Oklahoma Public Broadcasters concerned about impact of federal cuts

Public Broadcasters have concerns about proposed immediate and permanent cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supplies partial funding for the operation of both radio and television stations in Oklahoma.

Monday, June 30th 2025, 9:35 pm

By: Emory Bryan

TULSA, Okla. -

As Congress debates zeroing out future funding for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, Oklahoma Public Broadcasters have more immediate concerns about cuts to funding that had already been approved.

OETA, the state public television provider, stands to lose $1.7 million in previously approved funding, according to Garrett King, President of the Board of Directors for Friends of OETA, the fundraising arm of the network. The CPB supplies about 15% of OETA's annual funding, according to King, with viewers supplying the largest share at 59%.

Public Radio Tulsa stands to lose $150,000 in approved funding, according to General Manager Rich Fisher. The impact will be greater, Fisher said, because the CPB also pays about $150,000 for music and streaming licensing. "That's additional money we don't have to spend," said Fisher.

While OETA has a statewide network for television, the public radio stations are independently operated and funded, but work cooperatively on coverage of state interest. Public Radio Tulsa is a licensee of the University of Tulsa.

Emory Bryan

Emory Bryan is a general assignment reporter for News On 6. He began his news career covering the school board for his hometown radio station and worked on the newspaper staff in college before making the switch to television. Emory joined the News On 6 team in 1994.