Northern California Public Broadcasting announced Monday it will cut 13 percent of its budget and eliminate 44 positions in order to save about $8 million. But, as Joe Garofoli of the Chron notes, no reporters will leave KQED-FM and no TV staff will depart. Productions such as “Spark,” “This Week In Northern California” and “Quest” would continue with new episodes airing in the spring.
However, the Merc’s Charlie McCollum observed that KTEH, which merged with KQED in 2006, was hit harder with eight of the 20 station employees being let go. (Two employees were offered other positions but declined.)
McCollum points out that the KTEH studios on Schallenberger Road will essentially go dark with even the station’s pledge drives moving to the KQED facilities in San Francisco. The station will, however, continue to produce non-studio programs such as “This Is Us.”