Milwaukee PBS sets vision for future with five-year strategic plan
Nation’s Top-Rated PBS Station Launches Search for First Chief Content Officer As It Prepares to Host PBS NewsHour, Washington Week During DNC Convention
MILWAUKEE; July 15, 2019 – Milwaukee PBS — the nation’s top-rated PBS station — is focusing on high-quality local programs and adapting to an ever-changing media landscape in a new five-year strategic plan announced to members and volunteers Monday.
The station, a licensee of Milwaukee Area Technical College, worked over the past six months to develop the plan with a consultant experienced in strategy for public television and radio stations.
High-quality content is the focus of the plan, which includes launching a national search for Milwaukee PBS’ first Chief Content Officer. This new senior executive will direct a broadcast and digital team to develop programs that will sometimes launch first online, as one example. While technology enables the station to share content more quickly than in the past, quality storytelling will remain the focus.
The strategic plan also addresses the Great TV Auction, a longtime institution at the station. In the last year, Milwaukee PBS made a sustained effort to revitalize the auction, including bringing it to a newly-renovated space. A thorough review of revenues and costs, however, found that the reality is clear: online auctions and shopping through any number of services have changed the way people shop and this fundraising effort ultimately generated a net loss for the station.
New fundraising efforts, including a focus on planned giving and encouraging more online giving from donors, will replace the revenue that it once generated. Longtime auction volunteers will have the opportunity to support an appraisal fair to be held this fall, among other events.
“We are excited to start this new chapter in partnership with our members and volunteers, who will continue to help drive our success and maintain our status as the nation’s most watched PBS station,” Zachary said.
About Milwaukee PBS
Milwaukee PBS is southeastern Wisconsin’s premier non-commercial media organization. Milwaukee PBS consists of two high-definition television stations, WMVS and WMVT, and four additional digital television services. The Milwaukee PBS stations are the area’s only over-the-air source for PBS and other national public television programs. The stations are watched by over 627,770 viewers each week throughout southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Milwaukee PBS is a viewer-supported service of Milwaukee Area Technical College. MATC is a two-year vocational-technical college based in Milwaukee, WI offering day, evening and weekend classes on four campuses. For more information, visit www.MilwaukeePBS.org.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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Violent Femmes 40th Anniversary with the Milwaukee Symphony to Air Nationally on PBS December, 2024
Oct 30th, 2024 by Milwaukee PBSMILWAUKEE; October 30, 2024 – On December 13, 2024, the Milwaukee PBS production of the Emmy nominated Violent Femmes 40th Anniversary with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra will air nationally on PBS stations across the country. This concert is a celebration of the Violent Femmes iconic debut self-titled album and greatest hits including “Blister in the Sun,” “Kiss Off,” “Add It Up” and “Gone Daddy Gone” along with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. The Violent Femmes are an American folk punk band who began playing acoustic punk on the streets of Milwaukee. They were discovered in 1981 while busking outside the Oriental Theatre where the Pretenders were playing later that evening. The lead singer, Chrissie Hynde invited them to play a brief acoustic set after the opening act. Gordon Gano, the lead vocalist & guitar player was still in high school when he wrote all of the songs for the Violent Femmes’ first album. Today, the Violent Femmes consist of founding members Gordon Gano and Brian Ritchie, joined by multi-instrumentalist Blaise Garza and drummer John Sparrow. This concert with the Violent Femmes and the Milwaukee Symphony was produced and recorded by Milwaukee PBS at the Bradley Symphony Center on October 3, 2023. It will air on Milwaukee PBS on Friday, December 13, 2024 at 8pm, with an encore broadcast the same evening at 9:15pm on Milwaukee PBS Channel 10. “We’re excited to share this incredible concert with our audience as well as PBS stations around the country” said Debbie Hamlett, General Manager of Milwaukee PBS. “Listening to this amazing music with a “backup” symphony is an experience I hope you’ll never forget!” There will be a public sneak preview at the Oriental Theatre, where it all began, in Milwaukee on December 3rd. The screening is free and open to the public but you must reserve your seat, register at MilwaukeePBS.org/events. Doors open at 6:30pm About Milwaukee PBS Milwaukee PBS is southeastern Wisconsin’s premier non-commercial media organization. It consists of two high-definition television stations, WMVS and WMVT, and four additional digital television services. Milwaukee PBS is one of the most-watched public television stations in the nation. For more information, visit www.MilwaukeePBS.org.
