1. “Public media is biased and leans politically left, violating its mandate for objectivity.” 
 

Public media strives for balance and adheres to the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967's principles of fairness, balance and objectivity. PBS and NPR are consistently ranked among the most trusted news sources in the U.S., above both commercial broadcasters and cable networks. Ombudsmen at public media organizations review content to maintain high standards, addressing concerns of bias through transparent processes. 

Sources: PBS Trust Survey, 2024, pp. 1-2, PBS Standards

2. “Public media is unnecessary because there are abundant private and digital alternatives.” 
 

Public media provides unique, non-commercial content that serves educational and cultural needs unmet by other outlets. For example, each month, PBS reaches over 126 million people nationwide through television and 26 million people online. PBS reaches 89% of non-internet homes, 82% of lower-income homes, and 78% of rural homes. PBS also serves as a critical resource for early childhood education, reaching more children and parents of young children than any of the children’s TV networks. It ensures equitable access to high-quality programming, particularly in rural and underserved areas. 

In Missouri, KMOS broadcasts 35,040 hours a year of commercial-free television on four broadcast services. With a signal that potentially reach nearly 1 million people in more than 172,000 households, we strive to provide content that educates, illuminates and inspires. Our active presence on social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn allows us to engage with our audience in real time, broadening our reach and fostering a vibrant online community.  

KMOS-PBS brings you local voices and stories of interest to citizens of central Missouri. For example we recently partnered with The Missouri Times to produce a retrospective of Governor Mike Parson's service to the state, and in 2024 carried the GOP and Democratic primary gubernatorial debates. 

KMOS channel 6.1 is the station’s primary, high-definition broadcast service, offering a wide range of programs on subjects including drama, art and music; how-tos, science and nature; travel and adventure; history and biography; and news and public affairs. It also includes Additionally, the station airs 47 hours of children’s programming each week. This HD channel is available over the air to viewers with TV antennas, and also through their local cable and satellite provider. In addition, KMOS-PBS 6.1 can be livestreamed on the KMOS website, through the PBS App and on several other streaming platforms. These include Amazon Video, Hulu + Live, YouTube TV, and Local Now. 

KMOS carries programming on three other channels also available over the air and on local cable providers. These are:

KMOS Create 6.2 is a 24/7 collection of lifestyle programs - quilting & sewing, home repair, travel, cooking and much more. KMOS Create is also livestreamed on the PBS App.

KMOS Emerge 6.3 provides viewers with dramas, documentaries and international perspective through newscasts from France, Japan, Great Britain and Germany. 

In addition to educational and cultural offerings, KMOS-PBS and Missouri’s other public media stations play a critical role during emergencies, providing life-saving information through news broadcasts and the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The nation’s public media organizations proved instrumental during environmental disasters as recent as Hurricanes Milton and Helene. Should disaster strike Missouri, public media organizations will be an essential line of protection for vulnerable communities across the state, reaching more non-internet, lower-income and rural homes than commercial media.  

Public media organizations also serve as a cornerstone of local communities by providing trusted news, educational content, and cultural programming that reflects and addresses community needs. It ensures equitable access to critical information and lifelong learning resources, fostering civic engagement and enhancing community identity. However, local media ecosystems are increasingly vulnerable, with significant declines in news coverage and public trust in commercial media. Public media's commitment to unbiased reporting, educational outreach, and amplifying local voices makes it an essential resource to counter these trends. Its role in sustaining local journalism, supporting underserved communities, and connecting audiences through shared experiences is more vital than ever to addressing gaps in news and information equity. 

We are proud of our legacy and our ability to adapt to changing viewer habits, and we remain committed to delivering content that resonates with the diverse interests and needs of Missourians.

3. “Taxpayer dollars should not fund public media because it should sustain itself through private funding.” 

 
Federal funding, which represents about 15% of public media's budget, enables stations, especially in rural areas, to remain operational. For KMOS PBS, federal funding represents nearly 40% of the total operating budget for fiscal year 2024. This funding serves as a catalyst, attracting private donations and institutional investment amplifying its impact. Cutting federal support could lead to closures of small and rural stations. 

Sources: CPB FY 2024/2026 Appropriation Request and Justification; CPB Support for Rural Stations; Public Television Station and Programming Grants; PBS Western Reserve FY2024 Community Impact Report;Broadcast Educational Media Commission Subsidy by Station for FY2024 & FY2025  

4. “Public media programs sometimes promote controversial views.” 
 

Public media fosters dialogue by exploring diverse viewpoints. In fact, in the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, congress declared that “expansion and development of public telecommunications and of diversity of its programming depend on freedom, imagination, and initiative on both local and national levels.”  While controversial topics may arise, public media’s editorial guidelines ensure accuracy, fairness, and integrity. Independent ombudsmen and boards of directors oversee compliance with these standards, reinforcing public accountability. 

Sources: PBS Editorial Standards and Policies; Ombudsman for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting;Journalistic Guidelines for Frontline;Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 

5. “Public media represents an outdated model in the era of streaming and digital platforms.” 

 
Public media complements digital platforms by making educational and cultural content widely accessible, regardless of broadband access or subscription fees. Programs like PBS KIDS and online educational tools support at-home learning for millions of families, particularly in underserved regions. Locally, PBS Western Reserve viewers streamed PBS KIDS content 8.4 million times in the first half of FY25. 

Source: CPB FY 2024/2026 Appropriation Request and Justification, PBS Kids Local Analytics Dashboard 

6. “The federal funding allocated to public media is wasteful and could be better spent.” 
 

Federal funding for public media accounts for only $535 million of the federal government’s $6.8 trillion in outlays, but delivers significant societal value, including educational resources, emergency communications, and locally produced programming.  

Federal funding is essential to the funding mix that supports public broadcasting. Public media is a public-private partnership in the best tradition of America's free enterprise system. 

Federal funds, distributed through CPB to local stations, provide critical seed money and basic operating support. Stations leverage each $1 of federal funding to raise over $6 from other sources — including state and local governments, philanthropic foundations, private businesses, and universities — a tremendous return on the taxpayer investment. 

CPB, in addition to direct payment to public media stations, pays for the system's technical infrastructure, copyright and other fees, and makes major investments in national content from which all stations and the families they serve benefit. 

Most importantly, the annual federal investment in public media assures universal access to public media's educational programming and public services for all Americans, as mandated by the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. 

Sources: CPB.org; Congressional Budget Office; CPB FAQ 

7. “Public media competes unfairly with private broadcasters using taxpayer money.” 
 

Public media operates under a unique mandate to serve the public interest, focusing on educational and cultural enrichment, not profit. Unlike commercial broadcasters, public media reinvests in community-driven content, ensuring underserved communities receive valuable resources. 

Sources: Public Broadcasting Act of 1967; CPB’s Federal Appropriation Request & Justification; About CPB  

8. “Public media funding could lead to government control over its content.” 

Editorial independence is essential to serving the public interest and preserving the public’s trust. Public media maintains editorial independence through a decentralized funding structure, robust governance and editorial standards. Through its editorial standards, PBS strives to ensure that distributed content is free of undue influence from third-party funders, political interests, and other outside forces. Federal support is allocated through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), an independent agency designed to shield content decisions from political influence. As such, CPB does not produce or distribute programs, nor does it own, control, oversee, or operate any broadcast stations. 

Sources: PBS Standards; CPB FAQ;  Letter to Senator Ted Cruz May 9 2024 

9. “Public media has outlived its relevance in a competitive media landscape.” 
 

Public broadcasting has largely achieved the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967's “universal service” mandate — to provide all Americans with free, over-the-air access to public broadcasting's programming and services. Today, nearly 99 percent of the U.S. population can access public broadcasting's over-the-air signals. This reach could not have been achieved without significant federal investment in rural communities throughout the country. Public media remains vital in its service to communities, offering free, high-quality educational resources and local storytelling. In areas with limited commercial investment, public media often provides the only source of locally produced news and cultural programming.  

The widespread access to public media’s over-the-air signals laid the groundwork for innovative, reliable and vital public safety communications in partnership with federal, state and local authorities. Local public media stations partner with local first responders to offer datacasting services that use the broadcast spectrum to help first responders send critical information and videos to each other during times of crisis. In addition to the EAS, public media partners with FEMA in the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system that enables cell subscribers to receive geo-targeted text messages in the event of an emergency — reaching them wherever they are in times of crisis. These lifesaving services, provided by local public television stations to all Americans, are only possible because of the federal funding provided through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 

 Source: CPB: About Public Media; NEXTGEN Broadcasting Successfully Used to Keep Americans Safe During Marine Corps Marathon; FEMA, IPAWS – Broadcast and Wireless Providers 

10. “Public media doesn't serve enough people to justify federal funding.” 
 

Public media reaches over 120 million Americans each month, providing critical services like PBS Kids for children’s education, and local productions that celebrate regional cultures and histories. Each month, more than 36 million people watch their local PBS stations, more than 16 million viewers watch video on PBS’s site and apps, and over 53 million fans enjoy PBS Digital Studios and other content on YouTube. Over the course of a year, 58% of all U.S. television households – more than 130 million people – watch PBS via traditional television. PBS KIDS averages 15.5 million monthly users and 345 million monthly streams across PBS KIDS’ digital platforms. PBS stations reach more children, and more parents of young children, than any of the children’s TV networks. 

 Source: PBS Foundation Fast Facts