CPB seeks the services of a consultant to evaluate local stations’ current capacities to continue to best serve their local audiences through broadcast technology. This work will involve: surveying stations to determine the state of the current production and broadcast distribution equipment, financial plans to sustain current equipment and invest in future production and broadcast distribution equipment; analyzing collected data and developing a comprehensive report of stations’ equipment and financial capabilities; prioritizing equipment replacement and related station financial needs using factors such as immediacy of the need for replacement (e.g. end of life/failing equipment), station’s ability to finance the replacement, etc.; and identifying resource gaps that may impede future sustainability in an evolving media environment and outlining possible solutions for bridging them.
The results of this work will inform CPB’s decision-making as we work to assist stations, and the system as a whole, keep up with technological changes and develop future operating models.