funding cut for public television

[alwy15]

Posted: 6/19/05 at 11:32am

http://www.backstage.com/backstage/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000963857

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 6/19/05 at 11:34am

Oh my g-d
25%?!?!?!?!
Can they do that?!?!?!?!

[nmartin]

Posted: 6/19/05 at 11:39am

Of course they can do it. Republicans

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 6/19/05 at 12:48pm

If they can convince the ROUNDABOUT theatre to close ASSASSSINS before they have their convention in New York, and if they can forbid their members from attending NAKED BOYS SINGING,why would Republicans stop at nothing short of mind control to ensure their wishes prevail? (In Canada they are called The Conservative Party)

[Plum]

Posted: 6/19/05 at 12:51pm

It hasn't been passed yet, people. Write your Representative and Senators, especially if they're Republicans.

Write Your Representative
http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Write Your Senators
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[trpguyy]

Posted: 6/19/05 at 12:52pm

So wait, now PUBLIC television gets less money from the government? So you mean, it will actually be PUBLICly funded now? I thought the whole idea of public television was to get rid of corporate influence. How is government funding any different than corporate funding?

I don't see what the problem is.

And I'd like to see some proof of Assassins closing because of the GOP.

[Plum]

Posted: 6/19/05 at 12:57pm

Because the government doesn't run commercials during a show. Big difference there. PBS is pretty remarkable for being the only non-premium channel that doesn't have commercial breaks during its programming.

Trpguyy, your logic puzzles me.
Updated On: 6/19/05 at 12:57 PM

[Plum]

Posted: 6/19/05 at 1:04pm

To elaborate further, if you want proof that government funding is different than corporate funding, just look at PBS and compare it to every other channel. Can you picture a commercial channel airing a concert of Candide in prime time? No, because it's not the most profitable thing to do. Public television can do things like that because it's guaranteed a certain amount of money and doesn't have to worry as much about getting ratings to sell its airtime for a higher price.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 6/19/05 at 1:49pm

I'll use PBS' news broadcast as an example...

Say Wal Mart gives PBS $1B annually. And say that Jim Lehrer has a story that will significantly damage Wal Mart. I bet that story won't get much attention, because of the corporate influence. And if the story is broadcast, say goodbye to the 1 bil.

So if the government gives PBS tons of money, the same can happen. PBS starts to get too liberal, funding gets cut.

Guess what, it's happening.

[Plum]

Posted: 6/19/05 at 2:00pm

And it's a first- that's why everyone is up in arms about it. Corporate censorship is practically expected, but the CPB is supposed to protect PBS and NPR from political influences.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 6/19/05 at 2:38pm

"Next on SESAME STREET (brought to you by PepsiCo), Big Bird teaches you how to be young, have fun and drink a cold, refreshing beverage that begins with the letter P."