Valued. Trusted. Essential.

MONTANAPBS 2015 ANNUAL REPORTPBShttp://pressroom.pbs.org/ user: ashcraft password: n@gorney

Montana Programshttp://montanapbs.org/Montana/Library/

APThttp://www.aptonline.org/ ID: MONT password: rudymaxa

BBChttp://www.bbcprograms.com/

NETAhttp://www.netaonline.org/

Members and Friends of MontanaPBS,

MontanaPBS is a statewide public service of the Montana University System through a unique partnership between Montana State University and the University of Montana. MontanaPBS provides Montana with quality educational media and services, with staff on both campuses, partners with outstanding academic programs in film and journalism, and support from more than 11,000 members of the Friends of MontanaPBS. For over three decades, Montanans have turned to MontanaPBS for trusted educational programming, insight into our state’s rich history, culture, civic life and dynamic arts community. This report highlights many of the programs, services and events that made 2015 one of the most successful in our history.

PBS national programming included big events like “Earth a New Wild,” “American Experience: Walt Disney” and a beautiful celebration of the 25th anniversary of Ken Burns’ landmark “Civil War.” PBS also continued its long tradition of impactful, hard hitting documentaries with offerings like “Cancer: The Emperor of all Maladies” and “Frontline: My Brother’s Bomber.” It was a great year for drama series with the fantastic fifth season of “Downton Abbey,” “Wolf Hall” and “Poldark.”

Closer to home, MontanaPBS productions crossed the state covering important events like the Governor’s State of the State Address. We connected and informed Montana’s agricultural community, as we have for 20 years, with “Montana Ag Live.” We learned together about the promising research being conducted right in Montana for diagnosing and assessing the harmful effects of concussions. We were inspired through “Finding Traction” by one runner’s quest to tackle a grueling distance race and break down the gender barriers faced by female athletes. We also traveled to some of the smallest towns in Montana with Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, and learned what this Montana icon means to its fans, and the actors who see Montana through their performances.

If you’re one of Montana’s educators, hopefully you’ve checked in on MontanaPBS Learning Media recently. These rich classroom resources have grown significantly in 2015 with new materials on concussions, the Montana constitution, Shakespeare, psychology and more. A growing number of Montana teachers are taking advantage of these media resources, and incorporating them into engaging lessons for their students. Two Montana teachers were celebrated as “Digital Innovators” in recognition of their leadership and inventive approach to 21st century learning. The PBS Newshour’s

“Student Reporting Labs” continued in Montana this year, with students from Bozeman participating. We also highlighted and celebrated Montana’s success in increasing high school graduation rates through two “American Graduate: Stories of Champions” on Park and Hardin High Schools.

Finally, thanks to a donation from Gray Television, made possible by the Montana Television Network, MontanaPBS acquired the sixth full-power station in our network, serving Helena and the surrounding communities. Thanks to this new service, thousands more Montana households now have free, over-the-air access to the MontanaPBS family of channels including MontanaPBS Kids, Create, World and the Legislative channel.

Whether it’s a donation of an actual TV station (which doesn’t happen often) or your monthly sustaining membership contribution, the rich offerings MontanaPBS provides are made possible by support from individuals, businesses and foundations committed to our mission. Thank you for all you have done this past year to enrich the lives of Montanans. Together, we make a daily difference for Montana families, and contribute to the growth and prosperity of our great state.

Eric HyyppaGeneral Manager, KUSM-TV

Linda TalbottInterim General Manager KUFM-TV and the Broadcast Media Center

Management Letter

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Financials

OPERATING REVENUESSales and services .................................................................................. $47,429Contract production ...............................................................................145,954 Broadband lease ........................................................................................52,706State support – transponder lease ..................................................... 150,000 TOTAL OPERATING REVENUES ................................................. $396,089

OPERATING EXPENSESBroadcasting ........................................................................................ $1,919,053Programming and production ...........................................................2,081,675Program information and promotion ................................................. 178,386Management and general ....................................................................834,636Fundraising and membership development ..................................... 435,672Solicitation and underwriting ................................................................. 35,148

TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES ............................................. $5,484,570

OPERATING POSITION ........................................................(5,088,481)

NONOPERATING REVENUESGrants from CPB ................................................................................. 1,016,684Grants from state agencies .....................................................................51,292Grants from public broadcasting entities ............................................11,000State and local grants and contracts ...................................................113,440Nongovernmental grants and contracts ............................................... 2,900 Support from the Montana University System

Appropriations for operations ...................................................... 1,264,634Donated and indirect ........................................................................890,609

Contributions from Friends used for operations............................1,227,452In-kind underwriting contributions ......................................................58,198PBS Royalties ............................................................................................... 5,152Production underwriting ...................................................................... 144,009Program underwriting .............................................................................. 82,591Other contributions..................................................................................123,437Other revenue ..........................................................................................36,838

TOTAL NONOPERATING REVENUES ....................................$5,028,236

OTHER REVENUES, EXPENSES, GAINS AND LOSSESInterest expense .......................................................................................... (591)Investment income, net ..............................................................................2,219TOTAL OTHER REVENUES, EXPENSES, GAINS & LOSSES .........$1,628

CHANGE IN NET POSITIONS.................................. (58,617) NET POSITION Beginning of Year............................$2,725,134NET POSITION Beginning Net Position Restatement* . (839,857)NET POSITION End of Year .......................................$1,826,660

*GASB No. 68 – Accounting and Financial Reporting for Pensions.

An electronic copy of full financial data is available online at montanapbs.org/AnnualReports

FY 2015 Revenue by Source

FY 2015 Expense by Function

Total: $5.4M

Total: $5.5M

MontanaPBS Statement of ActivitiesFiscal Year (FY) 2015

Federal: $1M

Local: $2.1M

University: $2.3M

Programming & Production: $2.3M

Management: $0.8M

Development: $0.5M

Broadcasting: $1.9M

montanapbs.org

Learnin Montana’s Largest Classroom

Courtesy of “Ready Jet Go!” © 2015 Wind Dancer Films

Courtesy of “Wild Kratts” © 2015 Kratt Bros. Co./9 Story Media Group.

Courtesy of “Nature Cat” © 2015 Spiffy Entertainment, LLC.

74% of parents say their children behave better

after watching PBS.

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MontanaPBS LearningMediaMontanaPBS continues to expand our partnerships and collaborations which in turn increases the amount of resources available through MontanaPBS LearningMedia. Some of the new resources to explore:

Concussions: Answers in the Blood? A documentary from MontanaPBS is centered about concussion research being conducted at UM and includes personal stories of students who were facing the repercussions of this type of head injury. From this documentary, we produced four resources for LearningMedia — the main research piece, a story about a college soccer player, the story of a high school football player, and a piece that helps teachers and parents learn about the emotional behavior that might accompany a concussion.

For This and Future Generations We went into our archives to develop resources about the development of the 1972 Montana Constitution. Many resources were designed so Montana teachers and students can learn about the times, the people and the issues which were integral to the Montana Constitution.

Merchant of Venice Montana Shakespeare in the Parks has an education outreach to high schools centered on a shortened version of a Shakespeare play. In their more than 50 performances they offer up to four workshops for students which extend the learning about Shakespeare. This year’s “Merchant of Venice” resulted in four new LearningMedia resources, which address stage combat, differing types of values, the language of Shakespeare and identity.

Introducing Positive Psychology In the past 10 years or so, we have had consistent interest in our “Introducing Positive Psychology” documentary, so we translated much of this into almost a dozen LearningMedia resources for teachers to use in their classrooms.

Other MontanaPBS Educational ProjectsPBS NewsHour has a student program called “Student Reporting Labs,” which partners with high school media programs to produce news pieces that might be aired nationally. We added Bozeman High to this effort this year with Lila Michael attending the teacher workshop in Washington D.C. this summer so she could better help her students. That class is busy learning about production and editing while addressing issues of interest to their local community.

We continue to support STEM learning with our “SciGirls” resources. The Exploring Your Horizon conference for girls from all over Montana gave us a chance to teach about wearable technology, building mechanical arms, the chemistry of beauty products and investigating crime scenes.

In collaboration with the PBS American Graduate project, we were able to develop three “Stories of Champions” pieces that highlighted the great work going on at Park and Hardin High Schools and a program from THRIVE called Parent Liaisons. The Park High piece even received national distribution during American Graduate Day.

An ongoing relationship with the Billings Library, the Yellowstone Western Heritage Center and students from Billings West High School results in an annual student-developed museum exhibit at the Heritage Center. In our second year, the students collected oral histories from immigrants in Billings. These stories then resulted in an exhibit that told the story of contemporary immigration in the United States...from Europe, Central and South America.

Leaving the best for last, this year MontanaPBS was represented by Jessi Anderson of Anaconda as a lead “PBS Digital Innovator,” and Michele Holmes of Seeley Lake and Neil Murray of Chief Charlo in Missoula as “PBS Digital Innovators.” Chosen from hundreds of applicants, only 100 are chosen annually. We were so lucky to be represented by these three terrific teachers who contribute and spread the word about MontanaPBS LearningMedia.

77% of kids ages 2–8 watch PBS.

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ExploreExplore Your World

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Frontline: My Brother’s Bomber As PBS’ premier public affairs series, “Frontline’s” stature is reaffirmed each week through incisive documentaries covering the scope and complexity of the human, social and political experience. In this miniseries “My Brother’s Bomber,” we follow a brother’s gripping search for the terrorists who blew up Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Filmmaker Ken Dornstein sets off to war-torn Libya in search of the men who killed 189 Americans, including his brother, in 1988.

A file photo from December 22, 1988, shows rescue personnel carrying a body away from the Pan Am Flight 103 wreckage in Lockerbie, Scotland. Courtesy of Reuters.

Cancer: The Emperor of all Maladies This three-part film tells the comprehensive story of cancer, from its first description in an ancient Egyptian scroll to the gleaming laboratories of modern research institutions. The six-hour film interweaves a sweeping historical narrative with intimate stories about contemporary patients, and an investigation into the latest scientific breakthroughs that may have brought us, at long last, within sight of lasting cures.

A scientist labels each protein in the radio nucleotide sequence of human genes to create a unique DNA profile. Courtesy of © Dan McCoy-Rainbow/Science Faction/Corbis.

Big Burn: American Experience In the summer of 1910, an unimaginable wildfire devoured more than three million acres across the Northern Rockies, confronting the fledgling U.S. Forest Service with a catastrophe that would define the agency and the nation’s fire policy for the rest of the 20th century and beyond. The “Big Burn” provides a cautionary tale of heroism and sacrifice, arrogance and greed, hubris and, ultimately, humility in the face of nature’s frightening power. Inspired by the best-selling book by Timothy Egan.

Yale School of Forestry class of 1905. Courtesy of Manuscripts & Archives, Yale University Library.

For 12 consecutive years, the American public has named PBS the country’s most trusted public institution and an excellent use of tax dollars, outranked only by military defense.

Each week, MontanaPBS is watched by more than 200,000 Montanans.

(Source MontanaPBS)

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Earth A New WildThis five-part series takes a fresh look at humankind’s relationship to the planet’s wildest places and most fascinating species. Dr. M. Sanjayan, a leading conservation scientist, takes viewers on a stunning visual journey to explore how humans are inextricably woven into every aspect of the planet’s natural systems. The series features spectacular natural history footage from the most striking places on Earth, filming encounters between wild animals and the people who live and work with them. With up-close looks at a range of species, from giant pandas to humpback whales and African lions to Arctic reindeer, Sanjayan reveals that co-habitations with animals can work — and be mutually beneficial.

The panda’s celebrity status rubs off on the forest. People are more likely to protect a “panda forest” and that has a knock on effect for the less charismatic animals that DO provide vital services. It also affects us. Without the forest millions of people downstream would be prone to devastating flooding. Saving the panda is effectively saving us. Courtesy of Ami Vitale.

The Civil War 25th Anniversary“The Civil War,” the award-winning film produced and directed by Ken Burns, rebroadcast over five consecutive nights in September 2015. The broadcast, which coincided with the 25th anniversary of the series’ initial broadcast in September 1990, presented for the first time a newly restored high-definition version. This is also the first time the film will be seen with the same fidelity and framing as the negative that Burns and his co-cinematographers Allen Moore and Buddy Squires shot more than 25 years ago.

Civil War cannon. Courtesy of Florentine Films.

Walt Disney: American Experience Walt Disney was uniquely adept at art as well as commerce, a master filmmaker who harnessed the power of technology and storytelling. This new two-part, four-hour film examines Disney’s complex life and enduring legacy, featuring rare archival footage from the Disney vaults, scenes from some of his greatest films, and interviews with biographers, animators and artists who worked on early films, including “Snow White,” and the designers who helped turn his dream of Disneyland into reality.

The arrival of Mickey Mouse soon sparked a merchandise craze of grand proportions. Walt Disney lounges amongst a bountiful selection of commodities, circa 1931. Courtesy of © Disney.

The Brain with David EaglemanNeuroscientist David Eagleman explores the human brain in an epic series that reveals the ultimate story of us, why we feel and think the things we do. This ambitious project blends science with innovative visual effects and compelling personal stories, and addresses some big questions. By understanding the human brain, we can come close to understanding humanity.

David Eagleman at the Blue Brain project in Lausanne, Switzerland. Courtesy of Blink Films.

Over the course of one year, 86% of all U.S. television households watch PBS.

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ExploreExplore Your World

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DiscoverMontana’s Own Stories

MontanaPBS reaches nearly every

Montana household.

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Backroads of Montana The “Backroads” crew produced their 40th and 41st episodes of this viewer favorite series. Since 1991 the team has traveled across Montana visiting its unique people and places.

Making Connections In this episode, meet Iris Dodge who was inspired to record the vanishing cowboy life in paint and poems. Spend a fun day in Butte at the annual Lineman’s Rodeo where professionals and amateurs show off their skills. In Jefferson City, explore the flowers, plants and trees at Tizer Gardens and Arboretum and then visit Kalispell to meet a vibrant 84-year-old woman who still teaches dance classes. William Marcus hosts the program from the annual Creston Fire Department Auction and Country Fair in northwest Montana.

Andy Devoto stands next to his image in Iris Dodge’s painting. Photo by Gus Chambers.

Marking PassagesWe watch the closing of dinosaur-digging season near Bynum, listen to a centenarian bugler pay his respects, follow a Polson man in his quest to raise the state’s largest pumpkin and recount one man’s efforts to preserve a special rock quarry near Geraldine. William Marcus hosts the program from the 30th annual Hunter’s Feed in Ennis.

Henry Armstrong enjoys the scenic wonder of the old rock quarry near Square Butte. Photo by Gus Chambers.

Finding Traction “Finding Traction” presents the inspirational story of ultra-runner Nikki Kimball and her quest to become the fastest person in history to run America’s oldest hiking trail, the 273-mile Long Trail. The documentary asks what drives her to attempt such an incredible feat, and follows Nikki’s journey from its beginning — training and racing in the Rocky Mountains — to her actual record attempt through Vermont’s beautiful but brutal Green Mountains. Throughout the film, Nikki’s crew and support team provide an intimate portrayal of the courage, grit and passion behind her record attempt, and interviews with the world’s leading evolutionary biologists, including Bernd Heinrich, author of “Why We Run,” shed light on the science and psychology behind Nikki’s incredible race against time. For Nikki, this well-publicized run is more than a chance to inspire people to be active and spend time outdoors, it’s her way of encouraging women and girls to take an equal place for themselves in professional sports. In addition to providing an inside look into the journey of an elite athlete, “Finding Traction” gives viewers a new perspective on the endurance of the human body and spirit, and informs us all, regardless of our sex, of our true potential and inspires us to reach it.

Finding Traction will reveal the determination of the human body and spirit. Photo by Audrey Hall.

For our low income households, MontanaPBS may be the only source of

quality early childhood resources.

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Concussion: Answers in the Blood? It can happen to anyone at any age.

The Center for Disease Control estimates nearly 4 million people suffer a concussion each year in the United States. Potentially ground-breaking research is taking place in Montana. A team of scientists is attempting to find critical information in human blood. How will their work impact the current system of dealing with concussions? In the sports world, concussion awareness is on the rise and current protocols are much better than even a decade ago. But this system still relies heavily on symptoms and self-reporting. The scientists hope to develop a diagnostic tool to help provide more definitive information for the diagnosis and treatment of concussions. This program provides an inside look at the science while at the same time following athletes and trainers as they navigate the current protocol.

Neuroimaging of the human brain. Courtesy of UM Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Bard in the Backcountry“Bard in the Backcountry” chronicles a summer with Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, a professional theater company based in Bozeman, Montana. Viewers get a behind-the-scenes look at the 10 actors on tour as they cover more than 65 hundred miles to perform Shakespeare in the rural towns of this vast region. Along the way they encounter an array of characters, many of whom have been watching Shakespeare every summer for more than 40 years. We learn about the teamwork required to deliver a performance every evening in a new town and how the actors are also their own drivers, roadies, make-up artists and set builders. “Bard in the Backcountry” reveals the mutual impact the tour has on the lives of these young actors and the people who put in the effort to bring Shakespeare to town. This journey provides a glimpse of the relevance that classic Shakespearean theater still holds in the lives of everyday people across the region.

A curtain call in Lewistown, Mont.

MontanaPBS Coverage: State of the State AddressMontanaPBS provided live coverage and analysis of Governor Steve Bullock’s State of the State Address on January 28, 2015. This speech, delivered before the joint chambers of the Montana Legislature, came midway through the Governor’s first term. The live coverage included a response from the Montana Republican Party and analysis.

Montana Ag LiveA regular call-in information program, in its 20th year of production, deals with agricultural and gardening issues in Montana. Presented by MontanaPBS in association with Montana State University Extension, this program invites experts onto the panel to discuss everything from pesticide use and large-scale agricultural techniques to backyard gardening questions and even which mushroom to pick in the woods. Sixteen one-hour episodes were produced this year, dealing with topics from the Pesticide Risks, Climate Change, Precision Farming, Crop Diversity and more…

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DiscoverMontana’s Own Stories

PBS is #1 in public trust

compared to any other television

news source.

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11th & Grant with Eric FunkThe Emmy award-winning “11th & Grant” series kicked off its 11th season in November 2015, offering Montana viewers a surprising range of musical genres and talent that are thriving in our rural communities. This year our viewers were treated to the world-renowned violinist Angella Ahn and Friends, performing everything from classical to rock-n-roll. Also this season, one of Montana’s most iconic bands, The New Big Sky Singers featuring legendary singers and musicians Rob Quist, Don Collins, Don MacDonald, Gary Funk and Pete Hand. The Chinook Winds, comprised of the principle players of the Great Falls Orchestra, perform chamber music. Classical guitarist Steve Eckles of Kalispell shares a few other genres in his otherwise classical performance while Bozeman based classical cellist Julia Cory offers up a variety of favorites with some of her musician friends.

“11th & Grant” is now the premiere broadcast outlet for music performance in the state, reinforced by the long waiting list to appear on the program. More than just a performance program, this series also devotes significant time to each artist’s personal story, insights into their music and their approach to life, ultimately providing the viewer a more personal and educational experience than a seat at a concert.

The series exceptional production quality from lighting, cinematography, sound recording and overall polish is repeatedly recognized to be of national public television caliber, and often generates the comment “is this show really produced in Montana?” Musicians invited to appear on “11th & Grant,” benefit immensely from the exposure. It is the mission of “11th & Grant” to bring great local artists to the attention of Montanans, and musicians do not pay to appear on the series but are selected by our Artistic Director.“11th & Grant” reaches out to communities across the state, searching for exceptional talent and personal stories that regularly surprise us all. All past episodes of “11th & Grant” are available for online viewing at www.watch.montanapbs.org.

Angella Ahn & Jeni Fleming Group. Photo by Aaron Pruitt.

Shakespeare UncoveredBehind every Shakespeare play there is a story. “Shakespeare Uncovered” reveals not just the elements in the play, but the history of the play itself. What sparked the creation of each of these works? Where did Shakespeare get his plots, and what new forms of theater did he forge? What cultural, political and religious factors influenced his writing? How have the plays been staged and interpreted from Shakespeare’s time to now? Why at different times has each play been so popular — or ignored? And finally, why has this body of work endured so thoroughly? What, in the end, makes Shakespeare so great?

David Harewood at Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London. Photo by Andrea Southam .

Inspirewith Arts and Culture

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Great Performances: Billy Elliot: The Musical Live “Billy Elliot: The Musical Live,” the long-running hit both on Broadway and in London’s West End (where it is still playing) comes to “Great Performances.”

Recorded at the show’s West End home at the Victoria Palace Theatre, the show has been dazzling audiences in London since it opened in 2005, and has gone on to captivate audiences across five continents, winning more than 80 theater awards globally including 10 Tony Awards®.

The cast is led by West End and Broadway star Ruthie Henshall in the role of Billy’s dance teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson, Deka Walmsley who plays Billy’s dad Jackie, Ann Emery in the role of Grandma and Chris Grahamson in the role of Billy’s elder brother Tony. Elliott Hanna (11) plays the role of Billy Elliot, Zach Atkinson (13) the role of Michael and Demi Lee (11) the role of Debbie.

“Billy Elliot: The Musical Live,” features Liam Mower, who returns to the show in the role of Older Billy for the broadcast. Mower was the first boy ever to play the role of Billy Elliot on stage in 2005. In addition, 25 current and former Billy Elliots unite on stage in a specially choreographed mash-up finale.

Set in a mining town in the north of England against the background of the 1984–85 miners’ strike, “Billy Elliot” is the inspirational story of a young boy’s struggle against the odds to make his dream come true. Billy stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole community and changes his life forever.

Elliott Hanna. Photo by Adam Sorenson.

Masterpiece Classic Downton Abbey — Season 5New loves, new secrets, new Downton Abbey.

Season Five of the international hit found the Crawley family and the staff struggling with responsibilities and choices as they adjust to life in the Roaring Twenties. The beloved ensemble cast includes Dame Maggie Smith, Elizabeth McGovern, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, Joanne Froggatt and others. Written and created by Julian Fellowes.

This acclaimed ensemble is joined by guest stars Harriet Walter (“Atonement”), reprising her role as Lady Shackleton, and Peter Egan (“Death at a Funeral”), who returns as Lord Flintshire, together with completely new characters played by Richard E. Grant (“Girls”), Anna Chancellor (“The Hour”) and Rade Sherbedgia (“24”).

Tom Cullen as Lord Gillingham and Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary. Courtesy of ©Nick Briggs/ Carnival Films 2014 for Masterpiece.

Wolf Hall on MasterpieceInternationally acclaimed actor Mark Rylance and Emmy-winner Damian Lewis (“Homeland”) star as Thomas Cromwell and King Henry VIII in this adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Booker Prize-winning novels, which chart the meteoric rise of Cromwell in the Tudor court — from blacksmith’s son to Henry VIII’s closest advisor.

Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell. Courtesy of Ed Miller/Playground & Company Pictures for Masterpiece/BBC

Poldark on MasterpieceCaptain Ross Poldark rides again in a swashbuckling new adaptation of the hit 1970s series. Aidan Turner stars as a redcoat who returns to Cornwall after the American Revolution; Eleanor Tomlinson plays the miner’s daughter taken in by the captain.

Eleanor Tomlinson as Demelza and Aidan Turner as Ross Poldark. Courtesy of Robert Viglasky/Mammoth Screen for Masterpiece.

PBS is the 5th most-watched network among all of broadcast and cable.

In 2013–14, more than 110 million people watched PBS arts and cultural programming.

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Contribute You make a difference…in so many ways

There are many ways viewers demonstrate their commitment to public television in Montana.

Sustaining membersAt the end of 2015 we are proud to announce that out of our nearly 12,000 members, we have just over 1,900 sustaining members contributing on average $22,000 per month in support of MontanaPBS. This dependable monthly income provides stability to the station and allows improved planning and budgeting throughout the year. Thank you!

You too can feel the satisfaction of knowing that for as little as $5 a month — less than the cost of a movie ticket — you are ensuring that award-winning, high-quality programming remains accessible to viewers in Montana for generations to come.

Benefits of becoming a Sustainer:• Quick, easy and secure• Automatic monthly payments deducted from your bank account or credit card• Provides reliable funding for the programs you enjoy• Membership always remains current• Saves paper and postage• Receive the monthly program guide without interruption• Access to MontanaPBS Passport on-demand program viewing

Leave your legacy to Montana’s largest classroomEach of us wants to know that our lives have made a difference. Through our actions and deeds, we seek to leave our mark on our community and demonstrate to friends and family what we stand for.

A very significant way to do that is to include MontanaPBS in your estate plans. Your planned gift donation will help to assure that the kinds of programs that have meaning to you today will be available to others long into the future.

For this reason, your planned gift represents a remarkable legacy that you leave to your children, grandchildren, friends and community. Your gift can help to ensure that, no matter what happens to other media, a beacon of quality will continue to shine over the state of Montana, encouraging lifelong learning and fostering the vitality and spirit of our region.

Your planned gift donation enables us to fulfill our mission: sharing diverse stories, connecting our citizens, discovering common ground and celebrating the independent spirit and beauty of Montana.

Generally, planned gifts to MontanaPBS are invested in a manner that provides long-term stability to the station in order to improve our existing facilities and continue our excellence in providing statewide public television programming.

You may want to consider:• A bequest• A gift through your Will or Living Trust• Gifts with retained income for you

or others

• Gifts of retirement plan assets • Gifts of real estate property• Gifts of life insurance

MontanaPBS is proud to have a strong partnership with the planned giving specialists at the Montana State University Alumni Foundation. You can visit their website at http://montanastate.giftlegacy.com, which provides outstanding information that will assist you in learning about the many options available to MontanaPBS supporters.

By carefully planning your decisions, your individual taxes may be less, and your generosity will help MontanaPBS — a statewide resource serving Montana families and individuals every day of the year.

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Increase the impact of your donationDid you know that with a matching gift you can sometimes double or even triple the power of your gift? Your company may match your gift to MontanaPBS and increase the total amount of your contribution.

Here’s how it works:Check with your Human Resources office to see if they offer a matching gift program. If they do, they will match your gift to a certain level. All you need to do is pick up your company’s required form and send it to us. We’ll take care of the rest.

Below is a limited list of organizations which participate in matching gift programs. If you are a current or retired employee of one of these companies, they may match your contribution.

IBMNorthwestern EnergyChevronDavidson CompaniesConoco PhillipsDOW Chemical Co.Exxon Mobile FoundationING FoundationFirst Interstate Bank

Boeing CompanyGeneral MillsOracle3M FoundationZoot EnterprisesUPS FoundationGeneral ElectricHome Depot FoundationPlum Creek

BNSF FoundationUS Bank CorpAT&T FoundationMacy’sGlaxoSmithKline

Foundation Mitchell’s Oil Field Service DA Davidson and Company

If your company is not listed, ask your personnel department if they have a matching gift program. Many do. Maybe yours does too. Your generosity will go that much further in support of public television and MontanaPBS. Thank you.

Send your companies matching gift form to:Friends of MontanaPBSPO Box 10715Bozeman, MT 59719-0715

Donate a vehicle, motorcycle, RV or farm machineryYou make the donation, we receive the proceeds of the sale, minus the costs. We gladly accept cars, trucks, motorcycles, RV’s, campers and even some farm machinery. Your donation supports Friends of MontanaPBS — and you may be able to take a tax deduction.

Just call toll-free 1-844-200-5876 or fill out the online form at www.montanapbs.org/support/vehicles and we’ll take care of the rest, including pick-up at no cost to you. Once your vehicle has been sold, you’ll be sent a receipt for your tax records, and the sale proceeds will be donated to MontanaPBS in your name. You will also receive a one-year membership to MontanaPBS.

To donate a vehicle, it must be clear of liens or assignments; you need a clear title — a title with your name as owner.

You may be eligible for a tax deduction equal to the gross proceeds from the sale of the donated vehicle. Contact your tax advisor about the possible tax deduction.

For other ways you can help support your public television service, contact us at 1-866-832-0829 or email membership@montanapbs.org.

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Non-commercial program of the yearFinding Traction Jaime Jelenchick and Aaron Pruitt Runner-Up: Montana Journal “100 and Counting” Denise Dowling, University of Montana School of Journalism

The Montana Broadcasters Association, EB Craney Awards, are awarded in June each year and recognize excellence in Montana produced programming.

Arts/Entertainment - Program/Special11th & Grant with Eric Funk featuring Bad Betty Scott Sterling, Creative Director · Eric Funk, Artistic Director · Paul Gomez Routhier, Producer · Aaron Pruitt, Executive Producer · Jeremiah Slovarp, Audio Director

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Northwest Chapter, 50th Annual Regional Emmy Awards.

Arts/Entertainment – Program/SpecialBackroads of Montana: Not Forgotten John Twiggs, Producer • Ray Ekness Producer • William Marcus, Producer

Arts/Entertainment – Program/Special11th & Grant with Eric Funk featuring Bad BettyScott Sterling, Creative Director, Eric Funk, Artistic Director • Paul Gomez Routhier, Producer • Aaron Pruitt, Executive Producer • Jeremiah Slovarp, Audio Director

Historic/Cultural – Feature/SegmentCooper Travels John Twiggs, Producer/Writer

DocumentaryTopical: Brought to You By ALEC Anna Rau, Producer

DirectorLive or Recorded Live: 11th & Grant with Eric Funk Scott Sterling

Audio11th & Grant with Eric Funk Jeremiah Slovarp

2015 Content Production – Performance11th & Grant with Eric Funk Scott Sterling, Creative Director

The NETA Awards are annual recognition of member-produced excellence in public broadcasting, a tradition established more than 40 years ago by the pioneering Southern Educational Communications Association. NETA is a professional association founded in 1997 to serve public television licensees and affiliated educational organizations. The organization has members in 44 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. NETA is headquartered in Columbia, S.C.

1 EMMY Award

1 EB Craney Award

7 EMMY Nominations

1 NETA Award

Awards & Accolades 2015

MontanaPBS received the EB Craney award for non-commercial program of the year —

”Finding Traction” and an EMMY for Arts/Entertainment – Program/Special —

“11th & Grant with Eric Funk featuring Bad Betty.”

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Quality television has the power to elevate our understanding of the world, encourage respect for one another and influence our lives in a positive way. MontanaPBS shares diverse stories; connects our citizens; discovers common ground; and celebrates the independent spirit and beauty of Montana.

MontanaPBS will provide all Montanans with local, public television that is fully sup-ported by the citizens, businesses, foundations and public representatives of this state.

MontanaPBS will broadcast programs that educate our people; that discuss current is-sues and reveal our history; that satisfy our curiosity, our musical ear, our artistic eye and even our sense of humor; and ultimately present programs that respect our intelligence.

MontanaPBS will connect the residents of this state to each other, to their country and their world through the use of broadcast television, the Internet and community outreach projects. We will be an electronic town square that encourages the sharing of ideas, opinions and information.

MontanaPBS will choose programs based on community impact and will engage in services that echo the independent spirit and neighborly concern that is the hall-mark of our state.

Honesty All that we do must be with integrity and fairness, whether we are choos-ing programs to air; communicating with our viewers, members and citizens; or working with our colleagues and volunteers.

Unity Our programs and outreach services should unite us to each other and to the world around us, all the while respecting our differences and celebrating our uniqueness.

Tolerance By offering a window into the world of people next door as well as worlds away, MontanaPBS encourages tolerance and respect.

Citizenship MontanaPBS seeks to build a strong community of citizens who are able to make educated, informed choices for their state and their world. We encour-age involvement in civic life and respect the values of our democratic society.

Accountability MontanaPBS will always take ownership of the choices made by the staff and volunteers, and will use its mission, vision and values to inform all deci-sions. Donors and viewers have the right to know about the station’s goals, structure and activities.

Independence By serving as a local, independent voice that is beholden to the citizens of Montana and not outside influences, MontanaPBS can focus on mak-ing a difference in our state.

Impact Our programs will be measured by the positive impact they have on our citi-zens and not by the supporting revenue they generate. The feedback of our viewers and members will inform our choices for programming and outreach.

KUSM-TV, MontanaPBSMontana State UniversityVisual Communications Bldg 183P.O. Box 173340Bozeman, MT 59717-3340406.994.3437Fax 406.994.6545

KUFM-TV, MontanaPBSUniversity of MontanaBroadcast Media Center32 Campus DriveMissoula, MT 59812-8064406.243.4101Fax 406.243.3299

Friends of MontanaPBSOur mission is to support MontanaPBS through advocacy, community engagement and fundraising.

BOARD OFFICERSChair Nancy Cornwell, Bozeman; Vice Chair Dax Schieffer, Bozeman; Secretary Michele Robinson, Butte; Treasurer Barbara Berens, Missoula

BOARD MEMBERSBozeman Walter Fleming, Eric Hyyppa, Sally Maison, Richard Young; Great Falls Elaine Schoyen; Kalispell Tony Brockman; Missoula Kate Jackson and Linda Talbott; Whitefish Betsy Cox; UM Missoula Peggy Kuhr; MSU Bozeman Terry Leist

www.montanapbs.org/friends

An electronic copy of this report, as well as full financial data and other information is available online at montanapbs.org/AnnualReports

Mission

Vision

Values