I see they have once again trotted out the same music specials they have been airing for the last 15+ years. I remember when they aired new specials during the membership drive with live, local pledge breaks. And those new specials would air again after membership drive without interruptions. But that is no longer the case. It seems they have gotten either cheap or lazy. It is not a big deal for me as I don't watch PBS as often as I used to.
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PBS Membership Drive
- Thread starter skiwest
- Start date
"Beg-A-Thon"
It tickles me to see how the music groups PBS features changed over the years. First, it was the big bands and their singers, then it was fifties crooners, then doo-wop groups, then '60's folk and pop stars, now it's aging acid rock and disco bands, all chasing the old viewers to get them to send them some of that money they're sitting on. Soon they'll have rappers on stage.
I do miss the local live segments 25 and 49 used to have. They were a great opportunity for radio folks to volunteer and get some free face time on the tube. I particularly liked 49's, with announcer Cliff Baechle and their long time GM (whose name escapes me). He was a big Britcom fan and occasionally he got some of those stars to appear with them.
Not only is the fund raising canned and rather phoney now, PBS itself doesn't seem as entertaining and compelling. And many of their offerings are also showing up on other cable, sub and streaming channels.
I do miss the local live segments 25 and 49 used to have. They were a great opportunity for radio folks to volunteer and get some free face time on the tube. I particularly liked 49's, with announcer Cliff Baechle and their long time GM (whose name escapes me). He was a big Britcom fan and occasionally he got some of those stars to appear with them.
Not only is the fund raising canned and rather phoney now, PBS itself doesn't seem as entertaining and compelling. And many of their offerings are also showing up on other cable, sub and streaming channels.
All traditional mass medias, commercial and non-comms, are suffering from revenue declines....for many off about 50% from a decade ago. Some more than that. Consumers watch/read/listen and businesses who buy advertising have unlimited options on the internet today. The media time and bulk of advertising dollars before the internet went to traditional medias fairly easily. With the huge popularity of the web, it’s a very different world today. Many huge cut backs in staff and promotional expenses has occurred while traditional mass medias simply try to just survive in this very changed media environment.
I recall some years ago a 1950s-early 1960s music special on PBS played like an overnight infomercial. I watched a couple of minutes, got annoyed, and shut it off.
There was something about the WVIZ pledge drives of the 1970's and early 80's, that made the breaks, tolerable.
I miss knowing they were live, in studio and basically "with us watching the programs". I think its also safe to say the (Over a week long) auction is a thing of the past. Again, it was another opportunity to see local celebrities (even from other stations) and getting a taste of how Clevelander's bid and reacted to certain "for sale" items.
Most pledge drives today seem to be in March, August and either October and/or January. (Clearly avoiding regular networks "Sweeps months").
One last thought. Just once, I'd like to hear WVIZ refer to itself as "Channel 25" again. The whole "Idea Stream" thing, I don't find to be a marketable way to sell public T.V.
I miss knowing they were live, in studio and basically "with us watching the programs". I think its also safe to say the (Over a week long) auction is a thing of the past. Again, it was another opportunity to see local celebrities (even from other stations) and getting a taste of how Clevelander's bid and reacted to certain "for sale" items.
Most pledge drives today seem to be in March, August and either October and/or January. (Clearly avoiding regular networks "Sweeps months").
One last thought. Just once, I'd like to hear WVIZ refer to itself as "Channel 25" again. The whole "Idea Stream" thing, I don't find to be a marketable way to sell public T.V.
Hmmm. Why do you think WVIZ no longer runs the live, in studio auction style with local celebrities fund drives? Anybody care to guess??? Why are they repeating canned national oldies concert fund raisers so frequently???
Because there are no "local" celbrities left. Guess they could put a tadio station's voice-tracking Dell computer on camera as it tries to interact with a human on the phone. As far as local TV stars....unless you count the news people...there are none. Think they'd get nervous having Ed/Peggy Gallek there in case they launch an I-Team investigation. Carl Monday also a no-go as he'd probably go after Oscar the Grouch for masturbating on Big Bird's nest while reading Trashmen's Monthly.
Because there are no "local" celbrities left. Guess they could put a tadio station's voice-tracking Dell computer on camera as it tries to interact with a human on the phone. As far as local TV stars....unless you count the news people...there are none. Think they'd get nervous having Ed/Peggy Gallek there in case they launch an I-Team investigation. Carl Monday also a no-go as he'd probably go after Oscar the Grouch for masturbating on Big Bird's nest while reading Trashmen's Monthly.
Wasn't there a virus of some sort wreaking havoc with concerts in 2020 and 2021? Could that be part of the stale schedule problem?
Don't forget sports stars, at least in major professional sports cities, and well-known college coaches and former stars in cities where college football or basketball is a big deal. Not sure if the college athletes can participate in such fundraising without jeopardizing their amateur status with the NCAA.
I saw one today, a big band show, from 2009, co-hosted by “Hollywood Squares” host Peter Marshall. It was interesting to see how young-looking producer TJ Lubinsky appeared. I always enjoyed his other offerings, although they also have a lot of mileage on them. As these stars are leaving us at an accelerated rate, so are many of their fans. How much longer will these shows be offered? Personally, I hope a long time, but eventually there may be an expiration date.
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I saw one a couple of weeks ago that had to have been 15 years old with a couple of new segments. It had a lot of now-deceased artists. We're talking Levi Stubbs still being alive and performing
VintageMac
Banned
The problem with many of the My Music/T.J. Lubinksy shows is the fairly loud audience noise/clapping too often which in many cases appears to be artificial so it takes away from the enjoyment of the music.
Agreed. They also devote way too much time cutting away from the performers to show the audience singing, clapping, etc.
I worked at a couple auctions years ago when they were still in the old building on Brookpark Rd.
Clapping by design. Keeps you from making a recording.
VintageMac
Banned
You can still record it but who would want it with all that noise?
I sorta think the idea is to donate $150 and buy the DVD
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