From: streeter@cs.unca.edu (Tom Streeter)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv
Subject: Public (but not too public) Broadcasting
Date: 14 Aug 92 19:07:29 GMT
Article-I.D.: cs.1992Aug14.190729.16230
Distribution: na
Organization: University of North Carolina at Asheville

Ever wondered why it seems like there are only a half-dozen
organizations providing programming to PBS?  Maybe it's because that's
the way they want it.

PBS and CPB (Corporation for Public Broadcasting) recently sent out an
invitation for proposals for a new 8:00PM weekday series.  The idea is
that, though a jointly administered Program Challenge Fund, PBS and CPB
will award up to $6 million to produce one year's worth of the program
(anywhere from 10 to 52 episodes, according to the guidelines).
According to the flyer, they're looking for a program that has potential
to become a new "signature series" (their term) on the order of
MacNeil/Lehrer, Frontline, Nova, or Masterpiece Theater (their examples
-- hope John and the "Group" don't hear about this.  "ITEM:  PBS
Snub!" :-)  ).  The deal is that the series gets a year of funding, then
has to compete for renewal with the rest of the programming.  So far, so
good.

Then comes the eligibility guidelines:

"Independent producers, production companies, and public television
stations are invited to apply.  *However, to be eligible, producers must
have previously produced programming that has been scheduled nationally
in primetime* [emphasis in original].  Submissions from women and
minorities are encouraged, as are co-productions between public
television stations and independent producers.  Co-productions with
foreign broadcasters should be submitted by the U.S. co-producer,
whether an independent or public television station producer.
Co-production arrangements should be detailed in the proposal.  In order
to be eligible, submitters of co-productions with foreign broadcasters
must be able to demonstrate the presence of a U.S. producer."

It seems to me that the "previously produced programming ... in
primetime" clause is an efficient way to insure that nothing *too*
original makes it to PBS. It's understandable that PBS and CPB want to
be sure that the producers will actually be able to deliver on the
investment, but it seems the extensive application procedure should be
able to eliminate all but the most serious proposals.  It seems odd that
an organization with the stated goals of trying to "...serve all
Americans" and "increase the use of PTV programming" would *formally*
require that new producers with fresh ideas team up with old producers
with established ideas.  Given that there are a shrinking number of
producers willing to run the gauntlet to secure a noncommercial slot
(now that there are commercial alternatives), it seems that this
particular requirement is an unnecessary barrier to entry.  Soon, I
fear, PBS may be nothing but 24-hour WGBH-produced Bill Moyers programs
interupted only for 'Sesame Street,' 'Mister Rogers,' and, of course,
pledge breaks.

I'm a strong supporter of the notion of publically-supported
noncommercial broadcasting (and I have the cancelled check stubs to
prove it), but it disturbs me to see that organizations founded to be an
alternative to the 6th Avenue/Hollywood axis have managed only to create
a new good-ol'-boy programming chokepoint of their own.


-- 
Tom Streeter                                |   streeter@cs.unca.edu
Dept. of Mass Communication                 |   704-251-6227
University of North Carolina at Asheville   |   Opinions expressed here are
Asheville, NC 28804                         |   mine alone.
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv