KUHT station manager John Hesse said Channel 8 became aware of the Frontline story, titled Blackout , and its Houston connection last week. Because of its local news value, the show will be tape-delayed and aired on KUHT at 10 tonight. It will be repeated at 9 p.m. June 12, when Channel 8 originally had planned to air the show. The problem is, it's right in the beginning of our pledge evening. We had a schedule in place, and a decision was made to stick to that schedule because that was our opportunity for fund raising.
Fund drives are vital to keep the station operating and to purchase quality programming.
We only use about 2 percent of our air time a year in fund-raising efforts, and when we're using that 2 percent, we have to make the most of them. That's no comfort to the folks who were hoping to experience what turned out to be theatrical history being made. Hesse explained that Channel 8's pledge-drive dates were set before the station knew whether PBS would even have the Tonys. The first hour of Sunday's show had direct links to theater talents whose work has been seen and heralded in Houston. David Woolard, nominated for best costume design for The Rocky Horror Show, is costume designer of The Carpetbagger's Children , which opens Wednesday at the Alley.