Does Public Television Get Away With Running Infomercials?

[FredLeonard]

The point is, that noncom station owners are going to have to find legitimate loopholes like this to put themselves in the black. Skirting the law with questionable programs like the health and exercise or wealth-protecting shows we're seeing a lot of on noncoms is dangerous and many have been caught and fined. Better to run a tight content ship on the main channel (which is what the FCC cares most about anyway) and cut loose on sub-channels.

And what makes you think public television stations aren't way in "the black" already?

 

[Avid Listener]

And what makes you think public television stations aren't way in "the black" already?

How much have you pledged, and then actually donated after making the promise? If you haven't personally supported your local public television station yourself, what gives you the moral authority to condemn them for doing what they have to do to stay on the air.

 

[TheBigA]

The FCC just answered the question about NCE stations taking commercial programming on their sub or side channels. In a word, no (even though they previously said it was okay).

I agree with the FCC's comments here. But nowhere in there does it address the issue in this thread. These are not commercials. Also, we're not talking about FM, HD or LPFM radio here.

 

[Carmine5]

I agree with the FCC's comments here. But nowhere in there does it address the issue in this thread. These are not commercials. Also, we're not talking about FM, HD or LPFM radio here.

Sigh!!!

If you had bothered to read what I had written earlier I mentioned that some of my fellow station owners were thinking that NCE or noncom TV stations could run commercial programming on their subchannels based on what someone at the FCC said, namely, that it was okay to run commercial programs on noncom HD Radio side channels. It's called a reciprocal principle--what is allowable for noncom digital radio should also be allowable for noncom digital TV; specifically the use of digital subchannels for commercial programming. With me so far?

Since then, the FCC has back-peddled and said that it is not okay as the article in RW points out. The FCC rep whom RW had originally quoted was wrong.

As for the shows that noncoms are running like Ed Stott and his money program and the health stuff, they're nothing more than thinly-veiled infomercials. And as far as I'm concerned the noncoms are playing with fire when they air this garbage.

 

[TheBigA]

Sigh!!!

If you had bothered to read what I had written earlier....

I read what you wrote earlier.

As for the shows that noncoms are running like Ed Stott and his money program and the health stuff, they're nothing more than thinly-veiled infomercials. And as far as I'm concerned the noncoms are playing with fire when they air this garbage.

If you become an FCC commissioner, let me know.

If it was only one station in one market, I'd be willing to agree with you. But this is so widespread, and has obviously been kicked up to the President of PBS, and even he hasn't objected on legal grounds. His only objection was the same as yours, that it's garbage. But garbage doesn't make it illegal. Once again, if you can show me something in the law where it says what these people are doing is illegal, I'd be very interested. So far, no one has.

 

[Carmine5]

And what makes you think public television stations aren't way in "the black" already?

Does this station sound like its in the black to you?

http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/6888929-74/wqed-reorganization-fiscal#ixzz3EtodoQXd

And this is just one many noncom TV casualties. As more and more states defund or cut back their funding for public broadcasting, more and more NCEs are declaring their intention to sign on for the incentive auction; cashing out and either turning in their licenses or channel sharing.

 

[FredLeonard]

Does this station sound like its in the black to you?

http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/6888929-74/wqed-reorganization-fiscal#ixzz3EtodoQXd

And this is just one many noncom TV casualties. As more and more states defund or cut back their funding for public broadcasting, more and more NCEs are declaring their intention to sign on for the incentive auction; cashing out and either turning in their licenses or channel sharing.

Yes. And management wants the ink to get even blacker, so it's dumping staff. The newspaper story is based entirely on a press release. Notice the highly selective use of figures. Also notice how the suits ducked talking to the reporter. Non-profits lie with the best of them. Non-profits combine the worst traits of corporations and government in one sleazy, hypocritical package.

 

[TheBigA]

Non-profits lie with the best of them. Non-profits combine the worst traits of corporations and government in one sleazy, hypocritical package.

I hate to break it to you, but even churches are run like businesses. I really can't think of any entity, regardless of mission, that doesn't have a dark side.

Still after 7 pages of comments, no one can show me where what they're doing is illegal.

 

[Carmine5]

I hate to break it to you, but even churches are run like businesses. I really can't think of any entity, regardless of mission, that doesn't have a dark side.

Still after 7 pages of comments, no one can show me where what they're doing is illegal.

This may come as a surprise to you but many of us are too busy to spend our time drilling down into the FCC database or other research sites looking for information to answer your challenge. I have a station to run and, frankly, my business is far more important then your challenge.

 

[Avid Listener]

Does this station sound like its in the black to you?

http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/6888929-74/wqed-reorganization-fiscal#ixzz3EtodoQXd

And this is just one many noncom TV casualties. As more and more states defund or cut back their funding for public broadcasting, more and more NCEs are declaring their intention to sign on for the incentive auction; cashing out and either turning in their licenses or channel sharing.

But that station is now, and for a long time has been, really poorly managed. The salaries their top executives are being paid alone are grounds for an investigation.

 

[TheBigA]

The salaries their top executives are being paid alone are grounds for an investigation.

By whom? These stations have boards of trustees who decide how much their management get paid. If you were an active member, you'd get to attend their board meetings and voice your concerns.

 

[davidgheller47]

It depends