Baylor University To Cease Funding KWBU-FM

Baylor University will stop funding its Brazos Valley Public Broadcasting Foundation’s Public News/Talk 103.3 KWBU-FM Waco TX.

In a statement the University said, “KWBU is a community public radio station serving the Greater Waco area. Like other KWBU supporters, Baylor University does not direct KWBU’s programming, content or news coverage. As Baylor aims to be good stewards of students’ tuition dollars, we are reducing the direct financial subsidy and underwriting the University provides to the station as part of a campuswide strategic budget reallocation process. We are hopeful the community will step up and support KWBU at the level Baylor has for many years.”

KWBU says that Baylor’s funding reallocation will lead to a funding shortfall of over $200,000, which accounts for 20% of the station’s operational budget. The station says in a statement that Baylor will continue to provide office space, IT and accounting services to the station. KWBU currently has 700 contributing listeners out of 15,000 active listeners and is seeking to add 1500 new members as it “remains committed to providing trusted news and cultural programming with NO paywall, ensuring broad access for all.”