No matter what happens in D.C., PBS12 is here for Coloradans
07.17.2025
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Last night, the Senate passed a rescission bill that fully eliminated federal support for public media, clawing back critical funding that had previously been approved. It was a close vote, 51 to 48, following an outpouring of support from viewers like you across Colorado and the country who voiced their support. We are grateful for the support of our Colorado lawmakers, Senator Bennett and Senator Hickenlooper, who both voted in support of keeping the funding for public media. While the outcome presents some very real and very significant challenges, the process also revealed how much Colorado values and cares about public media. So while there are certainly feelings of disappointment, the stronger feeling is one of commitment. Commitment to you. Commitment to our community. Commitment to our mission. Commitment to ensure that the work continues.
In February of 1980, our station went on the air. It was established by a group of passionate Coloradans who believed that our community needed and deserved an independent place to share the stories of regular people, and to engage in healthy debates about the issues that face our community. A place not influenced by money or politics. A place that was available free over-the-air with access for everyone.
Over its 45 years, it has had many names: KBDI – “the beady eye”, Colorado Public Television, and CPT12, to name a few, but it has always been steadfast in its mission. PBS12 is, and always will be, an independent, non-profit organization, dedicated to sharing the stories of every-day Coloradans.
Quite simply, we exist to connect people through individual stories; to bring together many different viewpoints to disagree, discuss and debate in a thoughtful, productive way. The goal of all of this is to ultimately empower you.
Our original programs like Colorado Inside Out, Studio Twelve, Decode Colorado, and Humanize Colorado bring different local viewpoints together, for an independent and in-depth look into the issues facing all Coloradans. Original programs like Sounds on 29th, Colorado Soundstage, and our new series The Heart of the West, exist to celebrate and share the joy of local music and art.
Today, a part of the funding that allows PBS12 to do this work is gone. While I have no doubt there will always be a home in Colorado for the “big news stories” (crime, weather, sports), the stories of ordinary people, our stories, hang in the balance. We’re fighting for these stories, and we need your help.
If this mission matters to you, here’s what you can do:
- Renew your support of PBS12: Click here to make a contribution. For as little as $6/month, you can become a member of PBS12 and have access to not only the entire catalog of PBS content, but all the local Colorado stories that matter most to YOU.
- Visit Protect My Public Media: Share your support and thoughts with our congressional leaders by contacting them directly.
- Keep tuning in: Continue to connect, disagree, debate, discover, celebrate, and most of all, think independently.
On behalf of everyone at PBS12, I want to thank you for the support you’ve given us in the past and for the support I know will come from this community. We are humbled to work on your behalf, and we are energized for the future.
Thank you for taking action.
Bobby Springer
President and General Manager