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Is the WBA’s Public Education Program right for you?

Government agencies and non-profit organizations using PEP are diverse in scope. What do they have in common? They need to reach a broad cross-section of Wisconsinites in the most efficient and cost-effective way... and they are able to with PEP!

The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) initiated PEP in 1988. Since then, PEP has been used to promote numerous important services including:

Do you have a Public Education Message for the State of Wisconsin?

The content of PEP campaign spots should be of benefit to the people of Wisconsin. Spots cannot include political messages, defamatory or disparaging materials. The WBA Board of Directors reserves the right to approve all PEP campaigns and topics on a case-by-case basis.

Do you have a mission to educate or create awareness? We can help!

For more information on how YOU can find success through a PEP campaign, please contact Michelle Vetterkind, WBA President & CEO by phone (see numbers below) or by email at mvetterkind@wi-broadcasters.org

Rev 8-20-25

Veterans Trust Fund Awareness Caregivers Careers

Foster Care Awareness Tourism in Wisconsin

Internet Crimes Awareness Boater, Hunter & Snowmobile Safety

Clean Air Programs Endangered Resources

Prescription Drug Disposal Emergency Preparedness

Propane-Winter Preparedness Transportation Safety

Wisconsin Army National Guard Recruiting Recycling

Radon Awareness Veterans Suicide Prevention

Historic Sites & Arts Promotion

One-Stop Statewide Messaging on Radio, TV, and Social Media

44 E. Mifflin Street #900 • Madison, WI 53703

608.255.2600 or 800.236.1922 • www.wi-broadcasters.org

Wisconsin Broadcasters Association @WIBroadcasters @wisconsinbroadcasters

THETHE Public Education Program Broadcast and Social Media opportunities for

Government Agencies and Non-profits

What is the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association?

The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) is a not-for-profit trade association that has supported the broadcast industry in Wisconsin since 1951. The WBA serves members through legislative advocacy, regulatory compliance and train-ing resources. More than 95 percent of Wisconsin’s radio and television stations are WBA members.

Wisconsin radio and television stations are integral to the com-munities they serve. Wisconsin broadcasters provide great value to the public by educating, informing and entertaining listeners;

providing critical information and updates during emergencies;

and rallying the community to support those in need.

The WBA’s Public Education Program (PEP) provides another way for broadcasters to support their local communities.

What is PEP?

The Public Education Program (PEP) is a unique alternative to paid advertising, designed specifically for government agencies and non-profit organizations seeking to leverage limited mar-keting dollars for their public outreach efforts. Through the PEP program, these organizations can tap into the strength of local radio and television stations throughout the state to educate Wisconsinites about a particular issue or cause.

There are two components to PEP – a broadcast component that provides airplay of PEP campaign spots on radio and/or television stations across the state, and a social media com-ponent that allows PEP participants to broaden the reach of their messages by leveraging the fan base of WBA member stations. Both components deliver a significant return on the investment for PEP participants.

The WBA offers this program to non-profits and government agencies. We have a waiver with the State of Wisconsin.

Every state broadcasters association in the country operates a similar program, and multi-state or national campaigns can be coordinated with individual states or through the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations (NASBA).

Station participation in PEP campaigns is voluntary and stations do not receive direct compensation for airing PEP spots. Howev-er, there is strong participation by radio and television stations throughout the state, as the WBA uses the participation income from PEP campaigns to underwrite most of the educational and outreach resources provided for our member stations.

What’s in it for me?

With every PEP campaign you will receive:

Statewide coverage.

Your message is distributed to radio and television stations in Wisconsin which will provide sustained coverage during the campaign. Your PEP spot will be seen or heard by nearly everyone who watches TV or listens to the radio in the state.

Additionally, your social media message can be shared with stations’ Facebook and X fans.

Documented results.

PEP provides a report of broadcast airplay which details the stations, markets, the number of times spots were aired, and the estimated dollar value of airtime. A summary of social media analytics can also be provided.

At least a 400% return on your PEP investment.

With PEP, you multiply your media budget. For the broadcast component, PEP guarantees a minimum return of $4 for every $1 invested. For most campaigns, PEP provides an even greater return, and longer campaigns typically deliver higher returns.

How does the PEP broadcast component work?

The WBA distributes a PEP participant’s spots to participating member stations across the state of Wisconsin. While stations are not required to air the spots, we typically have 175-200 radio stations and most of the major television network affiliates in markets around the state (35-50 stations) participating in the broadcast component of a PEP campaign.

The broadcast component of the PEP program provides:

• Statewide coverage for PEP campaign spots on radio and/ or television stations.

• Airplay of the spots across all days and dayparts during the campaign. Stations are asked to air announcements on the basis of the following dayparts:

Radio:

1/3 in drive times (6 a.m. - 10 a.m. and/or 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.)

1/3 in daytime (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.)

1/3 all other times (7 p.m. - 6 a.m.).

TV:

1/3 in prime and prime access time (3 p.m. - 11 p.m.)

1/3 in day time (7 a.m. - 3 p.m.)

1/3 all other times (11 p.m. - 7 a.m.)

• Multiple spots can be included in the campaign at no addi-tional cost.

• A final report detailing the stations, cities, as well as the number of spots aired by each station in the three day parts mentioned above. The aggregate airtime value and total number of spots will also be provided.

• A minimum return of $4 for every $1 invested in the campaign.

Depending upon the relevance of the campaign message, the actual return on investment is often higher.

The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association is the not-for-profit trade association representing more than 95% of Wisconsin’s radio stations and television stations.

The mission of the WBA is to protect, promote and enhance the broadcast industry in Wisconsin.

What about the PEP social media component?

The social media component of PEP allows participants to broaden the reach of their social media messages by leverag-ing the fan base of WBA member stations. The WBA selects television and radio stations to participate in the social media component of PEP to provide coverage throughout the state of Wisconsin.

Participating stations share a PEP sponsor’s message via Face-book and/or X on a weekly basis. The “halo effect” of sharing these messages increases engagement and clicks.

The social media component of PEP can provide:

• Facebook – Participating stations share posts on their

Facebook pages on a weekly basis. The combined fan base that’s estimated for participating stations is approximately 2.4 million people. Actual reach for each post will vary.

• X – Weekly tweets are shared by participating sta-tions with a combined following of approximately 500,000 people.

• The WBA can provide strategic consulting and coaching for the development of social media messaging. Additionally, we can boost the posts on station Facebook pages and/or on the PEP participant’s Facebook page.

Who is eligible?

Only non-profit organizations and government agencies are eligible to participate in PEP campaigns. PEP is ideal for organi-zations that have public education messages to share for which they have some promotional budget, but not enough funds to buy statewide coverage on television and radio stations.

A participant may not have used paid advertising within the past year for the proposed PEP campaign. PEP campaigns must have statewide relevance and may not be advocacy-related.

How much does it cost?

The cost of a PEP campaign varies depending on your orga-nization’s needs. We are also able to assist with production.

Campaigns typically run from 3 weeks to 12 months. Please contact the WBA (per below) for current costs.

How do I get started and/or learn more about PEP?

Potential PEP participants begin the process by submitting a letter of intent with brief background about the organization and the purpose and dates of the campaign.

The WBA coordinates distribution of all PEP spots to stations.

The spots should be provided by the participant at least two weeks in advance of the campaign start date. Participants may provide collateral material with the spots, which will also be distributed to stations. Distribution of social media messages will be coordinated through the WBA. Announcements must have a tag line which uses the words “sponsored by….” or “paid for by…” to meet legal ID requirements. TV spots should be closed captioned.

To discuss how a PEP campaign can help your organization broadcast its public education message across Wisconsin, please contact:

Our PEP particiapnts typically receive a minimum of 4-to-1 representing the value of the aired spot for EACH dollar compared to the dollar investment.

KEEPING YOUR EDUCATION &

AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ON TARGET

Wisconsin Broadcasters Association

PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM (PEP)

Broadcast and Social Media opportunities for government agencies & non-profits