Funding Cuts Threaten Local TV

Sacramento’s local PEG channels — Public, Education, and Government access television — are facing serious funding cuts that could impact community programming, student media education, public access shows, local nonprofit coverage, and important Sacramento-area storytelling.In this episode of the Power House Podcast, host Topo Padilla sits down with Aaron Heinrich from the Sacramento Educational Cable Consortium, Joe Barr from Access Sacramento, and Ron Hermann from Sacramento Life TV to discuss what PEG channels do, why they matter, and what Sacramento could lose if funding is cut.These channels help train future filmmakers, journalists, content creators, and media professionals. They provide a platform for community voices that often do not get coverage anywhere else. They also support programming that highlights nonprofits, schools, veterans, public issues, faith communities, local government, and stories that directly impact Sacramento residents.The guests also explain why they are asking for more time, more public input, and a better conversation before major funding decisions are made.What can you do? Visit AccessSacramento.org and use the call-to-action link to email the Sacramento Cable Commission. You can also contact your city council members, county supervisors, and local representatives to ask them to preserve funding for Sacramento’s PEG channels.Local media matters. Community voices matter. Sacramento stories matter.Tackling the topics that impact our community the most.