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Ever sent money to a PBS station?
- Thread starter nomadcowatbk
- Start date
Just couldn't say "no" to that $225.00 Peter Paul & Mary DVD.
No I don't send money to my local PBS station; not when I know some of that money goes towards the six figure salary the station's CEO makes. Why should I spend my money supporting someone making more than I do? Besides I've met the guy and he's a classless A-hole. 
The Voice of Reason said:No I don't send money to my local PBS station; not when I know some of that money goes towards the six figure salary the station's CEO makes. Why should I spend my money supporting someone making more than I do? Besides I've met the guy and he's a classless A-hole.
It's not 6 figures.... ??? Is it?
I never sent money to PBS. I am noticing a shift in their programming to attract the 30 to 49 crowd more rather than the traditional 50 plus gathering though. That might be good, but
why send them money to see "great movies" when you can rent them any time?
I'm guessing those who DO donate have kids and want the educational programming to continue.
Children's television workshop doesn't work for free.
why send them money to see "great movies" when you can rent them any time?
I'm guessing those who DO donate have kids and want the educational programming to continue.
Children's television workshop doesn't work for free.
Back when we only had 3 other networks ETV/PBS probably provided a service, but now
with all the channels we have showing educational and children shows, are they even needed?
The commercial free format might be an enticement but that only lasts until pledge breaks
or the start of a program.
with all the channels we have showing educational and children shows, are they even needed?
The commercial free format might be an enticement but that only lasts until pledge breaks
or the start of a program.
I've never sent money, but I donated 2 cars to KQED (radio and TV) about 5 years ago. The cars were old, but ran well, so I'd estimate that the stations must have easily made $1500 once they sold them off. I figure that this bought me about a decade of guilt-free listening. I have to admit that I rarely watch PBS any more, but I'm an NPR junkie.
And yes - I also did it for the tax break. In those days, you could write off the entire retail value of the cars you donated, and I think that came out to about $3,000. That is no longer true - the IRS closed that loophole and you can only write off the dollar amount that the organization sells it for, which is much less.
And yes - I also did it for the tax break. In those days, you could write off the entire retail value of the cars you donated, and I think that came out to about $3,000. That is no longer true - the IRS closed that loophole and you can only write off the dollar amount that the organization sells it for, which is much less.
I never have donated to a PBS station and never will as long as they keep using the same annoying pledge drive tactics. They might actually have something I'd like to see, and claim "Your pledge will keep great programs like this on this station," but you'll never see it until it's pledge drive time again. As long as they keep up this sort of lie, I will never donate.
Great question.
From a local standpoint, I send a few small donations a year. The small affiliate in my market was close to going away. A local group bought it and the GM has done a good job with the resources they have. They have a skeleton staff and no one there is getting rich. But they've been much more proactive about being involved with the community. A few weeks a year, it produces a local quiz show with area schools competing. The commercial affiliates here would not do that.
From the national standpoint, 10 or 15 years ago, I thought the same thing about PBS-type programming being available on cable. Now History Channel is about Ice Truckers and Pawn Stars. A&E's about Gene Simmons and Billy the Exterminator. TLC and Bravo are about reality shows. Biography used to run shows about Henry Ford and George Washington...now they focus on Britney Spears and Morgan Freeman. Discovery Health is about to flip to OWN. I preferred their original programming but I've read that since moving away from they used to be, those networks are enjoying better ratings. NatGeo and the Military Channel are among the few commercial networks left that provide that type of programming.
Netflix is great for documentaries and films but I have to know what I'm looking for. PBS will show things I would not have thought about ordering from a service and I wind up enjoying them. I don't care for everything on PBS but that's the case for every channel. I believe PBS fills a void to an audience that's otherwise not served.
From a local standpoint, I send a few small donations a year. The small affiliate in my market was close to going away. A local group bought it and the GM has done a good job with the resources they have. They have a skeleton staff and no one there is getting rich. But they've been much more proactive about being involved with the community. A few weeks a year, it produces a local quiz show with area schools competing. The commercial affiliates here would not do that.
From the national standpoint, 10 or 15 years ago, I thought the same thing about PBS-type programming being available on cable. Now History Channel is about Ice Truckers and Pawn Stars. A&E's about Gene Simmons and Billy the Exterminator. TLC and Bravo are about reality shows. Biography used to run shows about Henry Ford and George Washington...now they focus on Britney Spears and Morgan Freeman. Discovery Health is about to flip to OWN. I preferred their original programming but I've read that since moving away from they used to be, those networks are enjoying better ratings. NatGeo and the Military Channel are among the few commercial networks left that provide that type of programming.
Netflix is great for documentaries and films but I have to know what I'm looking for. PBS will show things I would not have thought about ordering from a service and I wind up enjoying them. I don't care for everything on PBS but that's the case for every channel. I believe PBS fills a void to an audience that's otherwise not served.
F
FreddyE1977
Guest
Nope. Nor have I ever given to an NPR radio station.
My political views are rather conservative, and both PBS and NPR repeatedly
and blatantly make it obvious to me that neither I nor my views are welcome on their
stations.
I have no issue with their liberal programming, gay themed programming, etc.
I am for the First Amendment and am happy to have any of those views aired.
But if I wanted to produce a program giving my perspective I'm sure they'd
look at me like I had three heads and then toss me out the door.
So why should I send them a check?
My political views are rather conservative, and both PBS and NPR repeatedly
and blatantly make it obvious to me that neither I nor my views are welcome on their
stations.
I have no issue with their liberal programming, gay themed programming, etc.
I am for the First Amendment and am happy to have any of those views aired.
But if I wanted to produce a program giving my perspective I'm sure they'd
look at me like I had three heads and then toss me out the door.
So why should I send them a check?
No.
The only things I watch on PBS are the kids shows (and I'm gonna be 29 in May) Arthur, Clifford, and Curious George. (All 3 were books I enjoyed read as a kid and those shows take me back to my childhood). CPTV also airs the University of Connecticut Woman's Basketball. I don't care about the lady Huskies.
NPR: I listen to Car Talk, but depending on my schedule I'm listening on one of two stations - WNPR Connecticut Public Radio or WFCR Amherst, Mass. And I some times listen to the local show The Food Schmooze on WNPR. Once in a blue moon I'll listen to A Prairie Home Companion too.
The only things I watch on PBS are the kids shows (and I'm gonna be 29 in May) Arthur, Clifford, and Curious George. (All 3 were books I enjoyed read as a kid and those shows take me back to my childhood). CPTV also airs the University of Connecticut Woman's Basketball. I don't care about the lady Huskies.
NPR: I listen to Car Talk, but depending on my schedule I'm listening on one of two stations - WNPR Connecticut Public Radio or WFCR Amherst, Mass. And I some times listen to the local show The Food Schmooze on WNPR. Once in a blue moon I'll listen to A Prairie Home Companion too.
anotherguy said:
If PBS's stations want to showcase the best in public television, why don't they show the best episodes of what they usually show, instead of baiting prospective viewers with specials that can only be seen during pledge periods? This way, when they say "Your pledge will keep great programs like this on this station," they're telling the truth.
But realistically, for made-for-pledge specials, if you really want to "keep great programs like this on this station" -- don't make that pledge.
FreddyE1977 said:
Maybe because William F. Buckley is dead and there has not been an intelligent conservative media voice since. More than anything else, the public television audience expects intelligence.
If you're not watching public television, there is no reason to contribute. But if you checked the schedule, you'd see most of their programming has nothing to do with politics or current events.
I don't give because I resent begathons. If they found a way to raise money worthy of their regular programs (not the begathon dreck) and people who watch them, I'll reconsider. In the meantime, I find their pitches insulting. Jerry Lewis is as bad but he only does it once a year.
MattParker said:
William F. Buckley would roll in his grave (or faint if you were having a conversation with him) if he ever was graced with the presence (physical or virtual) of the uninformed loudmouth Sarah Palin. Freddy already has a source for his conservative programming--even though he does not need to pledge, the advertisers pay the bills and call the shots and it ends up that he is being indoctrinated by the advertiser.
I don't contribute to my PBS station because terrestrial television lost me after the digital transition. I don't contribute to my NPR station because they are obviously bloated and can raise money readily. Why give my hard-earned money to them to create more money to waste while thousands of people and more-than-a-few corporations already give? I like to give to my local Pacifica station because it is the only other non-comm station that has a comparable signal to the NPR member and comparable news programs to NPR (and they actually need it!--I like helping the underdog.).
MattParker said:
Whoa, bucko...you're forgetting that great American, the guy behind the golden EIB
microphone, El Rushbo!
gregg75 said:
You're right, gregg75. Thanks for keeping me honest. History International does carry more of the programming I was referring to. Some of the others I mentioned have not completely jumped the shark. But they have reduced the hours of documentary-style programs for shows that, to be honest, probably attract more advertiser-friendly demos.
Re. Telethons: I'll admit to avoiding those. I donate when they air a specific show of interest, not during their campaigns. And again, it goes to the local station, not the network.
This market is extremely conservative but the very real possibility of losing the affiliate a few years ago was enough for a large group to take it off the hands of the entity that held it previously. So to be fair, my gifts are given partly because its board members are respected community leaders (from both sides of the aisle) and its current management is fiscally responsible. "Underdog" is a good description for this station. Some of the commercial affiliates here run promos for them. So politics aside, our community saw a need for PBS.
Again, great question and I agree with FreddyE1977. As with any nonprofit, if you don't agree with what they do, there's no reason to send them a check.
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