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PBS -> Here Come The Ads

Markxxx

Markxxx

A divided U.S. appeals court struck down a federal ban on political advertising on public TV and radio stations, a decision that could open the public airwaves to a heavy dose of campaign ads leading up to the November elections.

By a 2-1 vote, a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said the Federal Communications Commission violated the First Amendment's free speech clause by blocking public broadcasters from running political and public issue ads...

...It upheld a ban on ads for goods and services on behalf of for-profit companies.
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Full story at the Chicago Tribune

So what you all thing. On one hand I'm for anything that takes airtime away from Elmo :) But on the other, I don't like the idea of PBS stations, already going broke, becoming dependent on ads.

And since I'm now out of hands, what do you all think?
 
PBS is already loaded with ads (only one "D"); they have been for years.For-profit commercials via PBS are really nothing new. Ever watch the first and last couple minutes of just about any programme they run? Or practically anything during beg-a-thon time?

[size=8pt]Or even "This Old House"? ;o)
 
I'm for allowing ads on PBS stations if it will get rid of the begathons. But this ruling apparently only allows political ads. I'd still be for keeping political ads out.
 
gregg75 said:
I'm with you on that. I'd rather see Comet advertised on PBS than political adds.
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I agree. It's time we throttle back "all the political ads you can afford" and get some control back in our election advertising.

As for commercial ads, I guess I have no opinion. I watch so little of PBS that it wouldn't make a big difference to me. The DVR works on PBS too. ;D
 
Political ads (only one "D") would indicate favouritism on PBS' or possibly the affiliate's part. I certainly wouldn't be in favour of that.

KOPB is probably the only refuge there seems to be on the Vancouver/Portland terrestrial airwaves from the ravages of the election season! Once that's gone.....well, I guess there is always the weather map on KGWZ.
 
Are they even running ads? I thought all they did was run those "underwritten by" messages.
I don't recall ever seeing an actual commercial on PBS.
 
nomadcowatbk said:
Did the court say stations couldn't refuse ads?
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Good question, and the answer is no. The decision only deals with the role of the FCC. But if the station, or a group of stations, wants to create its own standards, in the way the NAB once had its "code," it still can, and can still refuse to air political or controversial ads. Also, according to Inside Radio, this decision only applies to 7 westerns stations, and is likely to be appealed by the FCC. As we've seen with the obscenity rules, they're willing to go to the Supreme Court.
 
Stations can create standards, but there is a rule about reasonable access that applies to broadcasters. Your local ABC, for instance, can't turn down a candidate ad (though they can turn down an issue ad). That's just one of the wrinkles that would apply--including the rules about candidates having the right to the best pricing offered to other clients. How that would apply to stations not running traditional advertising would be another issue to be ironed out.
 
FreddyE1977 said:
Are they even running ads? I thought all they did was run those "underwritten by" messages.
I don't recall ever seeing an actual commercial on PBS.
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WTTW Chicago and a few other stations ran ads between shows in the '80s and early '90s. I don't know if they still do.
 
TheBigA said:
Also, according to Inside Radio, this decision only applies to 7 westerns stations, and is likely to be appealed by the FCC. As we've seen with the obscenity rules, they're willing to go to the Supreme Court.
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Maybe not. Based on their recent decision in Citizens United it could have only two likely outcomes:

1) Let the appeals court decision stand
2) Broaden it further, perhaps remove any and all restrictions

An FCC under this administration may not feel like rolling the dice. Particularly if they get their heads
handed to them on health care in a few weeks.
 
Any of you watch the Deutsche Welle news on PBS? If you do, pay attention around the 15-minute point of that programme. Granted, they're almost always *European* commercials, but still.
 
Darth_vader said:
Any of you watch the Deutsche Welle news on PBS? If you do, pay attention around the 15-minute point of that programme. Granted, they're almost always *European* commercials, but still.
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When ITN World News / World News for Public Television ran on some PBS stations in the 1990s, there was some sort of ad break halfway into the show, which is most-often given to affiliates to fill themselves. In Tampa Bay, WUSF simply filled this spot with promos.
 
Yeah, OPB don't do that with DW. They usually just let it run through. I'm surprised they can get away with that, but then, it's surprising the current OPB even get away with half the stuff they do, period!

Then again, OPB do produce the Deutsche Welle programming (used to be called "European Journal" years ago) that airs in the US, so maybe that has something to do with it...
 
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