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FAQs
Vermont Public Television (VPT) is Vermont's statewide network of public television stations, covering its home state and bordering regions of New York, New Hampshire and southern Quebec, including Montreal. Its six channels broadcast from Burlington, Rutland, Windsor, St. Johnsbury, Manchester and Bennington. Studios and offices are in Colchester, Vt. VPT is a PBS member station.
Vermont Public Television went on the air October 16, 1967. VPT is making its transition to the new federally mandated digital broadcasting format. The digital conversion will ensure there is public television in the future, and it will make possible such new services as multiple program streams, datacasting and high-definition television.
For information about VPT's leadership, see Who We Are, Board of Directors and Community Council.
Vermont Public Television's work is guided by a broad and inclusive vision of "Ends," which relate not to what we will be doing, but to the difference we intend to make in people's lives. Ends is more than a new way to say "mission." It represents a rigorous process of discernment to determine specifically what business an organization is in.
Ends Policy Statement:
Vermont Public Television educates, informs, entertains and inspires Vermonters to be life-long learners and engaged in their community by fostering: - Understanding of one another and various points of view
- Lifelong learning
- Children's readiness to learn
- Personal enrichment through arts, culture and entertainment
- Appreciation and respect for the environment and working landscape
- Involvement and participation in community and civic affairs
In addition to airing a wide variety of PBS and local programming, much of which is licensed for educational use, VPT broadcasts instructional programs during the school year.
Outreach activities bring Vermonters to VPT and VPT to Vermonters in ways that go far beyond the TV screen. For example, VPT sponsors Vermont's participation in Ready to Learn, a national outreach project. Workshops given around the state help adults use the power of educational television to help preschoolers develop the basic literacy skills they need to succeed in school. Other outreach highlights include the annual Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators contest; the outreach component of the monthly Public Square programs; the recent statewide collaboration with other community organizations on What About Teens? and the Student Press Conference With the Governor.
Vermont Public Television raises most of its operating revenue from the local community. Thousands of viewers and local businesses make annual contributions that, along with the Auction and other sources, provide about 57 percent of the budget. Facility leases, production grants and activities such as contract production work generate other local income. Appropriations by the Vermont Legislature and the U.S. Congress provide crucial government support. State funding represents about 10 percent of VPT's budget, and federal support is about 14 percent.
The Canadian charitable organization Public Television Association of Quebec provides support to Vermont Public Television, while maintaining separate and independent status. James A. Wyant is chair and Joan Ivory is past chair. Other members are: Michael Brennan; John King; Pierre LeFevre; Alanis Obomsawin; Kalman Samuels, Q.C.; and Anthony Wait.
Mailing address:
Vermont Public Television
204 Ethan Allen Avenue
Colchester, VT 05446-3129
General e-mail: view@vpt.org
Website: www.vpt.org
Local telephone: (802) 655-4800
Toll-free telephone: 1-800-639-7811
Vermont ETV, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
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