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Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

cpb.org

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Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#91

Post by atonse »

xnx wrote: post #24
atonse wrote: post #12

According to this page [1] PBS only receives about 15% of its funds from federal funding. The rest is from donations. 1: https://foundation.pbs.org/ways-to-give/gifts-to-the-pbs-end... So this certainly won't be the death of PBS, as I had feared. Update 2: For the record (easier to respond in this original post than to each response), I am not defending the decision at all. I grew up listening to NPR, and have been o…

> PBS only receives about 15% of its funds from federal funding I'm a big fan of PBS, but I wonder if this common stat is misleading. Don't a huge portion of PBS funds come from member stations, which get a portion of their funds from federal funding?

My link is literally from the PBS foundation. I'm very careful about my sources in this age of constant misinformation.

Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#92

Post by munchler »

Eisenstein wrote: post #64
munchler wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ideally, it would be entirely non-commercial, funded by direct donations from the public.

What are taxes for, then?

Things that are supported by a durable majority of the population. I wish that included public broadcasting, but it doesn't.

Personally, I'm tired of hearing conservatives whine about public broadcasting. This will at least shut them up for good.

Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#93

Post by infamia »

Pfhortune wrote: post #30
munchler wrote: post #20

I listen to NPR every day and, honestly, I think this might be for the best. It's going to hurt for a while, but in the end, I think public broadcasting will be stronger when it stands on its own without interference from politicians.

> I think public broadcasting will be stronger when it stands on its own without interference from politicians. What does the "public" in "public broadcasting" mean to you?

Can we call it public broadcasting when it fails to even dimly reflect the diversity of ideas for the areas it serves? Milk toast conservatives like Juan Williams were deemed intolerable a long time ago, so calling it public radio at this point is a misnomer and a sad farce.

Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#95

Post by burkaman »

tptacek wrote: post #48
softwaredoug wrote: post #31

This is a better outcome than Trump minions taking over CPB

What would they have been able to do? CPB mostly just funnels money to stations. They don't produce content.

They could have chosen which specific shows they would fund, they weren't required to give out no-strings-attached grants. They once hand-picked Tucker Carlson to host a new PBS show that they would fund.

Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#96

Post by annoyinglawyer »

digitalsushi wrote: post #2

When I was a teenager in the 90s an old guy took me aside and told me there'd be a day we get rid of public radio, and a day we'd have our final serving of affordable tuna sushi, and that after that, I'd be living in what he deemed the future. One down.

Idk where you're living, but where I am, fresh tuna has gone from $16.00 a # to $25.00 a # in only the last couple years.

Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#97

Post by fidotron »

thrownawaysz wrote: post #68
another_twist wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thats expected. In functioning democracies state media is run for the purpose not profit. It doesnt have the corrupting influence of political money. PBS in the US could be so much better. Just look at what BBC is able to do in the UK.

>Just at what BBC is able to do in the UK. This is funny because BBC is a prime example of being a propaganda channel for the government of the day. And that's not new at all just look back at the coverage of the Troubles or the miners strikes in the 70s-80s. Yes it's not on the level of CGTN or Russia Today but BBC is not neutral at all https://theconversation.com/hard-evidence-how-biased-is-the-...

In fairness to the BBC on the rare occasions they do cross paths with the government this happens: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hutton_Inquiry

I'm not sure anyone that is familiar with this has been able to take what they say seriously since because they are so clearly on such a short leash.

Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#98

Post by wffurr »

legitster wrote: post #38

Contrary to the conservative spin over the years, I have found public broadcasting to be one of the least biased sources of headline news and information available. (For their national broadcasts at least - local ... can be hit or miss). In particular, their kids programming is the absolute best. Nothing flashy or exciting, but it's laser focused on education and has zero agenda. And the PBS kids apps are one of the…

Losing PBS Kids will be a tragedy. One of the few high quality sources of kids' programming out there. So much of the commercial options are dreck.

Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#99

Post by fsflover »

wffurr wrote: post #84
digitalsushi wrote: post #2

When I was a teenager in the 90s an old guy took me aside and told me there'd be a day we get rid of public radio, and a day we'd have our final serving of affordable tuna sushi, and that after that, I'd be living in what he deemed the future. One down.

What's happening to tuna sushi?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38913649

Re: Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operations

#100

Post by atonse »

not2b wrote: post #32
heavyset_go wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

PBS themselves[1] state that CPB funding is what kept local stations solvent, so without funding, they will likely close. They also state that the bulk of CPB funding pays for national NPR and PBS programs, so those will see cuts, too. [1] https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/house-gives-final-appr...

Rural stations relied heavily on CPB funding; urban stations get most of their funding from donations or corporate underwriting. So big city public TV and radio will survive, but those in less populated areas might go under unless some other source of funding is found.

I agree overall that this is not a good thing for also furthering a knowledge gap between rural and urban areas. But in the age of internet streaming, wouldn't rural areas still have access to stream public radio? Genuinely asking.

I tried looking for sources on station audience sizes, alternatives they might have, etc. But it was difficult to find.

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