Former PBS Pres. Led Pubcast CEOs in FY 2005 Compensation
Former PBS Pres. Pat Mitchell out-earned every national public broadcasting CEO in FY 2005, making $561,708, IRS data show. Mitchell left in June to head the Museum of TV & Radio.
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Former CPB Pres. Kathleen Cox, eased out in April 2005, was 2nd at $494,603, including severance, followed by Assn. of Public TV Pres. John Lawson at $422,088, including a one- time incentive bonus of $75,000, and PRI Pres. Stephen Salyer at $281,000. In FY 2006, Lawson made $410,847, counting benefits and a $75,000 bonus. NPR’s filing wasn’t available because the network was filing an amendment to correct an error, a spokesman said.
PBS reported a $14.1 million FY 2005 surplus on $508 million revenue, a contrast to FY 2004’s $27 million deficit. The FY 2005 surplus “kind of mirrors the year before’s deficit because the expense of programming is reflected when the program airs, not when the money to produce the program is collected,” said Vp Lea Sloan, noting that expenses normally aren’t recognized the year the revenue is collected.
PBS revenue from station fees rose to $162 million, from $155 million the previous year, due to a 3% dues rise approved by the board. Station dues hadn’t risen the previous 2 years, Sloan said. PBS spent $335.4 million on 3,000 hours of programming to 169 member stations and $30 million for satellite interconnection. PBS net assets rose $17 million to $181 million. Senior executives and their salaries included COO Wayne Godwin ($367,712); CFO Barbara Landes ($281,608); Exec. Vp Judy Harris ($280,505); Senior Vp Lesli Rotenberg ($275,508).
CPB, public broadcasters’ largest single money source, reported a $2.28 million deficit in FY 2005, on $480 million revenue. Federal allocations brought CPB $466.9 million, plus $8.94 million interest on savings and investments. The corporation disbursed $375.8 million in grants to 175 public TV and 395 public radio stations, providing $62.2 million for TV programming and $25 million for radio programming. Net assets declined $2 million to $162 million. Exec. Vp Fred Demarco made $186,626; Vp Finance David Creekmore, $149,203; and Acting Pres. Ken Ferree, $113,269.
For FY 2006, APTS reported a surplus of $202,095 on revenue of $3.22 million. Lobbying arm APTS Action Inc. had a deficit of $232,540 on $1.58 million revenue. APTS executive salaries come from ATPS and APTS Action. COO Mark Erstling received $184,422 and Gen. Counsel Lonna Thompson $166,730.
PRI FY 2005 revenue totaled $24.28 million; spending, $25.13 million, for an $843,961 deficit. Main revenue sources were programming ($9.98 million), direct public support ($6.7 million) and station dues ($5.7 million). It spent $22.7 million on programming. The public radio network’s net assets dropped to $13.08 million from $13.39 million. Executives and their salaries included Senior Vp Eleanor Harris ($175,000); Senior Vp Alisa Miller ($163,000); Senior Vp Melinda Ward ($143,500) and CFO Timothy Engel ($131,750).