LOCAL PBS BEGATHONS

[sdwulfdawg]

This topic was brought up on the side in another discussion, but one would think that the FCC should step in when it comes to the amount of time spent by PBS station begathons. Really with PBS stations now actually interrupting programs for "sponsor messages" and the amount of what are tantamount to commercial ads played at the end of shows, they need to be reigned in.

Then you have the endless infomercials disguised as legit shows (Suze Orman, Wayne Dyer, etc.). Granted that these begathons apparently do bring in significant operating capital for PBS stations, they get to keep the revenues tax free. San Diego's overbloated PBS station is so ripe to be sued for being a commercial operation cloaked in the legalize of a non-for-profit.

What should be the litmus test for local not-for-profit PBS stations in limiting the amount of time they can devote to begathons? The informercials?

 

[Darth_vader]

For starters I'd impose a strict limit of two weeks per begathon. No shorter than a three-month gap in between them, and if subchannels are used on a particular multiplex, that the begathon programming be carried on ONE STREAM ONLY.

[size=8pt]OPB, in particular, has become notorious for tying up *both* of its two video subchannels simulcasting the *same exact redundant programming* during begging season, and yes, they have gotten many, many complaints from myself and undoubtedly others for this practise. As if we didn't know what Suzie Orman looked like on the first stream.....

(10-02 isn't a simulcast anymore, people! Stop using it as such during your begathons!)

 

[imhomerjay]

Litmus test? How about none of the FCC's business?

 

[tripinva]

OPB, in particular, has become notorious for tying up *both* of its two video subchannels simulcasting the *same exact redundant programming* during begging season, and yes, they have gotten many, many complaints from myself and undoubtedly others for this practise.

WBRA does this as well, yet another on the long list of reasons that I refuse to watch that station. They do an SD simulcast on 15-2 24/7 anyway, but then dump the World programming off of 15-3 during pledge drives as well, so you get to see the same crap pledge programming thrice.

- Trip

 

[OldNumber7]

What should be the litmus test for local not-for-profit PBS stations in limiting the amount of time they can devote to begathons? The informercials?

Let the market decide. If viewers want to sit through that crap, and pay the station for the privilege, that's the viewer's problem -- not the government's.

 

[Braves2005]

Would this apply to the auctions that PBS stations give a week for and totally pre-empt the whole night time schedule? San Antonio has had one for their station (KLRN) for decades now.

 

[sdwulfdawg]

Litmus test? How about none of the FCC's business?

I disagree. In essence, public broadcasters are allowed to get money competing against commercial stations who have to pay taxes on their profits. It is just like so-called "religious broadcasters." They use the public airwaves, very often, to spread hateful messages on whoever they want to, yet not pay taxes just by declaring themselves as "non profit." Churches cannot legally have a minister use his pulpit to sway the congregation with a message of a political nature but maintain a not-for-profit status vis-a-vis the IRS.

 

[MarcB]

Connecticut Public Television. They are the broadcast home of the University of Connecticut Women's Huskies Basketball. Since PBS is non-commercial where commercials would air if the games were on a commercial station they air pledge breaks. They've carried the games for years.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

If San Diego public broadcasting is ripe for being sued, I guess you could sue them. I'd like to know the grounds on which they could be sued now, and what the court says later.

 

[anotherguyTN]

One loophole I think that PBS stations are using is that they claim the product they're selling is a "gift" that viewers get for a donation of $XXX.00, which is usually more than it's actually worth if you were to buy the same thing in a store somewhere. Perhaps something should be be done to put a stop to that.

If enough people refuse to donate PBS stations will have to change their tactics. It has always irritated me how PBS stations will run specials that they wouldn't touch any other time and then beg for money supposedly "To keep great programming like this on your local PBS station", only for it to never be seen again until the next begathon. As long as they run these kinds of lies I will never donate to a PBS station.

 

[TheBigA]

You folks are blaming the stations for the fact that people are basically cheap, and like to watch the PBS programming for free. Less than 10% of PBS viewers actually become paying members. That's crazy. People need to be beaten over the head before they give money. They have to feel bad about it. Other charities use pictures of starving childen or abused animals. PBS uses hits from the 60s performed by the original artists. Which would you prefer? Meanwhile, we have politicians in Washington campaigning to shut down PBS and end federal support, and several state governments have sold their PBS stations for political reasons. If this campaign to end government funding comes true, you can expect MORE, not less fundraising. And until there's a way to charge viewers for watching PBS, the stations will need to beg and beg and beg. Rather than blame the station, why not come up with a better way for the stations to raise the money?

 

[PTBoardOp94]

One loophole I think that PBS stations are using is that they claim the product they're selling is a "gift" that viewers get for a donation of $XXX.00, which is usually more than it's actually worth if you were to buy the same thing in a store somewhere. Perhaps something should be be done to put a stop to that.

What regulation is being skirted by this "loophole"? And is it the same thing that the Susan G. Komen Foundation offered to send me a T-shirt after I donated to them?

Statistically, around three-quarters of PBS donors decline the pledge premium.

 

[azumanga]

Litmus test? How about none of the FCC's business?

I disagree. In essence, public broadcasters are allowed to get money competing against commercial stations who have to pay taxes on their profits. It is just like so-called "religious broadcasters." They use the public airwaves... yet not pay taxes just by declaring themselves as "non profit."

Furthermore, the channels many PBS stations broadcast on are allocated for educational use, meaning they couldn't have commercial messages at any time.

 

[1st of 5]

How are the funds collected from these begathons used? Does that money go to pay for the programming only or the operating expenses, rent, equipment or salaries or all of the above? What about local PBS station salaries, does the staff, including the suits, get paid on the same scale as a "for-profit" commercial station? If so, why? Aren't they supposed to be something like a charity and not a corrupt fund raiser rip off scheme used to employ lazy college grads like United Way? The local PBS station in San Antonio, KLRN, has several late model, expensive looking and somewhat impractical PT Cruisers, fully decaled with promo/program items. I wonder if those were donated by a dealership or did those generous donations, love offerings, extortion funds pay for them? What does a "public broadcasting" station need with such expensive looking vehicles? Why not drive around in one's own POV, since it all supposed to be "non-profit" and "for the public good"? I don't see the Salvation Army squandering money on unnecessary and frivilous wasteful toys like PBS. As long as its OTA, why pay?

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Just like any other organization that collects donations, pledges to PBS stations can be used for any purpose that management desires.

According to IRS records, KLRN took in $2.29 million in donations and just under a million in government funding in tax year 2009, paying a salary to 96 employees. One of those employees made a six-figure salary. They incurred operating losses of nearly a million dollars.

 

[anotherguyTN]

One loophole I think that PBS stations are using is that they claim the product they're selling is a "gift" that viewers get for a donation of $XXX.00, which is usually more than it's actually worth if you were to buy the same thing in a store somewhere. Perhaps something should be be done to put a stop to that.

What regulation is being skirted by this "loophole"? And is it the same thing that the Susan G. Komen Foundation offered to send me a T-shirt after I donated to them?

Statistically, around three-quarters of PBS donors decline the pledge premium.

I don't know of a specific law, but it looks to me like that giving something as a "gift" for a donation is a way to skirt around saying they're selling the items to make money for the station.

 

[TheBigA]

Not really. Some people feel they need to get something in return when they give to a charity. Just giving isn't enough. I really don't think any PBS station thinks they're in the tote bag business.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

One of the major mistakes PBS stations make during these "beg-a-thons" is airing the same "specials" over and over again. How many times, for example, must one see James Taylor in concert?

This special programming results in a "Catch-22" situation.

Those regular viewers get upset when their regular programs are preempted for the special shows and then those who tune in for the special programs are ticked when the beg-a-thons end and the regular shows return.

While I am 100 percent opposed to government funding for PBS and NPR, I do believe that those who view or listen to programs offered by these media outlets should support them with private donations. It is true that a large majority of viewers and listeners to public broadcasting don't bother to support their local stations financially; and that's just not right.

 

[JeeperOne]

If enough people refuse to donate PBS stations will have to change their tactics. It has always irritated me how PBS stations will run specials that they wouldn't touch any other time and then beg for money supposedly "To keep great programming like this on your local PBS station", only for it to never be seen again until the next begathon. As long as they run these kinds of lies I will never donate to a PBS station.

KBDI 12 here in Denver is THE BIGGEST offender of this. I can only think of one (Maybe two!) occasions which they deviated from this & that was to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of JFK's Assassination by showing NBC's coverage of that event & the 30th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing which they showed ABC's coverage of

I believe both were offered as gifts during Beg-A-Thons prior to each occasion too if I'm not mistaken.....

Cheers & 73

 

[JeeperOne]

true, you can expect MORE, not less fundraising. And until there's a way to charge viewers for watching PBS, the stations will need to beg and beg and beg. Rather than blame the station, why not come up with a better way for the stations to raise the money?

Fine. Got any bright ideas as to how one might achieve this genius?

If you ain't got any, then.....

Just sayin'

Cheers & 73