RSU public TV station expects to be impacted by federal funding cuts

The general manager of Rogers State University public television is worried about federal funding cuts. The station is likely to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars if the cuts are signed by President Donald Trump.

RSU-TV could lose around $800,000 annually

Teri Bowers, general manager of RSU-TV, says the station gets that money every year along with other public stations in the country.

"We're not part of OETA or the PBS system," she said. "We're an independent public TV station."

The university's station will be funded through the next year, but the federal payouts are expected to end after that.

"It's critical," said Bowers. "The station has operated in that model from its founding in 1987."

The station produces educational programming

RSU-TV makes educational programming around topics that include tourism and cooking. It even produces documentaries.

Students are producing television like Cherokee Nation language lessons and videos on classes for people to watch online. Bowers says it refrains from anything political.

Getting creative for anticipated financial support

Bowers says she is committed to finding money to keep production going. She isn't exactly sure what that looks like but wants to find a solution.

"For me, it's not an option to give up," she said. "My emphasis is on education and students."

Other public media are also facing cuts

Public Radio Tulsa expects to lose around $150,000 each year as part of the cuts. It has launched an online campaign to get people to donate money so it can keep going.

The cuts were approved from top leaders

President Donald Trump supports the cuts. He signed the rescission package last Friday that cut Corp of Public Broadcasting Funding.

President Trump has given many reasons for the cuts, including the ability to get information from other sources.