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Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

cpb.org

521–530 of 646 posts

Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#521

This is a giant thread full of people lamenting the demise of public broadcasting so it seems like someone should write the comment that points out that CPB doesn't do PBS programming. They don't develop content. They're a grantmaking organization that manages the distribution of the congressional PBS appropriation. The actual PBS and NPR shows you're familiar with are generally developed and produced privately, and…

> The actual PBS and NPR shows you're familiar with are generally developed and produced privately, and then purchased by local PBS stations

Purchased using funds from CPB. Most of the grants went to stations, not content producers. But pulling funds from stations will in fact harm the content producers too.

Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#522

From Claude -> Notable Programs They Fund: Public television shows like Sesame Street, NOVA, PBS NewsHour, and Masterpiece, as well as NPR programming like Morning Edition and All Things Considered. I like all of those. NPR: $300m budget / 42m listeners = $7.14/yr. Sounds like if I donate $5/mo to KQED and $5/mo to KCSM, I'm supporting them to cover myself and couple other citizens? I don't get what I can do to suppo…

Basically, you donate to a PBS member station, and the station uses at least some portion your money to pay PBS dues.

Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#523
post #51

Every government program should have an expiration date attached to it when signed into law.

This. And to make it even better: every law should only be about one thing, just the thing it's meant to deal with, and nothing else.

I would have them split the laws up as separate entities but let them vote on a package of laws under one vote.

I feel the current rules against earmarking has made it so they negotiate less.

Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#524
post #459

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The NM report says that there were 900,000 total Passport streams in 2024. Because there are 52 weeks in a year, that's an average of only about 17,300 streams per week.

Have you looked any closer at these numbers? This is something like 90% of the entire New Mexico household audience . Does that sound plausible to you?

If you're accusing them of lying on their report because it disagrees with the off-the-cuff remark you made about OTA TV being dead everywhere, then I'm not sure what I can do. I'm not a journalist. Personally I find it inspiring that New Mexico PBS has managed to become one of the most watched PBS stations in the country (often in the top 10 for prime-time viewership) when it serves the 37th most populous state, and feel that it's a great example of how public broadcasting is able to reach underserved communities.

Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#525

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Can you cite specific examples of this "bias?" Read https://www.thefp.com/p/npr-editor-how-npr-lost-americas-tru... by NPR veteran that shows how NPR developed a left wing bias over time. Also at https://archive.is/H7QNM https://washingtonstand.com/news/npr-has-zero-republicans-87... NPR Has Zero Republicans, 87 Democrats on Editorial Staff

Why would anyone care about A's criticism of competitor B? -- FWIW: "The Washington Stand is Family Research Council’s outlet for news and commentary from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand is based in Washington, D.C. and is published by FRC, whose mission is to advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview. We invite you to stand with us by partnering with FRC…

eyeroll. Might want to look at the original article by the NPR veteran himself which was the first one posted, but has a paywall. The Washington Stand only elaborated it. Argue based on the facts and merits of the article.

Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#526
post #524

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you looked any closer at these numbers? This is something like 90% of the entire New Mexico household audience . Does that sound plausible to you?

If you're accusing them of lying on their report because it disagrees with the off-the-cuff remark you made about OTA TV being dead everywhere, then I'm not sure what I can do. I'm not a journalist. Personally I find it inspiring that New Mexico PBS has managed to become one of the most watched PBS stations in the country (often in the top 10 for prime-time viewership) when it serves the 37th most populous state, and…

No, I don't think New Mexico PBS is lying. I think it's much more likely that we don't understand the stat we're arguing about. Uh, I'm just going to come out and say it: even in 1995, at the height of linear television, 80+% of the NM market was not watching PBS. Sorry, this doesn't pencil out.

Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#527

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not reliable, as cell sites can go down in disasters, while the giant secured antennae that broadcast PBS and NPR aren't going anywhere.

I have NEVER tuned into PBS for weather and disaster alerts. Growing up in rural America I've seen this headline multiple times, but I'm 99% sure in my community PBS doesn't actually do any weather coverage during tornadoes or similar. You MIGHT get a required alert tone and a banner, but no radar or anything of real value. Our local news stations do an amazing job and they don't ask me to donate.

I spent over a week in an area that went without electricity and most utilities after a widespread disaster. By virtue of living through one previously, I had a generator hooked up to the gas line, so I still had power during and after this disaster.

Internet access was down, cable was down, cell service wasn't there or was overloaded 2G that was useless, but I had did have OTA DTV. The local PBS partner station covered pertinent information about what was going on, recovery efforts, when/where to get fuel and other assistance, what kind of disaster relief to expect and when, etc.

Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#528
post #478

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We'll find out, but I think always the bias on HN is towards whichever interpretation of an event is most dramatic.

It's unfortunate, but as someone who's been on HN since probably 2010, I remember the ethos of this site to news like this used to be a lot more "let's find an opportunity" – maybe I'm looking with rose colored glasses. People would say "should we setup a donation site" or "how can we build a product that saves local affiliate stations money" etc etc etc. Maybe that's still happening quietly. But I just see a lot mor…

We had 15 years seeing how well "just throw a startup at it" actually pans out

Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#529
post #433

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the idea that people in rural markets are watching PBS OTA linear content is a claim that will need to be supported with evidence. Linear television is dead, pretty much everywhere.

Sure! I'd love to provide you with evidence. In West Virginia, a state with a population of 1.8 million, West Virginia Public Broadcasting reported 193,687 weekly TV viewers and 85,933 weekly radio listeners in FY 2023. https://wvpublic.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/WVPB-Annual-... In New Mexico, a state with a population of 1.8 million, New Mexico PBS reported 720,000 weekly TV viewers in 2024. https://www.newmexic…

Only an anecdote, but when we vacationed in southern West Virginia, we relied on public radio. It's the only thing we could regularly get.

Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#530

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have NEVER tuned into PBS for weather and disaster alerts. Growing up in rural America I've seen this headline multiple times, but I'm 99% sure in my community PBS doesn't actually do any weather coverage during tornadoes or similar. You MIGHT get a required alert tone and a banner, but no radar or anything of real value. Our local news stations do an amazing job and they don't ask me to donate.

I spent over a week in an area that went without electricity and most utilities after a widespread disaster. By virtue of living through one previously, I had a generator hooked up to the gas line, so I still had power during and after this disaster. Internet access was down, cable was down, cell service wasn't there or was overloaded 2G that was useless, but I had did have OTA DTV. The local PBS partner station cove…

I understand my experience is subjective, but I'm actually a bit amazed. Thanks for the info, and I'm glad you had something.

Something similar happened to me like 15 years ago, and I just had a AM radio.

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