagine that, Butch - politics is a rough 'sport' Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter pleads for compassion for the hard budgetary decisions he's had to make, but there are a lot of ways to obey the constitutional mandate to balance the budget, and they don't all include gutting education or doing away with public television.
Moscow-Pullman Daily News 3/2/2010

Idaho budget blueprint: 8.5% cut for schools Under JFAC plan for 2011 budget, schools would see an unprecedented 8.5 percent cut in state funding; higher education funding would drop 14 percent; and Medicaid would drop 3.5 percent, for a 25.9 percent drop in state Medicaid funding over the past two years.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 2/25/2010

Otter wants compassion from media Governor tells the Idaho Press Club he doesn't enjoy having to cut spending but is Constitutionally mandated to balance the budget.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 2/25/2010

Otter’s methods juvenile If the Governor wanted to pressure IdahoPTV to trim its budget, he should have done it in private rather than threatening to phase out its funding altogether.
Argonaut 2/22/2010

Picking sides Last week Idaho schools Superintendent Tom Luna persuaded the Idaho Land Board to drain an extra $22 million from an endowment reserve account to soften the budget hit on public schools. This week, he derailed a proposal to pump more money into it by raising rents on state-owned lakeside cottages.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 2/19/2010

Cheers and Jeers Jeers to the State Affairs Committee for voting against a 1 percent cost of living increase for retired state and local government employees. Cheers to the Idaho congressional delegation for standing up for discounts enjoyed by senior citizens and disabled public land users.
Idaho Falls Post Register 2/19/2010

Endangered: 'Outdoor Idaho' Idaho Public TV's iconic show may vanish from parts of Idaho if Otter's plans to phase out state funding are realized.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 2/18/2010

Gov. Butch Otter says he lost control of his message to agencies Gov. Butch Otter says that he had no intention of removing general-fund financial support from several commissions, councils and Idaho Public Television, but he proposed that in his budget to motivate them to shoulder their share of state budget cuts.
Idaho Statesman 2/18/2010

Butch Otter's budgeting - Version 2.0 Gov. Otter says he'd like to get agencies such as Idaho Public Television, the Human Rights Commission and the Parks and Recreation Department as close to self-funding as possible, but claims that he wasn't serious about zeroing them out completely.
Idaho Statesman 2/18/2010

Gov. Butch Otter's budget hit balky agencies All except Idaho Public Television have since gotten the message clearly, says the state budget chief Wayne Hammon.
Idaho Statesman 2/17/2010

Otter backs expansion of income tax credit Proposed legislation would create incentives to donate to agencies facing funding cuts such as the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities, and Idaho Public Television.
Twin Falls Times-News 2/17/2010

Otter wields budget knife to spur IPTV savings Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter proposed eliminating $1.7 million in taxpayer funding for Idaho Public Television because its manager offered inadequate budget-cutting measures last year, says budget chief Wayne Hammon.
Idaho Statesman 2/16/2010

No decision yet on IPTV Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's plan to phase out state funding for Idaho Public Television could seriously affect the University of Idaho's ability to support its media classes.
Argonaut 2/16/2010

Dialing back dollars A sharp turn may be in store for Idaho Public Television, in which it is weaned entirely off state funding, and relies upon private contributions.
Twin Falls Times-News 2/14/2010

Legislative Notebook: IPTV explains legislator appearances A senator's question prompted Idaho Public Television to explain a little more in detail about informational spots with legislators in them - and take them off the air for now.
Twin Falls Times-News 2/14/2010

State should keep IDLA, phase out IPTV funds Bottom line: Idaho Public Television is no longer a vital role of government. Idaho Digital Learning Academy is.
Idaho Press-Tribune 2/11/2010

Public TV too valuable for Idaho to abandon Before weighing whether to eliminate funding for Idaho Public Television, the Legislature should first weigh what would be lost.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 2/6/2010

The Kill Joy: Otter's inferior past is Idaho's inferior future Columnist Bill Cope argues that the Public Broadcasting System, and Idaho Public Television as one of its pieces, is government at its best and should be supported with tax dollars.
Boise Weekly 2/3/2010

Malad residents fighting public TV cuts A Malad woman is seeking to organize opposition to state cuts proposed by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter that would terminate public television broadcasts to rural Idaho communities.
Idaho State Journal 2/2/2010

Opposition mounts against public TV cuts Critics are lining up against Idaho governor's proposal to eliminate state funding for Idaho Public Television.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 1/31/2010

A case for dollars for higher education, landing with a thud Where is the public outcry - or even public heartburn - over proposed cuts to higher ed budgets? Does Idaho believe in higher education's power to change lives and drive economic growth? Or is that cheap talk in a legislative session defined by tight budgets?
Idaho Statesman 1/31/2010

On the air . . . for now: KUID in Moscow continues role with Idaho Public TV despite proposal to cut state funding Shutting down KUID, IdahoPTV's Moscow station, is an unsettling prospect for the staff and students who work there. It's only one of three public television stations in the state, the others being KAID in Boise and KISU in Pocatello. But the prospect of IdahoPTV going away is especially unusual in Moscow, where KUID has operated from the University of Idaho campus since 1965.
Moscow-Pullman Daily News 1/30/2010

Proposed cuts to IPTV rile supporters, founders Former KUID station manager and U of I School of Communications Director Peter Haggart conveys his "stunned" reaction to the news that the state may end support for public broadcasting in Idaho.
Moscow-Pullman Daily News 1/30/2010

Taking a look at IdahoPTV Is there a future for Sesame Street in Idaho? Many locally and throughout the state hope so. In the past week, Idaho residents have banded together in opposition of Gov. C.L "Butch" Otter's plan to phase out all state funding for Idaho Public Television.
Rexburg Standard Journal 1/29/2010

Budget cuts could spell doom for public TV in valley Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's proposal to cut funding for Idaho Public Television is quickly becoming a controversial issue, with some legislators lamenting the impact this could have on most of the state's residents.
Idaho Mountain Express 1/29/2010

Governor Otter gets earful on rural woes Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter held his 36th Capital for a Day in Shoshone on Wednesday, and rural Idahoans discussed the economy, proposed cuts to Idaho Public Television and state parks, as well as health care reform with the governor and his staff.
Idaho Statesman 1/28/2010

Idaho lawmakers hope to ease public TV cuts Members of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee expressed doubts about Gov. Butch Otter's proposal to phase out state funding for Idaho Public Television over the next four years.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 1/28/2010

Gov. Otter's initiatives are foundering on the details The governor has failed to make a case for why the agencies he proposes to de-fund should go and what should happen to the services they provide and the clients they serve.
Twin Falls Times-News 1/28/2010

IPTV manager sounds warning about a rural blackout General manager Peter Morrill says rural Idahoans will lose their access and three channels will be cut if the agency's funding is eliminated.
Idaho Falls Post Register 1/28/2010

Idaho Public Television is Government Waste The arguments once used to validate the existence of taxpayer-subsidized government television no longer hold true.
NewWest.net 1/27/2010

Idaho Public Television Gives Budget Presentation IdahoPTV general manager Peter Morrill explains the impact proposed budget cuts will have on broadcasting and transmission operations.
NewWest.net 1/27/2010

Drastic Cuts for Idaho Public Television According to the governor's plan, IdahoPTV would lose $380-thousand dollars every year over a 4 year period.
KIVI-Boise 1/27/2010

IPTV can't sell commercials in lieu of state cash Idaho Public Television general manager Peter Morrill says federal law precludes public TV stations from selling commercials.
Idaho Statesman 1/27/2010

Northwest Public Radio to make move to Murrow College of Communication Washington State University announces that Northwest Public Radio, the university-owned statewide network, will move from the information technology department to the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication.
Moscow-Pullman Daily News 1/26/2010

Speak up if you want to save Idaho Public Television The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee will consider the future of state funding for the public broadcaster when general manager Peter Morrill presents the agency's budget.
Idaho Press-Tribune 1/26/2010

Thousands Showing Support For Idaho Public Television As the future of Idaho Public Television remains uncertain, one group of Idahoans is now working to ensure the network's signal is not shut off. A statewide campaign known as Save Idaho Public Television has organized in support of the state network.
KPVI-Pocatello 1/26/2010

Pocatello's Idaho Public TV Fears Closure The future of Idaho Public Television remains up in the air, after a proposal by Governor Otter to eliminate their annual $1.6 million in state funding over the next four years.
KIFI-Idaho Falls 1/26/2010

Defunded IdahoPTV Would Cut Legislature Live as Well In addition to rural transmitters and translators, Idaho Public Television would likely have to stop its Legislature Live service that beams video of committee and House and Senate proceedings throughout the Capitol building and over the Web.
Boise Weekly 1/25/2010

Nonprofit encourages Idahoans to support public TV A group of donors who support Idaho Public Television are mounting a campaign to try to save the network's state funding.
Idaho Statesman 1/25/2010

Will Idaho Public TV get the ax? Here's my best guess Parks enthusiasts raised cain over Gov. Butch Otter's ill-advised plan to shut down the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. On Friday, Otter blinked, patching together a plan to keep Parks and Recreation alive. A bipartisan group of leaders wrote a sharply worded appeal to save Idaho's Human Rights Commission. On Friday, the state cooked up a plan to keep the commission going, under the auspices of the Idaho Department of Labor.
Idaho Statesman 1/25/2010

Empty-pocket states cutting $23 million from pubcast support As states cut back their budgets, governors are often targeting public broadcasting along with other educational and arts programs. Some stations, including Idaho Public Television, could face a total loss of state funds.
Current 1/25/2010

Budget cuts can be costly Idaho risks losing federal funds by trimming certain programs such as Idaho Public Television, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Department of Health and Welfare.
Spokane Spokesman-Review 1/24/2010

Why cut public TV? State liquor is quicker If the governor wants to privatize something and raise additional revenue for the ailing state budget, he's not asking the obvious question: Seventy-seven years after Prohibition's repeal, why is selling liquor a legitimate function of government?
Lewiston Morning Tribune 1/24/2010

Future of IPTV is a big ? Governor Butch Otter has proposed cutting funding to IPTV as part of his plan to balance the state budget. IPTV General Manager Peter Morrill said if state funding is cut, so will the availability of their broadcasts.
KLEW-Lewiston 1/21/2010

KUID may close without state funds The Idaho Public Television station, KUID, may be forced to close if cuts proposed by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter are approved. The KUID studio is used by University of Idaho students to produce programs and learn about broadcasting.
Argonaut 1/21/2010

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Idaho News Media

Newspapers and News sites

Idaho Statesman (Boise)
RuralNorthwest.com (Bonners Ferry)
South Idaho Press (Burley)
Challis Messenger
Coeur d'Alene Press
Sho-Ban News (Fort Hall)
Wood River Journal (Hailey)
Idaho Falls Post Register
Island Park News
Idaho Mountain Express (Ketchum)
Latah Eagle (Latah County)
Lewiston Morning Tribune
Sun Valley Online
Montpelier News-Examiner
Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Mountain Home News
Idaho Press Tribune (Nampa)
Idaho State Journal (Pocatello)
The Standard Journal (Rexburg)
Spokesman-Review (Spokane and North Idaho)
St. Maries Gazette Record
Twin Falls Times-News
Idaho Unidos
Boise Weekly
Idaho Business Review
NewWest.net

Broadcast Media

Idaho Public Television (PBS)
KBCI TV-2 (CBS - Boise)
KIVI TV-6 (ABC - Boise)
KTVB TV-7 (NBC - Boise)
KTRV TV-12 (Fox - Boise)
KIDK TV-3 (CBS - Idaho Falls)
KIFI TV-8 (ABC - Idaho Falls)
KLEW TV-3 (CBS - Lewiston)
KPVI TV-6 (NBC - Pocatello)
Northwest Public Radio
Boise State Radio

Blogs

Eye on Boise (Betsy Russell of the Idaho Spokesman-Review)
Commentary: Kevin Richert (Kevin Richert of the Idaho Statesman)
Capitol Confidential (Times-News coverage of Idaho politics by Ben Botkin)
Idaho Politics (An inside look at Idaho politics and government from Statesman reporters)
Ridenbaugh Press (Randy Stapilus; covers politics in ID, OR, and WA)