Wyoming PBS to drop the PBS branding

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Wyoming’s public TV network plans to drop PBS branding

The new branding will reflect the state network’s renewed focus on content that better reflects Wyoming’s communities.

current.org

Interesting to see how this will work in practice given that it’s in the planning stages.

Wyoming PBS plans to adopt localized branding to reposition itself as “Wyoming’s storyteller.”

The rebranding, announced last month, will remove “PBS” from the station’s identity and emphasize the network’s deepening focus on local programming and community connections.

“This rebrand is a declaration of independence, not a departure from quality,” said Joanna Kail, CEO of Wyoming PBS, in a press release detailing goals for the strategy. “While we will continue to provide the full suite of PBS programming and member benefits like Passport, we want our local vision to not be limited by a national brand.”

 

[TheBigA]

I guess that means they'll also create their own web design instead of using the PBS template. I don't know what the membership requirements are with PBS.

Commercial stations see a lot of value in branding their stations with their network name & logo. It's why they do it. I think a lot of these states simply don't understand the value in something they're so willing to dismiss. They still carry the programming, and they'll fundraise around it. They just won't put it in their logo. Seems like they're trying to appease politicians.

 

[mjb1124]

Isn't this basically just a return to how individual PBS stations were branded in the past, where each of them typically had their own distinctive names and logos? I would guess you'll still see the national PBS logo bumpers at the end of shows, for instance.

 

[TheBigA]

Isn't this basically just a return to how individual PBS stations were branded in the past,

Exactly. PBS is a membership organization. As far as I know, they're not required to brand their station as PBS. It was something they wanted to do because the brand had meaning to the audience.

 

[crainbebo]

The first step for them to get rid of the PBS affiliation. Wyoming is very conservative, and other than in Laramie and Jackson, PBS as a whole is not well-received. PBS will leave the state soon, I'm sure, just like in Pensacola.

 

[TheBigA]

The first step for them to get rid of the PBS affiliation. Wyoming is very conservative, and other than in Laramie and Jackson, PBS as a whole is not well-received. PBS will leave the state soon, I'm sure, just like in Pensacola.

There's nothing political about PBS Kids or any of the programming. The programming is supported by viewer donations. That's why they're keeping the programming. They're not going to find any programming that will attract donations like PBS. The state would have to cover the cost of programming themselves. This situation is more like Arkansas, where they initially announced they were dropping the programming, and then changed their minds.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

The first step for them to get rid of the PBS affiliation. Wyoming is very conservative, and other than in Laramie and Jackson, PBS as a whole is not well-received. PBS will leave the state soon, I'm sure, just like in Pensacola.

I dont think so.
Laramie is pretty purple, if not darn near blue... with specs of red.
Laramie what it is because of UW
BUT as well, UW is a big piece of WY Pride.
There would be a revolt if they got rid of PBS, just like what happened when they wanted to take back $800,000 in state funding. It was reinstated.
Wyoming public media covers almost all of the state with a few exceptions.. and i think coverage is better than maps say.
WY Public Media isnt spending money frivilously and for a statrewide operation, when I saw it in 2014 (on my way to CA to work there, 6 years before id even think of working in laramie....) wasnt like fancy smancy lavish like some people think public radio is.

On the left tower, KUWR 91.9 Laramie, WY 100kw at 1100 feet. It's top 8 bays. KLWV 90.0 Chugwater, WY (KLove) shares an antenna with KUWR.
KUWY 88.5 with 135 Watts is the 3 bay thats on the other side of the tower from KUWR.
the 2nd from the bottom with a radome cover on it is KUWL with 110 Watts.
The bottom radome is K278CM 103.5, 250 watts which relays a KUWR HD Channel all music format
The 8 bay on the right tower is KCGY 95.1 Laramie, WY with 100kw. The 2 bay is an auxiliary for KLWV 90.9
Behind my back is KRQU, K201HM and KTDX.
Theres a bit of a mixing issue caused by KCGY, KLWV and KUWR showing up elsewhere on the dial, sometimes alone, sometimes together and often times with RDS
Its like when KHAT operated from its licensed site and KOWB was 1/2 mile away.. that was a mess too.. I digress.




The KUWR, KUWL and KUWY transmitter building. We USED to have an antenna on this tower and still had access to the building at the time I took the pic.

 

[RFCCRadioAudio]

Here, Nashville's PBS station just went by their call letters (then WDCN) until 2000, when the call letters changed to WNPT, with the branding Nashville Public Television. A few years ago, WNPT started branding themselves as Nashville PBS. I wish there was a way to get those WDCN calls I grew up on back (they could still brand the station Nashville PBS).