A better way to do E/I and fund PBS?

[toby]

I was thinking that perhaps a better way to do E/I is to have some sort of program credit system similar to the "polution credit" system.

With the system for every 30 minutes of E/I a station doesn't use a specific amount of money goes to a PBS children's TV fund either national or local. This could also eliminate the patently evil practice of having a pledge drive during children's programs as some PBS stations do.

PBS has real children's programs, not an E/I bug slapped onto everything from The Smurfs to Cold Turkey, and enough stuff that could be considered E/I to go around for everyone.<P ID="signature">______________
WCBS = We're Crazy Buffoons and Schmucks</P>

 

[Markxxx]

> I was thinking that perhaps a better way to do E/I is to
> have some sort of program credit system similar to the
> "polution credit" system.
>
> With the system for every 30 minutes of E/I a station
> doesn't use a specific amount of money goes to a PBS
> children's TV fund either national or local. This could also
> eliminate the patently evil practice of having a pledge
> drive during children's programs as some PBS stations do.
>
> PBS has real children's programs, not an E/I bug slapped
> onto everything from The Smurfs to Cold Turkey, and enough
> stuff that could be considered E/I to go around for
> everyone.
>
While not a bad idea, like the pollution credits, I don't like it 'cause it simply allows rich stations to neglect (and delegate in effect) their responsiblity to the public

You want good E/I programming. Have standards, have independent outside companies audit these standard, (you need minimum 2 different companies to random audit) and yank licenses.

As soon as the FCC pulls one license for lack of programing, the rest would quickly fall in line.<P ID="signature">______________
Once I figured out the meaning of life....Then I forgot to write it down.</P>

 

[JustinT]

> > I was thinking that perhaps a better way to do E/I is to
> > have some sort of program credit system similar to the
> > "polution credit" system.
> >
> > With the system for every 30 minutes of E/I a station
> > doesn't use a specific amount of money goes to a PBS
> > children's TV fund either national or local. This could
> also
> > eliminate the patently evil practice of having a pledge
> > drive during children's programs as some PBS stations do.
> >
> > PBS has real children's programs, not an E/I bug slapped
> > onto everything from The Smurfs to Cold Turkey, and enough
>
> > stuff that could be considered E/I to go around for
> > everyone.
> >
> While not a bad idea, like the pollution credits, I don't
> like it 'cause it simply allows rich stations to neglect
> (and delegate in effect) their responsiblity to the public
>
> You want good E/I programming. Have standards, have
> independent outside companies audit these standard, (you
> need minimum 2 different companies to random audit) and yank
> licenses.
>
> As soon as the FCC pulls one license for lack of programing,
> the rest would quickly fall in line.

Also, while PBS' programming for the younger crowd is quite acceptable, with programs like Between The Lions and Sesame Street, whether The Smurfs is really any more educational than Teletubbies can be debated. But more so, PBS has no programming for the over-7 crowd. PBS has canned all of their programs targetting this audience, such as Carmen Sandiego, Square One, 3-2-1 Contact, Bill Nye The Science Guy, etc. If PBS would be taking over E/I for the entire country, they should be providing programs for the entire generation, and not a specific age group.

 

[toby]

> Also, while PBS' programming for the younger crowd is quite
> acceptable, with programs like Between The Lions and Sesame
> Street, whether The Smurfs is really any more educational
> than Teletubbies can be debated. But more so, PBS has no
> programming for the over-7 crowd. PBS has canned all of
> their programs targetting this audience, such as Carmen
> Sandiego, Square One, 3-2-1 Contact, Bill Nye The Science
> Guy, etc.

Actually they haven't canned all of them.
There is Dragonfly TV, Zoom, and Cyberchase.
The seem to all be aimed at the over 7 crowd.
There is a need for more, maybe bring back Bill Nye?

> If PBS would be taking over E/I for the entire
> country, they should be providing programs for the entire
> generation, and not a specific age group.

I think that thats a bad idea to eliminate the age specific programing.
You could do some more targeted scheduling, younger kids stuff in the morning, older kids after about 3:30 or so, to get them after school.
<P ID="signature">______________
WCBS = We're Crazy Buffoons and Schmucks</P>

 

[rugrats1]

> Actually they haven't canned all of them.
> There is Dragonfly TV, Zoom, and Cyberchase.
> The seem to all be aimed at the over 7 crowd.

Though Zoom won't last any longer on PBS -- that show has gone out of production, and many PBS stations have alredy dropped it in favor of more pre-schooler programming.

 

[clichemoth]

> > Also, while PBS' programming for the younger crowd is
> quite
> > acceptable, with programs like Between The Lions and
> Sesame
> > Street, whether The Smurfs is really any more educational
> > than Teletubbies can be debated. But more so, PBS has no
> > programming for the over-7 crowd. PBS has canned all of
> > their programs targetting this audience, such as Carmen
> > Sandiego, Square One, 3-2-1 Contact, Bill Nye The Science
> > Guy, etc.

Unfortunately, the tween-geared shows probably didn't generate the funds like programming directed at adults or preschool children. After all, parents never really saw them and children 7-13 don't donate to public TV.

NBC's Saturday block seems to be very much in the tradition of those fine shows.
The other networks pretty much focus on the younger age group as PBS does.
>
> Actually they haven't canned all of them.
> There is Dragonfly TV, Zoom, and Cyberchase.
> The seem to all be aimed at the over 7 crowd.
> There is a need for more, maybe bring back Bill Nye?

Nye did a 13-episode series called "The Eyes of Nye" earlier this year for some PBS affiliates (Georgia Public Broadcasting, KCTS-Seattle, and scattered others). It was a cross between his old series and a toned-down "Penn & Teller: BS". Not sure if a second season is in the works.

 

[jegrant]

I thought this was already an option - the E/I rules mention something about "supporting equivalent programming" on another station in the market. But I think that without an easily defined amount of financial or other support (on-air promotion?) - stations find it easier to acquire 3 hours of cheap material and slap it on the air.

Arguably, if many stations did this nationwide, it would probably result in fewer total hours of E/I programming. Admittedly, though, what remained would probably be higher quality and have fewer underwriting & pledge spots (since there is little doubt the majority of E/I programming would continue to be on public television).

It is possible, though, that especially as E/I requirements for digital multicast are phased in, that "buying E/I compliance" could prove a more attractive option, and I'm sure that public broadcasters could use the cash.

I am wondering where broadcasters who operate multiple digital streams of programming will come up with enough E/I material to meet the 50% non-duplication to primary stream rule. I guess it will "help" that many E/I shows aren't market exclusive.

 

[dxtrfn]

PBS station UNC-TV has run the E/I bug with a kangraoo for a year now.