Pioneer Public Television Online

Pioneer Public Television’s broadcasts began in February of 1966, doing business as West Central Minnesota Educational Television Company, providing programming and services to every citizen of our coverage area. Pioneer Public Television’s Mission/Vision and Value statement is listed below:

MISSION
Pioneer Public Television mission is to promote economic development by facilitation educational growth, supporting cultural opportunities and enhancing the quality of lift in the broadcast area.

VISION
Pioneer Public Television endeavors to create and provide programs that allow our rural communities to have a common positive, beneficial, educational experience. Through these shared services we will broaden cultural horizons and responsively reflect our local values in shaping the future.

VALUES
Pioneer Public Television is a locally licensed educational organization that strives to reflect our indigenous needs and rural ideals. With the communities we serve, Pioneer creates shared experiences that open the doors of opportunity to learn, become inspired and grow to become better citizens.

PRIORITY ISSUES:

Providing digital services
Continue to create responsive local programming
Expand child education services
Provide a common voice to our rural communities.

GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS:
Coverage area of over 45 rural counties serving western Minnesota, northern Iowa and eastern South Dakota. With the addition of our channel to the Dish and DirecTV we cover areas as far west as Pierre SD and Valentine NE

PRIMARY CONSTITUENCY: All ages are served, but primary support comes from ages 45 years and above.

ORGANIZATIONS IMPACT: Serving over 3,000 children through our Ready to Learn program, along with teacher and parent workshops. In addition to this, serving viewers with informative, cultural, local and inspirational programming.

CONTRIBUTIONS AS WORK:

As you can see by the charts below, we work very hard at responsibly using contributions. We strive to maximize the funds that are raised there to bring the programs that viewers enjoy and provide outreach programs that benefit and improve the lives of citizens in our communities.

Individual contributions are Pioneer’s single most important form of funding. Members provide the foundation necessary for us to receive matching dollars available to us from state and federal levels. Without individual support first, access to state and federal funds would be limited. Individual contributions are matched dollar for dollar to receive the maximum amount of state money available, then, together, along with corporate support contributions are used to match federal grants.

PROGRAM COSTS:
            Pioneer Public Television’s annual programming budget for 2006 was at $265,000 and every attempt is made to present these programs costs accurately. This is just small portion of our program costs listed below:
            Children’s Shows                                 Estimated Annual Cost
                        Teletubbies                                           $2,240
             Clifford                                     $2,400
                        Sesame Street                                      $5,000
                        Barney                                                 $4,000

            News & Public Affairs
                        Newshour                                            $35,000
                        Washington Week                                $3,500

            Documentary & Arts
                        NOVA                                                 $10,000
                        American Experience                            $6,000
                        Nature                                                  $9,000
                        Great Performances                              $3,500
                        Mystery!                                              $3,860

This is just a small portion of our 24/7 lineup. We purchase programs from American Public Television (APT), PBS, other PBS stations, and individual vendors such as S & S
Productions for Red Green.

GOVERNANCE:
West Central Minnesota Educational Television Company was incorporated under the Minnesota Nonprofit Corporation Act on February 10, 1959. It is registered as a 501 © (3) corporation Federal Identification Number: 41-6038611.

The property and affairs of the corporation are managed and controlled by the Board of Directors. The Board is comprised of individuals from communities served by Pioneer Public Television and serve three year terms for a maximum of nine consecutive years. Board members are required to be current members of Pioneer.

As required by law, an independent audit of the financial activities is performed on an annual basis.

                        Pioneer Public Television Board of Directors

James D. Massee         Appleton MN                           Ramon Millett               Benson MN
Burt Nypen                  Ortonville MN                        David Paskach             Cottonwood MN
Mark Paulson               Milan MN                                Vincent Pellegrino         Marshall MN
Stephen Rufer               Fergus Falls MN                      Mary Lou Smith           Holloway MN
Rebecca Webb            Glenwood MN             Craig Wilkening, Chair Appleton MN
Loy Woelber                Avoca MN                             Erlin Weness                Worthington MN