WASHINGTON, DC – The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) unveiled a new Web site today highlighting the valuable public service contributions made by local television and radio stations in communities across America. Made public at an event on Capitol Hill, the new, interactive resource features state-by-state statistics documenting local broadcasters' unrivaled commitment to community service on both a state and national level.
The new Web site, www.BroadcastPublicService.org, and accompanying 2008 National Report on Broadcasters' Community Service, provides countless examples of how local broadcasters are supporting their communities, and uses NAB-commissioned research to quantify the value of public service contributions generated in each state.
NAB's most recent nationwide census shows that in a single year local radio and television stations across the country generated an estimated $10.3 billion in public service through a combination of airtime donated for public service announcements and money raised for charity and disaster relief. That figure is derived from a 2006 industry census sent to more than 11,000 full-power commercial radio and television stations asking broadcasters to document their public service contributions.
"Local radio and television stations are collectively the number one provider of public service in America," said NAB President and CEO David K. Rehr. "These stations are also the first place Americans turn for up-to-the-minute information in times of crisis. From AMBER Alerts to emergency weather warnings and fundraisers for countless charities, broadcasters nationwide can be proud of the tremendous contributions they make in their communities everyday."
Following the release of the 2008 National Report on Broadcasters' Community Service, leaders from philanthropic organizations nationwide expressed appreciation for airtime donated by broadcasters across the country.
Key nationwide charity beneficiaries of broadcast public service include the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Boy Scouts, Children's Miracle Network, Habitat for Humanity, Humane Society of the United States, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation, March of Dimes, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Rotary International, Special Olympics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Susan G. Komen For the Cure, United Way of America and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.
Separately, a nationwide poll conducted by Wilson Research Strategies last week revealed that 95 percent of Americans turn to local broadcast radio and television first for emergency, weather and other kinds of alerts affecting their community. The data was collected from a nationwide omnibus poll of 800 likely voters over the age of 18. Participants, surveyed by phone between July 22 and July 24, were asked, "Which of the following sources do you use for local emergency, weather and other kinds of alerts about something that might affect your local area?"
Participants were given randomly sequenced response options including, "Local TV stations," "local radio stations," "local newspapers," "friends/neighbors," "community Web sites," "local government Web sites," "other," and "don't know/refused."
About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association that advocates on behalf of more than 8,300 free, local radio and television stations and also broadcast networks before Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Courts. Information about NAB can be found at www.nab.org.