PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Kristi Noem wants a big budget cut for South Dakota Public Broadcasting in 2026. That could hurt its nine television stations and 11 radio stations, and the South Dakotans they serve.
Noem is proposing just under $2 million for South Dakota Public Broadcasting, or SDPB, in 2026. That’s a cut of about 65% – or more than $3.5 million below its 2025 budget.
Plus, according to SDPB Executive Director Julie Overgaard, less state funding would threaten another $1 million in grants.
In addition to news, Overgaard said SDPB covers high school sports, streams live legislative sessions and provides public interest programming on topics like children’s issues and tourism.
Local news sources have been shutting down or being bought out for years. More than 3,200 U.S. newspapers have gone out of print since 2005, according to a report from the Local News Initiative.
Overgaard said the state’s last locally-owned commercial TV station was sold to an out-of-state buyer this summer.
According to the report, six South Dakota counties are without a local news source and 33 counties have only one.
Overgaard said after state funding and grants, SDPB’s third major source of funding is private donations and gifts – including from viewers and listeners.
She said she’s worried that source will also slow down if SDPB can’t keep covering local events and news.
The budget cuts are likely to “disproportionately affect rural services, where SDPB’s programming is most valued,” according to a statement from the organization.
