So far, the attack in Congress on funding for the Public Broadcasting System has spared the industry-sponsored "BizKid$" show any cutbacks.
Instead, independent financial backing by credit unions has further protected the public television series.
That was an assessment this week from the show's longtime Seattle producer, Jamie Hammond, who said the 340 participating stations across the U.S. carrying the show "are more excited than ever" about keeping the broadcast on the schedule, said Hammond.
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"PBS programmers like the show's content and see its value in expanding to more school rooms under the National Credit Union Foundation link, something we've waited a long time to happen," said Hammond.
She was referring to the transfer this month of administration and funding for "BizKid$" from the Washington Credit Union League to the NCUF.
Hammond said PBS has a history of financial cutbacks "dating to the George W. Bush administration and the recent threat to stop all federal funding did not pass Congress."
But PBS stations have been dealing with less funding for years and the staff and programming cuts "do not affect the carriage of BizKid$" for a number of reasons, she said, including its ties to American public TV and independent funding.
Even Dallas and Los Angeles, which saw PBS reductions, "have found a place for us," Hammond said.
Under NCUF, Hammond said, she anticipates no changes in the production cycles, and now looks forward for the first time to expansion projects with the National Youth Involvement Board, the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions "and even the IRS, which has adopted us," she said.
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