Wqed Multimedia

What it reported doing in 2024

Television: wqed multimedia operates five linear television channels: wqed-tv (pbs), wqed world, wqed create, wqed showcase, and pbs kids.in fy25, wqed continued creating and distributing original television productions reflecting communities across southwestern Pennsylvania. Despite the loss of federal funding from the corporation for public broadcasting, wqed remained focused on regional storytelling and on providing free public access to educational programming.see schedule o for continuation.wqed's stories highlighted a broad range of local voices and institutions, including community organizations, schools, libraries, cultural groups, artists, makers, small businesses, and regional traditions. Topics included the library of accessible media for pennsylvanians, north hills community outreach, the women's center & shelter of greater pittsburgh, the western Pennsylvania school for blind children, pittsburgh ballet theatre, chatham baroque, the moonshot museum, and the aurora reading club, among many others.wqed also commissioned "steel links," an hour-long documentary that premiered with the 125th u.s. Open at oakmont country club, featuring pittsburgh sports legends neil walker, charlie batch, bill cowher, rocco mediate, and carol semple thompson.reflecting wqed's continued commitment to reflect the diversity of our region, rick sebak's "lucky to live in pittsburgh" series included visits to a sandstone quarry in butler county, an organic wheat farm in Washington county, the mid-atlantic mothers' milk bank in pittsburgh's strip district, community kitchen pittsburgh in hazelwood, and bottlerocket social hall in pittsburgh's allentown neighborhood.wqed also continued providing free access to trusted national programming from the public broadcasting service, including pbs kids series that support early learning and school readiness, as well as documentaries, science, history, arts, and public affairs programs that serve lifelong learners. These are available regardless of someone's ability to pay for cable, satellite, or streaming subscriptions. Approximately 375,000 adults watch channel 13.1 each week, according to nielsen.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 61.9%; rating input score 62
• Program expense ratio: 57.4%; rating input score 57
• Fundraising efficiency: $3.39 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 95.8%; rating input score 96; 29th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 0.2%; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.99; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.04; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6.9%; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 1% per year; rating input score 100; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -0.6% per year; rating input score 0; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 3% per year; rating input score 100; 23rd percentile among comparable filings