Overview

• A consortium including Knight, Pivotal Ventures, MacArthur, Ford, Schmidt Family Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson committed roughly $36.5–$37 million, with $26.5 million going to the Public Media Bridge Fund managed by Public Media Company.
• The MacArthur Foundation also pledged $10 million in direct support outside the joint fund.
• The effort prioritizes smaller, rural, Native and mid‑market stations that relied heavily on CPB, with Public Media Company identifying about 115 outlets that received at least 30% of revenue from CPB and are at heightened risk.
• Eligibility and application criteria are expected by late September, the fund aims to disburse support before year‑end, and Erik Langner was named executive director.
• Backers are seeking about $50 million this year and estimate a $100 million two‑year need, as CPB’s wind‑down proceeds and FEMA emergency‑alert grants previously administered by CPB shift to state and tribal channels.