AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Public Media Bridge Fund announced its initial round of stabilization grants for local public media, including KACV-TV, which totals $26 million across 74 organizations operating 186 radio and television stations.
According to officials from the Public Media Bridge Fund, the initial wave supports stations facing the greatest financial challenges and ensures the continuation of local news, cultural programming, and emergency alerts. Officials added that the Bridge Fund was launched in August 2025 in response to the elimination of federal Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding.
“With this initial round of funding, our goal was to present each grantee with a foothold to stabilize their infrastructure and continue their vital services. Thanks to the rapid and generous response of philanthropic leaders across the U.S., we’ve been able to raise crucial funds and quickly get them into the hands of the stations that need them the most,” said Tim Isgitt, CEO of Public Media Company. “These grants not only take another step forward in the collaborative effort to respond to a crisis but also create an opportunity to develop a sustainable future for public media that builds stronger, more engaged, and more connected communities.”
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Bridge Fund officials state that the Bridge Fund will engage directly with public media organizations in 2026 to guide them in developing and adapting to new operating models to ensure they remain a resource in their communities…