Overview
Underwriting puts your name beside the local programming your community relies on and shows that you help make it possible.
Public Media Network is a nonprofit community media center in Kalamazoo, founded in 1983. We give residents access to media tools and channels, support civic education, and carry the community programming and local government meetings that keep neighbors informed. Our five channels have the potential to reach around 22,000 households in Greater Kalamazoo on cable television, along with online channel streams.
A 15-second underwriting message on PMN gives you:
- Community goodwill: your name is linked to a civic institution that serves local residents.
- Frequent local visibility: a weekly flight runs 35 times on each channel you choose, and repetition is what builds recognition.
- A fitting setting: a short, respectful mention in the style of public media, not a hard sell that interrupts the programming.
- Support for local media: your sponsorship strengthens the organization behind media access and civic education in your community.
- An easy start: PMN creates your spot, with voice over and image, and a flight can be as short as one week.
Rates
A one-week flight on one channel starts at $200 for nonprofits and $250 for corporate sponsors, and the weekly rate falls as the flight gets longer. Prices are per channel and include creating your spot.
| Flight | Spots per channel | Nonprofit, government, school | Corporate |
| 1 week | 35 | $200 | $250 |
| 4 weeks | 140 | $680 | $850 |
| 8 weeks | 280 | $1,200 | $1,500 |
| 13 weeks | 455 | $1,560 | $1,950 |
PMN Creator members receive a 10% discount on rates.
Add a second or third channel to the same flight at 75% of the rate. For example, a nonprofit four-week flight on two channels is $680 + $510 = $1,190.
Channels and scheduling
Each package places five spots a day, 35 a week, on every channel you choose, spread across the day and week. Availability is limited on every channel and is reserved on a first-come basis with a signed order.
- PMN 1 and PMN 5 have the most availability.
- PMN 2, 3 and 4 carry government meetings, so their schedules vary. On these channels PMN guarantees 35 spots a week, placed in available breaks, instead of a fixed five a day.
- Break limits: a break holds no more than one or two sponsor messages. A sponsor appears once per break and never in back-to-back breaks.
What is included
Every package includes a finished 15-second spot, so you do not need your own video production.
- A 15-second spot created by PMN, with a voice over and an image
- One review of the narration copy before it airs
- Scheduling and airing of your full flight
- Renewals with the same spot at the same flight price, with copy updates welcome
To get started, send PMN your business or organization name, a short description, and your logo or a representative image. Revisions beyond the narration copy review are not included.
Underwriting copy guidelines
Underwriting messages identify and thank a sponsor; they do not advertise. PMN reviews all copy and may edit it to meet these guidelines.
- Name the sponsor and describe what it does in plain, factual terms
- Keep narration to about 30 words so it fits 15 seconds
- No call to action, such as “visit,” “call” or “buy”
- No prices, discounts, offers or promotions
- No comparative or qualitative claims, such as “best,” “leading” or “number one”
How to get started
Getting started takes four steps.
- Choose your channels and flight length.
- Send PMN your name, a short description and your logo or image.
- Review and approve the narration copy.
- Your spot begins airing on the flight start date.
Contact us at hello@publicmedianet.org, or call 269.343.2211
