(Greater Dakota News Service/DRG Media Group)– In Governor Kristi Noem’s proposed 2026 budget, South Dakota Public Broadcasting would get just under $2-million– which equates to a 65% cut, or more than $3.5-million less that its 2025 budget.
SDPB Executive Director Julie Overgaard says that much of a budget reduction also puts another $1-million in grant money in jeopardy.
“It’s devastating news for SDPB and, in my belief and others’, it basically puts us on a trajectory for insolvency within the next 12 to 36 months.”
SDPB provides the live streams of the House and Senate floor sessions during the roughly 2.5-month long legislative session in South Dakota, as well as the live streams of the legislature’s committee meetings which are held all year long.
After state funding and grants, SDPB’s third major source of funding is private donations and gifts. Overgaard says she’s worried those sources will also dwindle if SDPB doesn’t have the staff to continue providing the content they currently do.
“It’s a tough go right now, I think, for public media organizations like ours. But I still think there’s enough public support and enough public need for the services that we provide.”
The “State of Local News 2024” report shows local news sources have been shutting down or being bought out at an accelerated pace over the past decade or more. Overgaard sees it in South Dakota, saying the state’s last locally-owned commercial TV station was sold to an out-of-state buyer this summer.
“We really kind of are the last stand here for having something locally owned that’s telling stories and providing news and issue coverage that are unique to South Dakota.”
If the proposed cuts are approved, Overgaard says they’re likely to “disproportionately affect rural services, where SDPB’s programming is most valued.”
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