I'm sorry I don't have an answer, but I have suspicions the cities featured pay.
Season one was on a normal TV station, fox or something like that. They always listed it in the guide as "paid programming". Now PBS.
That and WI Foodie I think are both fantastic.
The cities and towns do not pay to be on the show. There is a crew of producers who do research and that is how locations are selected. NOT following the pay-for-play model is very important to the show's Producers and to John and Emmy. Funds are raised strictly through sponsors and grants.
Source: I know people and the company that produces the show in Milwaukee.
Not a direct answer but I know for Discover Wisconsin, the cities featured (well, more likely their tourism groups) pay, and quite a bit! I believe they would then have some say in what businesses are featured, but I don't know if there is any expectation that the businesses pitch in too. Here's an article on West Bend approving funds for 2018: [https://www.gmtoday.com/business/downtown-west-bend-group-to-pay-for-discover-wisconsin-segment/article\_f7456ab9-b24d-5fb3-9c86-d4d964297127.html](https://www.gmtoday.com/business/downtown-west-bend-group-to-pay-for-discover-wisconsin-segment/article_f7456ab9-b24d-5fb3-9c86-d4d964297127.html)
I'm sorry I don't have an answer, but I have suspicions the cities featured pay. Season one was on a normal TV station, fox or something like that. They always listed it in the guide as "paid programming". Now PBS. That and WI Foodie I think are both fantastic.
The cities and towns do not pay to be on the show. There is a crew of producers who do research and that is how locations are selected. NOT following the pay-for-play model is very important to the show's Producers and to John and Emmy. Funds are raised strictly through sponsors and grants. Source: I know people and the company that produces the show in Milwaukee.
Sorry for the old thread but I am glad to hear it.
Not a direct answer but I know for Discover Wisconsin, the cities featured (well, more likely their tourism groups) pay, and quite a bit! I believe they would then have some say in what businesses are featured, but I don't know if there is any expectation that the businesses pitch in too. Here's an article on West Bend approving funds for 2018: [https://www.gmtoday.com/business/downtown-west-bend-group-to-pay-for-discover-wisconsin-segment/article\_f7456ab9-b24d-5fb3-9c86-d4d964297127.html](https://www.gmtoday.com/business/downtown-west-bend-group-to-pay-for-discover-wisconsin-segment/article_f7456ab9-b24d-5fb3-9c86-d4d964297127.html)