By Paula Pyzik Scott

The Bluffton Lions Club hosted Cathy Kamenca, TV Program Coordinator, Outreach & Engagement Coordinator at WGTE Public Media, at a recent member meeting to learn about upcoming changes in public television offerings in northwest Ohio.

WBGU Television in Bowling Green, which currently supplies PBS programming and some local shows to Bluffton area cable television providers, will end this service on June 30, 2026. WBGU-TV lost $1.1 million in funding due to federal funding cuts, according to BGFalconmedia.com.

Kamenca told the Lions audience that WGTE is in the process of applying to replace WBGU on cable packages that would otherwise lose PBS programming. Some in the audience said they were able to receive WGTE with their antennas.

WGTE is in good shape for the next couple of years, according to Kamenca, who said that members and sponsors have stepped up with increased support following the funding cuts. She noted that the station has not used Nielsen ratings to monitor viewership because of the cost.