KWSU TV Braces for Shutdown; iHeart syndicates BIN; Recalling the failure of BNC;

“Why is KWSU-TV Pullman Channel 10 going off the air?

KWSU-TV Channel 10 in Pullman will end operations by the end of 2025 as part of Northwest Public Broadcasting’s plan to reduce annual operating costs. This decision follows the federal government’s rescission of funding for public broadcasting, which removed approximately $2 million in annual grants and services to NWPB.

After careful evaluation, Washington State University (NWPB’s broadcast license holder) and NWPB leadership determined that discontinuing the television service in Pullman is an effective way to align the station’s budget.” –NWPB

NWPB announced this week, that KWSU-TV will cease broadcasting at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2025, marking the end of its 63-year run. This decision is part of a broader budget realignment to address a nearly $2 million shortfall in federal funding (primarily from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting). The shutdown alone is projected to save $1.8 million annually in operating costs, with additional unspecified reductions (including staff impacts) to follow by year’s end.

The station was a “secondary” PBS provider, meaning it had smaller viewership and less access to prime national programming compared to larger affiliates like KSPS-TV in Spokane. Its closure stems from years of declining federal support for public media, exacerbated by recent congressional budget constraints.

Most in the region won’t lose PBS access, as coverage overlaps with KSPS-TV (Spokane) and Idaho Public Television. Rural Palouse viewers may see reduced local options, but they can stream via KTNW-TV online or other PBS apps. KWSU donors retain PBS Passport benefits through KTNW. NWPB is also discontinuing its Create channel (a how-to/lifestyle multicast) on the same date, but PBS Kids and World channels will continue.

This follows a wave of public media job losses, including 17 at Cascade PBS in Seattle earlier this month and over 400 nationwide this year.

NWPB will focus resources on its stronger assets: radio (reaching 3.6 million listeners across 44 Washington counties) and digital platforms. The fate of KWSU’s FCC license is under review, with potential transfer or sale options.

In July 2025, Congress approved a rescissions package that eliminated $1.1 billion in federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the entity that supports PBS, NPR, and over 1,500 local public radio and TV stations. This marked the first time in nearly 60 years that federal support for public broadcasting was fully cut, following an executive order from President Trump accusing the outlets of partisan bias and “woke propaganda.” The CPB announced it would wind down operations by September 30, 2025, leading to immediate layoffs and threats of station closures, particularly in rural, tribal, and underserved areas where federal grants often comprise 25-50% of budgets.

iHeart attempts syndication of BIN

The Black Information Network (BIN) is iHeartMedia’s pioneering 24/7 all-news audio service, launched on June 30, 2020, as the first national network dedicated to providing objective, culturally relevant news coverage with a Black voice and perspective. It was created in response to the Black Lives Matter movement and a recognized gap in media representation, drawing on iHeart’s extensive infrastructure—including over 1,000 reporters nationwide—for local traffic, weather, headlines, and features tailored to African American communities.

Initially available on 15 iHeart-owned AM/FM and HD Radio stations in major markets (e.g., Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York), plus the iHeartRadio app, BIN quickly expanded to 34 markets by 2022, adding local news anchors, reporters, and podcasts. Founding partners like McDonald’s, Bank of America, and Verizon provided financial backing, helping it reach 93% of Black Americans via iHeart’s broadcast and digital assets.

This month, iHeartMedia announced the syndication of BIN through its Premiere Networks division, opening the format to non-iHeart stations for the first time. This initiative, launching November 1, allows broadcasters outside iHeart’s portfolio to affiliate on a market-exclusive basis.
Options include:
Short hourly newscasts for integration into existing programming.
Select dayparts (e.g., morning or evening blocks).
Full 24/7 turnkey format for standalone operation.

Is there a future for BIN?

The Black News Channel (BNC) was a pioneering 24-hour cable news network aimed at providing “culturally relevant coverage for Black and brown communities”, filling a perceived gap in mainstream media. Co-founded by former Republican Congressman J.C. Watts (who had envisioned a Black-focused news outlet since the mid-2000s) and TV executive Bob Brillante, it was headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida. Despite high ambitions and significant initial investment, BNC struggled with low viewership, financial pressures, and operational challenges in a shifting media landscape dominated by streaming and social platforms. It operated for just over two years before ceasing live programming and filing for bankruptcy.

The project evolved from Watts’ long-term goal, with multiple failed fundraising attempts before billionaire Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan invested $50 million in 2019, becoming the majority stakeholder. This enabled the network’s debut, positioning BNC as the first Black-owned, 24/7 national news channel.

Originally slated for November 15, 2019, then January 6, 2020, the launch was postponed again due to carriage negotiations and production hurdles. BNC finally went on air on February 10, 2020—mere weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted media consumption. It started with distribution in about 33 million households via providers like DirecTV, Comcast, Spectrum, Dish Network, and Verizon Fios, eventually expanding to 50 million.

The network gained acclaim for gavel-to-gavel reporting on high-profile trials, including Derek Chauvin’s 2021 conviction for George Floyd’s murder and the 2022 trial of the men convicted in Ahmaud Arbery’s killing—often outpacing mainstream outlets.

In March 2021, BNC partnered with CBS Media Ventures for ad sales. That month, it revamped primetime with more progressive commentators, contrasting Watts’ conservative leanings, to broaden appeal.

Beyond cable, BNC streamed on its app and reached over 250 million touchpoints via partnerships, though linear TV remained its core.

Despite Khan’s backing, revenues couldn’t cover costs. Average viewership hovered below 10,000 (per Nielsen), far short of projections, as audiences shifted to YouTube, Instagram, and streaming amid the pandemic.
Three rounds of layoffs hit in late 2020, December 2021, and early 2022, reducing staff from ~230 (mostly people of color who left established outlets like CNN). Employees reported budget uncertainties and delayed paychecks (e.g., March 24, 2022).

In January 2022, 13 female employees filed a class-action lawsuit alleging pay discrimination (women paid less than male peers) and sexist comments (e.g., being called “insufficiently feminine”).

On March 25, 2022—just after celebrating record viewership from Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Ketanji Brown Jackson— CEO Princell Hair announced immediate cessation of live production. Khan declined further funding, citing unsustainable market conditions. BNC aired taped content through month’s end, then filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy (debts estimated $10M–$50M). The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) offered support to affected workers.