Archive for October, 2006

VARIOUS WAYS TO HELP

October 31, 2006 at 4:08 am · Filed under Community Involvement, Donations, Federal Funding, PBS

I’m taking a little break from reading others’ blogs to post a little bit of information of the donation system for PBS. There are many ways to contribute!

Since the Federal Funding has been reduced, more than half of the funding for PBS comes from viewers. Aside from those hour long telethons on the channels, where you can call in and do donations over the phone, here are some other ways one can go about making a contribution to PBS as and individual, group, or company.

Membership
Depending on your donation to the station, one can be an “Individual”, “Patron” or join the “Leadership Circle”. Within each tear, the price donation increases. Naturally, so do the benefits. The top donation ($10,000 and up) is the “Chairman’s Circle” which includes

  • Receive all the Individual Membership, Associate, Patron Circle, Directors’ Circle, Producer’s Circle and President’s Circle benefits, plus
  • Optional on-air listing several times throughout the year
  • Donation of a videotape of your choice to a school or nonprofit organization

Patron Circles
There are two categories to the Patron Circle; Silver and Gold. Silver means a cash donation of $400 to $749, Gold ranges from $750 to$900. Perks of donating are discounts on favorite public television merchandise at Channel9Store.com, Tours of the station, and invitation to meet the producers or hosts of our locally produced programs (Gold Patrons)

Leadership Circles
There are several different levels in the Leadership circle. Donations from $1,000 and up benefit with feature articles in start at KCTS Quarterly Newsletter, special tour opportunity for a group of your choosing, all the way up to a donation of a videotape of your choice to a school or nonprofit organization.

Corporate Clubs
When companies donate to PBS, they will receive on-air publicity in the form of the small “commercial” breaks between each program. If you watch PBS, you’re aware of those little textual blurps between that often say, “This has been possible by XYZ Company”. Company donations start at 4 days a month ($1,000 – $1,999) and go to 365 days a year ($5,000 and above).

Volunteer!
“KCTS, the Public Network is always looking for volunteer groups for our next Pledge Drive. If you can pick up a phone, take a pledge and smile for the camera all at the same time, you’re in luck! In exchange, you’ll enjoy the opportunity to take a tour of the station, partake of a light meal and experience the behind-the-scenes excitement of a live production. It is great exposure for your organization, plus an opportunity for an on-air interview if you bring at least 10 volunteers. Please e-mail volunteer@kcts.org or call 206.443.6720 for more details.”

Vehicle Donations
I bet you never thought that you can help PBS by donating your car. Well you can. The benefits of donating you car are it’s simple, free, and easy, you may receive a sizable tax deduction, and the proceeds from the donation will help KCTS bring you more of the great television you enjoy. So if you’re thinking of dumping that old gas guzzler from freshman year in the Penny saver or junkyard, reconsider!

Admit it. You’re curious. To learn more about other ways you can help PBS, visit their support page here.

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PBS SPECIAL IN “O MAGAZINE”

October 21, 2006 at 10:32 pm · Filed under "Eyes on the Prize", O Magazine, Oprah, Television

Eyes of the Prize (left), the landmark six-hour documentary about the ivil rights movement, returns in three installments this month on PBS. The Oscar-nominated film, and essential for teachers and historians since its 1987 release, has been unavailableon TV or video, due to copyright issues, for 13 years.

I found this article while I was reading through Oprah’s October Issue of “O Magazine”. The show it mentions (“Eyes on the Prize”) is the same show that was up against heated debate over censoring of a certain word. I wrote an post on that censorship a while back if you care to read.

Glad to see Oprah supports PBS.

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EXACTLY HOW MUCH?

October 21, 2006 at 9:36 pm · Filed under House Calls, NPR Radio, PBS, SDPB

What are the general dollar amounts needed to keep television and radio programming free on PBS and NPR? A lot.

Q: HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO MAKE A TV PROGRAM?

A: Each program varies, depending on length, resources, talent and other variables. Each local program costs anywhere from $10,000 to about $60,000. A national program like Masterpiece Theatre can cost more than $1 million per show.

Q: How much does it cost to make a Radio program?

A: Each program varies, depending on length, resources, talent and other variables. For example, “House Calls”, SDPB Radios weekly health program, costs about $70,000 a year, or about $1,700 per episode.

Source: South Dakota Public Broadcasting, part of the PBS syndicate.

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PBS ON iTUNES

October 17, 2006 at 9:18 pm · Filed under Mac, PBS, iTunes

“The Public Broadcasting System (PBS) has joined the growing list of television networks that makes its shows available for purchase and download through Apple’s iTunes store.

PBS has debuted seven series available for download through iTunes — its beloved children’s animated series Arthur, Cyberchase, Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman, Antiques Roadshow, the esteemed science program Nova, the news show Now, hosted by David Brancaccio, and Scientific American Frontiers, hosted by Alan Alda.

Shows vary in price — most cost $1.99, as do most television programs purchased through the iTunes Store, with the ability to buy all episodes available for purchase as well. Nova, however, costs more — $7.99 per show.“

Source: Macworld


The advantage of downloading shows from iTunes is availability to viewing. Buying an episodes allows you to view it over and over again at your leisure. Hopefully, thanks to the ever growing popularity of iTunes, PBS will earn a profit. More often or not the large donations to PBS are sponsored by large companies with an extensive community relations budget. Now, perhaps, there will be some reaping thanks to iTunes subscribers. My fingers are crossed!

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NOSTALGIC MOMENTS

October 17, 2006 at 3:01 am · Filed under Monty Python, PBS, Television

Public Television has always relied on donations from viewers, like you. In the past, PBS was only viewed through a subscription, like HBO and Showtime are today. These subscriptions supported local, and nationwide stations. I was looking around YouTube and found this vintage video of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, promoting the urgency for financial support.

It goes to show you a message can stand the test of time.

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IT’S EASY TO LISTEN TO NPR

October 16, 2006 at 8:57 pm · Filed under NPR, NPR Radio

In an effort to get you, the reader, more educated and interested in Public Broadcasting, here’s a link to the Public Radio Programming Schedule. I urge you to look around and see if there’s a show you’re interested in. There are many shows covering everything from politics and government, to health and opinions.

How do I listen to NPR Radio?
You can learn more about listening to NPR at NPR Everywhere. On this page, you will find information about listening to NPR domestically and internationally on a wide range of devices, including AM/FM, digital and satellite radios, the Internet, podcasts, and more.
NPR Everywhere
NPR via RSS

What Programs Does NPR Produce and Distribute?
NPR produces and distributes more than 130 hours of original programming each week, and local NPR stations also broadcast many programs which are produced by stations and other radio networks.
View a list of public radio programs

Many of these shows you can listen to on your own computer!
Cool, no? Check it out.

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KNOW THY VIEWER

October 16, 2006 at 8:24 pm · Filed under PBS, Television

The other night I was sitting in my room watching a special on PBS on a new aquarium built in the US that houses the first, living, great white shark. The episode went on to talk about how having her in captivity is hope to scientists everywhere who wish to observe, test, and reveal the mysteries of a “killing machine”. Now the public image of these misunderstood creatures will change, or so they presume. As the show went into the lifecycle of barnacles, my cell phone rang. When the hello’s where through, my friend on the other line asked what I was up to. I told him I was watching PBS. He responded with,

“Why?”

I’ve been getting that response a lot.

Seems every person I talk to, or reference PBS to, suddenly acquire the look of being slightly disturbed; as if the channel prompts extreme boredom, dizziness, and pain. Many in University relate PBS to the shows watched when young. “Sesame Street”, “Arthur”, “Barney and Friends”, the staples of weekday mornings. What happens after toddler years? It’s as if by the age of 8, PBS disappears from the television forever.

Can you blame it though? Should there be another channel out there competing with the likes of VH1, MTV, Comedy Central and The Discovery Channel? The target market’s attention span might be of that of a shark, however, I feel to secure the future of PBS financially, shows addressing and appealing to a teen-preteen audience should be considered.

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PEOPLE LIKE YOU

October 16, 2006 at 2:40 am · Filed under Dick Gordon, NPR, Republicans

Public Broadcasting isn’t solely restricted to the television. Radio consumes public broadcasting, without the known reputation found associated with T.V. shows on PBS. Those who listen to public radio are the same who come to enjoy public television: they are sick of forced, biased, media. Over the years, many Republicans have pointed fingers at the National Public Radio for being drawn from the liberal “educated elite”. At the same time, NPR comes back to say the reason their content strays toward the more liberal front, is because conservative, “big business”, sectors are already being covered by the likes of corporate and private stations. Someone needs to cover both sides.

Swaying between both sides of the scales, Dick Gordon, a veteran of NPR, is returning after the cancellation of his show “The Connection” with a new program, “The Story”, set to broadcast nationwide soon. Dick Gordon’s new show does not preach, or protect. “The Story” “tells the tales of everyday folks”. Not politicians, CEO’s, or activists; just simple people with (sometimes) extraordinaire lives.

A seemingly nonchalant topic will come to affect all listeners. Average individuals, like you and me, become universal through story telling. For when we come to know one another, we will come to know ourselves.

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CENSORSHIP CONTINUES

October 9, 2006 at 9:21 pm · Filed under FCC, PBS, Television

The FCC owns 12 stations of PBS, meaning censorship for many of the programs. Despite this sounding like a bad thing, the FCC pays no special attention, or favorites, to the stations simply because they are publicly supported. “One of PBS’ anchor programmers, says that some two-dozen stations have now notified it that they will bleep a profanity from the Oct. 16 airing of its civil rights documentary, Eyes on the Prize.”

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VIOLENCE ON THE TELEVISION

October 7, 2006 at 5:12 am · Filed under PBS, Television, Uncategorized

Let’s step back for a moment, and look at television programs targeting minors.

In the beginning of television, programs were suitable for all audiences. Shows like “I Love Lucy”, “The Ed Sullivan Show”, and “Bonanza”, were all programs set in primetime that a whole family could enjoy together. Content was hardly a concern in these days. Why? Entertainment had yet to evolve.

Flash forward 50 years. The television battles the internet for consumer attention. Every program comes with ratings, disclaimers, or warnings before air time. Channel surfing is risky business, who knows what will flick by as you attempt to find the Discovery Channel. The deeper one gets in the day, the raunchier the content. Of course, this doesn’t mean daytime soap operas and talk shows are to be omitted entirely. Many are equally appalling in relation to their late-night cousins.

Is there ever a break to this hurricane of debauched viewing?

On public broadcasting syndicates, suitable, educational dramas replace dating shows and police chases. News is neither left nor right. Classical concerts overshadow naughty music videos, reality shows are exchanged for ballets. This alternative viewing doesn’t mean public broadcasting is a push over, sensitive, mediocre station. Public broadcasting is, in fact, a safe haven for viewers not looking to be force fed “media bullshit”. On top of these facts, what else could possible persuade anyone to watch public broadcasting?

Two words: Commercial Free.

Thanks to “Viewers like you”, the station remains commercial free. But without federal funding supporting 40% of Public Broadcasting, this environment might disappear forever.

I don’t know about you, but in between a documentary on Henry the VIII’s Six Wives, I do not want to watch a commercial on “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter”.

Maybe that’s just me.

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