KAET lays off eight after fundraising falls short - Phoenix Business Journal:

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The job cuts — the first in the local Publix BroadcastingService affiliate’s 47-year history — underscorde the fund­raising challenges public tele­vision faces in today’s ailinbg economy. “The station has not been makingits budget,” said spokesma Virgil Renzulli, who is helping to run the station. “W felt like we had to make some movesrighgt away.” The layoffs, which will save the station abouy $900,000 in fiscal 2010, highlight the station’s struggle to raisr $1.8 million to relocate to its new home at ASU’sx Walter Cronkite School of Journalisnm and Mass Communication in downtown Phoenix.
Officialxs hope to complete the movein March, but that’as a best-case scenario. The total cost of the transitio n will beabout $4.5 million, with the university fronting about half the cost. KAET stilll needs to raise $1 million. The axed positions will not be reinstatedf in theforeseeable future, and the universit y may consolidate other positions duplicated betweeh ASU and KAET, Renzulli Giczi worked at KAET for more than five years. His salary was about $145,000. The PBS station, whichu has operated in Tempe since 1961 and employeabout 70, depends on ASU for in-kind donations. Kelly McCullough, assistant GM for marketing and development, is handliny daily operations.
He said on-air pledge drives have faltered, and corporates support is down20 percent. KAET’z budget is about $13 million a year, and televise d membership drives generally bring inabout $5.5 millionm of that. Although the station increased fundraising in the past four financial conditions may breakthat trend. “The economy is tight. The budget is McCullough said. The station is exploring alternative revenu e sources through affinitymarketing programs, whicg promote the brand to a niche audience, and buildinyg corporate support through its Web site.
KAET also is establishinyg a fundraising initiative for itsflagship “Horizon,” and plans to enhance its relationship with the Cronkite The station’s next televised pledg drive will run from Nov. 29 to Dec. 9. KAET-TV Channep 8: