We have to cut something to pay for the extra 13 months of unemployment benefits!
(Especially as we wait for tax cut revenue to replenish the coffers, though the coffers would fill up more and quicker if we had more economic stability beyond two measly years since no business owner/employer sketches anything out for such a short amount of time.)
Now the stories come that NPR/PBS is upon uncertain times.
I’ve yet to find the term “ELMO” or “THIS AMERICAN LIFE” listed as subsidies in Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution.
At stake are hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding and the future of such popular programs as “Nova,” “This American Life” and “Sesame Street.”
And while public media has long been a favorite target for Republican lawmakers, the mounting federal deficit — coupled with a series of PR blunders — mean that threats to slash government aid to non-profit stations are no longer just idle boasting.
[...]
Should the government turn off the spigot, National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting Service will likely have enough corporate and donor support to limp along, but jobs will be lost and popular shows will have to be canceled. On a local level, some of the thousands of public television and radio stations will almost certainly have to close up shop.
What?! You mean progressives won’t reach into their pockets and dole out cash to keep alive the stations they love so fiercely? But, but, if they love them so much, why wouldn’t they pay to keep them operating? Are they too lazy or stingy to pay their own way? Is their interest purely slacktivist? It’s trendy in some circles to claim listenership of government stations but sadly trends rarely inspire passion.
Armed with the backing of President Obama’s deficit reduction committee, congressional leaders are gunning for the CPB and its $420 million budget. Funding from the CPB accounts on average for 15 percent of funding for the more than 1,100 public radio and television stations around the country.
The price tag for the new 13-month unemployment benefits extension is $56 billion; cutting CPB’s $420m budget would help to pay for unemployment. Of course, then those folks would be unemployed which made me realize that CPB is already a form of unemployment: government money but instead of paying people to do nothing, it’s going towards paying people to work. For the government.
The bottom line is that there are a million projects like CPB whose budgets could be slashed to pay for unemployment. The tax rate could be slashed more and made permanent and the revenue would create more jobs than any artificial government stimulus, as seen with the Department of Labor’s report wherein Bush’s tax cuts were shown to spur 52 straight weeks of job growth.
Why is it that some groups get a government handout to exist on public airwaves, artificially surviving even the slowest ratings because they’re the government, they can never go off-air. Meanwhile, hordes of independent, private sector companies fight for their line on the dial and pay their own way. I don’t even care if NPR, PBS was completely objective: show me in the Constitution where it states that the government is owed radio and television stations on the backs of the people? It’s a rhetorical request because the answer is: “I can’t.”
I don’t want to just hear and read talk about defunding these camps; the GOP better ball up, and ball up quick. Their fold on “tax cuts” (this wasn’t a “tax cut.” We need actual TAX CUTS and incentive by way of zero regulation to spur the private sector into creating the jobs that folks down on their luck desperately want) was embarrassing. It’s time to get tough or go home.
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295 Comments
"I don’t want to just hear and read talk about defunding these camps; the GOP better ball up, and ball up quick."
Well Ms. Loesch, that is precisely where the premise of your argument just evaporated.
I concur with the sentiments of Cowboy Logic. The GOP is already retreating to it's failed posture. Another election cycle or two and maybe enough real people will be able to make the right calls but as it stands, the GOP is still "Going On Pork".
http://audacitea.blogspot.com/
No, that would be antithetical to the spirit of left-liberalism. Individual action is antithetical to left-liberalism, including individual charity, Unless we're all under the same yoke, it's just not "fair," don't y'know.
Considering how nicely market-supported and private-charity-supported institutions do in America — those that actually, objectively do what they've said they'll do, anyway — the only possible explanations for left-liberals' insistence on government-funded this or that are:
1. They want those institutions to become inefficient, obese, and politically tendentious; or:
2. They're in love with centralized State coercion for its own sake.
Choose according to your tastes.
Not only shut down NPR, but go after Moyer's and Keillor etc, who have profited grossly off of their free public platform while at the same time wagging their finger at private enterprise for being greedy. The rich democrats will not fund this out of their own pockets any sooner than creeps like Pelosi and John Kerry, etc, really intend to raise tax on their own wealth.
NPR & PBS just two more unconstitutional government programs that have failed but, the funding will continue.
"I don’t want to just hear and read talk about defunding these camps; the GOP better ball up, and ball up quick."
If they think their going to get away with playing the old "you feed my pig and I'll feed yours" game with Obama and the Dems and get away with it…….well all I can say is that the pig's won't be the only ones going to the slaughter house come 2012.
You'll hear the arguments about Nova and such having to "go commercial." Hmmmm… poor Sesame Street would have to go "commercial?" As I walk through aisles and aisles of Sesame Street toys, DVDs, plushes… I'll be worrying over how "commercial" PBS had to become.
I'm afraid it's a positive feedback loop. The more government steals and wastes our money, the more it needs government media to tell us everything is A-OK.
Wait a minute, I thought I read way back when that CPB said the government's money was only a "small percentage" of their operating budget and almost in a dare, said they would be fine with out it. I say call their bluff.
I agree completely ……………. they need to find their cojones and step up and use 'em. We just slip further into the abyss if they don't take this liberal government and shake the fertilizer out of it.
I'm betting the GOP is smart enough to figure this one out. If they need a little PUSH from us to remind them, I'm pretty sure that will happen as well. Those programs with enough merit to survive in the brutal commercial world will do fine. The rest of the fluff and crap???–Who cares.
I confess, I don't understand how the whole PBS/NPR/CTW/CPW deal works, but I've never understood how organizations with shows as popular (we're told…I don't know…) as Sesame Street, Lake Wobegone and Car Talk can even their mouth(s) on the taxpayer teat (nod to Al Simpson, who actually kinda looks like Mr. Burns). Do you mean to tell me that PBS gets nothing from the 3.7 trillion Tickle Me Elmo dolls sold? Really? If they don't, who does?
Is Garrison Keillor the only one making money from his hideous show? What about This Old House and all it's spin-offs?
I guess the point is (or should be?) that they could certainly be self supporting if they wanted to, right?
O/T: the other day (2 weeks ago?) I had 84 points. I haven't had time to read or post here lately…but today I see I've lost two points. I don't see any changes on my Intense Debate page…does anyone know what happened?
Your right, and there's the reason the FCC is attempting a strong arm "take over by regulation" of radio and the internet.
They can't get anyone to listen to "government media" and GET THE MESSAGE OUT that despite the fact that you've lost your job, your house is underwater, your wallets missing, and your dogs puppies bare a striking resemblance to your congressman…………………… that everything is A-OK.
As far as I'm concerned, if a specialty network like EWTN can exists in the private sector, so can PBS.
How about cutting something to pay for the 700 billion in tax cuts being given to the top 2%? Oh wait, this is a right wing site. Just blame the poor!
I lost 14 points, and there are a lot of comments on the BIG sites by other people. Evidently someone figured out how to reduce points on a lot of us.
Back in the day, before satellite TV, Keillor and Praraie Home Companion were the highlight of my week. It beat sitting around listening to Lawrence Welk re-runs.
Humor aside, you are correct.
If you researched Minnesota Public Radio, and the Corporation that holds title to Keillor, you would be appalled at what flows into their coffers. It is a shell game. I wrote at length about that here, a month or so ago.
Maybe we should be asking how CHANGE is working out for all of you? But hey, like we didnt know that the GOP would do what they always do; Protect the wealthy at the expense of everyone else.
I don't see why George Soros can't fund CPB. He funds all of the other left media.
Mr. C. and I turn to one another during the several mentions of "sponsored in part by…" at the start of every PBS program and say, "These are NOT commercials." I do not understand why they need tax money if they already have corporate sponsors out the yin-yang.
And you're right. It is just a small amount. They'll simply hold more drives, and maybe cut some salaries. The cuts won't show up on screen. Dana Loesch is making a mountain out of a molehill. You have to be fed something to rant about, so out of the clear blue, she hands you PBS. That's for today. Tomorrow there will be a new topic you can piss yourself over.
If left to public tastes, it'll all be about sex, guns, and wrestling.
But EWTN gets a tax break, so it's basically subsidized.
I'd like to see one post, anybody who will give a reason for NPR/PBS to stay on the government dole.
Just one.
Sounds like a great time to cut the expense associated with a whole host of extra-Constitutional programs and departments. Government media is just a drop in the bucket, but every little bit helps.
Meanwhile, the very small percentage who already pay 40% of the tax bill, will have more motivation and opportunity, in this nation which is employed primarily through small business, to help many from not being poor.
But wait, fewer poor and an (ever so slightly) more equitable tax structure? Howard Dean has to pop another barbie in the shrimp just for contemplating the very possibility!
They already get a cut from the protection money taken from us at gunpoint.
It's for the churlren!!!1!
We may just be seeing the begining of the end of the GOP…
It may be time for true Conservatives to press that reset button…
No doubt all of you will be accused of calling for "censorship" by advocating pulling the plug (or the teat) on entities like PBS. They are terrified, and with good reason, that the public would never willingly support their propaganda. At the same time they are frantically working to regulate conservative broadcasting off the airways.
Yeah, just like the people who pay 40% of all income tax are now going to be subsidized, because even more will now not be taken from them.
Please.
No more Fed.funds for private Media and Arts. If their program is valid it should merit donations in the private arena.
The GOP needs to "ball up" just as Mrs. Leosch states. If they don't, they will end up being the modern day Whig party… on the outside looking in, as a shrinking third party.
How else would the government get its message to all those trusting college graduates who always think for themselves without NPR?
Yeah. In the leftist bizarro world, cutting funding to extra-Constitutional propaganda outlets is censorship, just like letting people and companies simply keep more of what they earn is subsidizing them.
It all comes from a conception of government and society, where people are servants of government, not the reverse.
CLICK……..
Let's start with the U.S. Dept of Ed’s $63.7 billion and with it's discretionary spending of $96.8 billion, totaling $106.5. That’s nice start.
Your taxes pay for programs that call you vile names and make fun of you and cause your children to hate you. Is that a problem?
It's just redistribution. Have you noticed that the trollkins' points appear to have shot up.
I smell subsidy.
Defund the 'Ad Council' too! The only REALLY aggravating, stupid, and nonsensical commercials on radio are subsidized by the 'Ad Council'. Why should we pay for such drivel?
In that case every man, woman and child in America is subsidized. Not to mention those people living outside of the United States who happen to work for American companies.
I am not ready to bash the republican house until the house actually is republican lead. We're still in lame duck and there was a perception of a dead line for this issue – that it must pass in the democat lead lame duck congress. If the republicans pushed too hard they might have got the president to fold but it would seem doubtful that they would have got his help to motivate the liberial congress and without that nothing would have happened – a far worse situation which would have escalated the unemployment rate.
Sesame Street will survive just fine without public funding. Kids go nuts over the toys and stuff.
The programs that relied heavily on that public funding will, of course, go by the wayside. It's about time to they experienced the free market.
Bingo!
Oh. Okay. Where do I send my check?
(snarksnarksnarksnarksnark)
That's what I thought whiny liberal teachers were for!
Perhaps if NPR and PBS would lower the cost of their programming, stations like the one in California wouldn't cancel them as well.
You're right about it being a bargain…for those who like to promulgate a world view that more government is better. You can't do better for your propaganda dollar than to take taxpayers' money from them, and give it to networks which tell taxpayers to feel good about it, and to feel good about having even more taken.
Right. Nothing to see here. Move along.
The people who actually work for a living are tired of supporting you, your family and your entertainment.
Huck points out the hubris of the smarty-pants leadership over at NPR saying that their federal funding is minuscule. Reality is that their funding is once again a shell-game where their reported funding is small, but they get kickbacks from the stations to carry the signal. Those kickbacks are similarly state and federally funded.
Pay for your own progressive propaganda, Alric.
You seem to be missing something. What about the over $800+ billion in spending bills over the past 2 years. Not to mention, the government by any means would not loose any money with tax cuts since all cuts are is just letting people keep more of their money that they earn. The problem is paying for all the actual spending with entitlements, healthcare and other wasted government spending.
Now, if the rich keep more of their money, they can hire the poor and have them move up the economic ladder. But yet, Obama and others want to keep everyone on welfare as they take more money away. In short, the liberals/progressives want to keep the poor poor and rely on government aid instead of them getting a job and relying on themselves.
God, you are an idiot.
This was my thought. Whenever de-funding PBS is discussed, they always drag out Sesame Street. Frankly, the merchandising cash from all of those stuffed Elmos ought to be able to support a dozen broadcasting entities. What? You mean THAT money goes to PRIVATE entities, NOT to PBS? It's made a lot of PEOPLE rich, not PBS?
The other thing that bugs me about them dragging Sesame Street out as being a "national treasure" that would not have been possible without PBS is that most elementary school teachers will tell you that kids who watch a steady diet of Sesame Street have a tough time once they get to school because they have the attention span of gnats.
NASCAR. Don't forget NASCAR.
It is odd, though, that action and police drama are loaded with good guys with guns, yet whenever guns are dealt with in real world media, they are all but invariably treated as something bad. Yet, time and time again, poll after poll reveal that Americans like their guns and want to keep them, and want gun laws liberalized (the good kind). So, public tastes don't seem to dictate, on this particular topic you are keen to stereotype.
Lol. Got coffee up my nose.
I lost 40 points. The professional Kos/Huff trolls have massive scores that are not affected by voting at all.
As tempting as this is, I don't think it is the right idea. What needs to happen is that conservatism needs to catch hold again in the GOP. This is going our way right now (witness Jim DeMint and Paul Ryan) and we should continue to push to have more of these people in Washington. RINOs like John (spit) McCain might not change their beliefs, but they will sure as hell change their voting habits as a result.
Third party efforts have not worked in this country. An exception to this is the Republican Party formed from the Whigs in time for the (I think 1856) election. Lincoln ran as a Republican in 1860…first GOP president. Examples where this has failed are with us in every election cycle (witness Libertarian), but are most noted in recent history in the 1992 election wherein Ross (loony bastard) Perot split the conservative vote to the benefit of Bill (spit, spit, spit, spit, spit, spit) Clinton, the 1972 election (George Wallace, American Independent Party), and 1948 (Strom Thurmond, States Rights democratic Party).
A great education in why this is not a good idea is Theodore Roosevelt who ran as a a third party (Progressive/Bull Moose) candidate when he could not get the 1912 Republican nomination. As a result, he split the vote and "hello, Woodrow (spit, spit) Wilson" as a result. Roosevelt was a universally popular man when he left office and essentially hand-picked his successor, William Taft. With all his (Roosevelt's) popularity he could not pull off a third party win.
In other words, when this happens, the worst possible candidate will usually win. Pray for a left-wing movement to launch primary attacks against Obama. This will splinter the liberals better than anything we could throw at them.
Also, it would appear that our personal IntenseDebate pages, when featuring posts made to BigG (but not the other Bigs, it would appear) are falling to pieces. The BigG posts are turning to word salad, and the margins are all whacked.
Maybe there is something to this hacking rumor.
He already does have a 100 million dollar stake in the game. He felt the need to buy some reporters.
Sometimes, I hear ads promoting this that or the other bit of statist agenda, and then hear at the end that the ad was subsidized by the 'Ad Council.'
The realization that my tax dollars just paid for that chunk of propaganda makes me want to go all Elvis on the radio!
Good Lord you are getting tiring, TB99. I'm not sure how the government has to "pay" for tax cuts.
You have to "pay" for ridiculous entitlement programs. You have to "pay" for irrelevant TV and radio stations. You have to "pay" for bridges to nowhere. Please tell me how you have to "pay" for a tax cut????
Since my wages dropped, I've had to stop buying things that aren't essential.
Repeat: Stop buying things that aren't essential.
And anyway, this article is about funding for public broadcasting. Where does "just blame the poor" come in? All you seem to do is shift every discussion one (lock) step to the left. Stay focused, man.
Hello again TB. I'd like to suggest that we cut your unemployment benefits first. Next we could cut the aide to dependant children check that your poor, hard working mother gets for supporting you. I know that's not a lot, but everything helps!
You know what, Flap? That is exactly the point.
I used to enjoy listening to Car Talk, Wait, Wait and This American Life on the weekend. During the 2008 elections, I was told bluntly and with vigor that my family and I are uneducated, racist dolts and that the values we believe in are stupid, uninspired and selfish.
I am not a marketing major, but I would have to guess that this kind of divisive rhetoric has got to hurt your fund-raising efforts.
I'm not talking third party…
The GOP leadership has to decide, once and for all, who they really represent. Time's running out…
There's one thing to do – target vulnerable GOP lawmakers from the get go. Concerned taxpayers (Tea Party, etc.) have to harass the GOP just as we harassed the Dems.
I, too, am sick of hearing libs, or anyone for that matter, talk about our money as if it comes from government!
Sounds kind of like a bolt finding home…
What you guys don't get… We the People are sick and tired of the class warfare that has been perpetrated by politicians for political gain. It is time to clean house of the elitist politicians who think that they are entitled to rip us off and use any means… be it racial or economic to divide and conquer.
As long as people like you continue to refuse to see what is right in front of your face… there can never be any "change" or "hope" for anyone. Washington is doing business as usual. Nothing has changed.
As long as 50.5% of the population thinks it is entitled to run rough shod over the other 49.5% (and that is in either direction) this is how things will be… with the politicians lovin' the hell out of every moment of being in your pocket to support them and their buddies.
Oh no the Republicans are going to starve the poor children and elderly working at NPR and PBS.
Government workers, who are paid more than those in the private sector, are paid by money received from taxes paid by those in the private sector. With millions of private sector people out-of-work, should the wages of the public sector folks be reduced? Using the same logic as the liberal left, wouldn't that be the FAIR thing to do?
Don't forget to take away the tax exemption.
Somebody, please give me some guidance. What part of the constitution addresses "government sponsored entities?" Name one GSE that is not a colossal mistake.
But, I was told government funding only makes up 2% of the budget so I was being ridiculous when I thought PBS should respect that by avoiding politicized programming. Now you tell me they can't make up a mere 2% shortfall?
This has been the hitch in the Demoleftisit argument from day 1. Charges that we who want govt out of broadcasting are hysterics because govt funding is so small, while at the same time hysterically crying "you want to kill Elmo!" because NPR/PBS can't survive without that govt funding. They don't even care that they don't make sense.
Exactly, its our money to start with and it is the government taking it away. I dont play the lefty class warfare crap. It just shows that their logic is based on jelously instead of morals. At this point and looking at the data time and time again, I see nothing wrong with anyone keeping more of their income.
The obvious big problem the idiots on the left are missing or ignoring is that the government is spending far more than it brings in. So, maybe instead of a tax hike again, why not just cut the damn spending across the field. Like say, all programs, agencies, employees in the government get cut in half, then froze temperally until everything can get balanced once again. Then after spending is taken care of, then we could reform our tax system to a flat-tax and everyone will pay an equal share regaurdless of income.
When I read that Boehner and my representative, Eric Cantor, put HAL ROGERS up for Appropriations Chairman, I knew the PORK was still the GOP meat of choice. Hal Rogers is a public supporter of earmarks and has spent more of your and my money on garbage than I care to think about. This judgement on Boehner and Cantor's part leads me to be suspicious of their principles. I hope you are correct and the new House will bring a new attitude. We shall see. Fingers crossed.
That was the best I could do.
I couldn't figure how to describe the sound of racking a round into a twelve gauge pump online. But for anyone who has ever heard it, it is distinct and it leaves a lasting impression.
Or the safety on a .45.
The Republican party does not care. My 1099-GOV resolution passed the precinct convention unanimously, passed the county convention with only one "no" vote but when it got to the state convention the State Republican Executive Committee had decided that they weren't even going to discuss it. The idea that independent contractors begging for benefits and "income, redistributed" don't deserve to get a 1099-GOV when everybody that works gets W-2's, 1099-MISC, 1099-yaddy…is easily sold except to the leadership. Splain that! We have to take over from INSIDE the Republican party starting at the precinct level and leading to SREC control. Only then will conservative values have a real hearing. Remember: all consultants work for any side and so have the same mindset.
Hal friggen Rogers?
Good Lord!
When Boehner and my representative, Eric Cantor chose HAL ROGERS to back for Appropriations Chairman, I knew PORK was still the meat of choice for the GOP. Rogers is a public supporter of earmarks and has spent more of your and my money on garbage than I care to think about. I hope you are right but this move on Boehner and Cantor's part does not speak to a new mindset. Fingers crossed.
http://audacitea.blogspot.com/
The people have to monitor them all. It's OUR government, hence our duty.
http://audacitea.blogspot.com/
13 years working at a Sheriff's office… yep! It gets attention quickly… no matter how many times you play it…. you can still guess that tune in one note.
I really agree with your analysis i think government is really using some serious manipulation.
Jordan flip flops
Well, you better get hopping on building a new political Party then. Good luck herding those cats!
Not only will Kerry NOT raise the tax on his own wealth, but when presented with an opportunity to "COST" his own state government tax revenues, he does so willingly.
The Progressives protect the ruling class at the expense of everyone else. Something for nothing is a bribe. That is what the small govt movement is all about. Whoever your "rich" people are and the ruling class elite, they should have no more, nor no fewer than the rest of the citizens.
Well put. NO one wins. It simply becomes a game of "Who has the Purse This Year?" No progress is made, only more theft of money and rights from the populace.
Fund unemployment benefits by letting the tax cuts for the wealthy expire. Real simple.
We are seeing the beginning of the end of the GOP that refused to properly support the non-establishment candidates as well as the GOP that put profligate spenders in charge of the next House session's appropriations committees. These elitists think they are so dang smart. They shall feel the heat. We can see what is happening like we have never seen before. Too many watchdogs are spilling the beans.
The wealthy HAD heir chance to use their tax cuts to hire more employees during the Bush 43 years and we had even weaker job growth than we have now. Time for a new tactic.
They HAVE decided. They are sliming around under the radar, currently positioning themselves as the arbiters of truth for the small govt standard. We can see who they are putting in positions of leadership. We can them already making big govt decisions. We are keeping an accounting.
It’s always easier to spend someone else’s money. Hide your stash. Never champion your own cause with your own money. PBS/NPR have never been fair or balanced. Between all their dialing for dollars, advertisements (they have some), and their repetitive non-stop rewriting of history and events…. I have found the off button to be an excellent tool.
Well, since the LEAST deserving group of high-earners in the country are federal lawmakers and other federal government workers, let's start by cutting the salaries of the President, every member of the cabinet and everyone who works for them. Then we could cut the salaries of everyone in Congress and everyone who works for THEM and then we could cut the salaries of everyone who works for any federal agency…
It's funny that – according to the Left – only people who get rich in the private sector are 'evil', whilst those who get rich on the public dime are given a free pass.
They set up The Masters of Profligate Spending to assume leadership positions in the house already. But, Maybe they are the only senior members who hadn't been replaced…yet. Heh.
The last election go-round here in Co was less than spectacular, no? The good news is that we got so many apparent conservatives into the ground level positions so they can rise over time.
you could read this thread for days on end and all you'll ever find is the occasional liberal lateral diversion technique about how there are less worthy programs (military, "tax cuts for rich!", etc.), but you will NEVER get a solid, cogent argument defending CPB's right to taxpayer funding. even IF there ever was one, in this era of media overload it is long since gone.
Many of their shows could easily stand alone in the marketplace. They don't need govt funding . The idea that the govt is funding a news or entertainment outlet has always stunk. There is too much room for monkey business. Look at the 150 reporters Soros hired to work there. There is no other way to see that move than propaganda. The man has been paying to move the world into his pocket for decades. My tax dollars are supporting that. Nifty.
Don't have a safety on my Sig P220, but I can have that hammer back, a nanosecond after it clears it's holster. That should pass for a click…
Gotta click on it.
http://www.sound-effect.com/track/shotgun-rack-de...
you got it- "…popular shows will have to be canceled." is total B___S___. the popular shows will find plenty of private support, it's the crappy, unwatchable, dull garbage & blatant propaganda that will die a much-deserved death (in other words, the junk they air when it's not fund-raising week).
If I was down to one weapon, that would be it…
TrooBloo99 – you have been completely duped by the class warfare games by the left. Open you eyes!!
Right now 50% of the population pay ZERO in federal taxes. Yes, ZERO!!!
The "rich" pay about 35%…
But somehow, that isn't right in your mind. Should 70% of the population pay ZERO? Should only people making over 250k a year pay federal taxes and everyone else pay ZERO? Is that what you want? Should we confiscate ALL of the wealth from people earning over 250k? Do you realize that Roosevelt tried that and he extended the depression for almost a decade!!! You are an idiot!!!
Is that why the Dems got clobbered in the 2010 elections because the GOP is coming to and end?
What a doofus!!!
PBS can't sustain itself without Public Funds? I call Bull$h!t. Consider the following:
Part of the CPB operation goes like this: Station WGBH has a production arm which produces TV Programming. WGBH charges "Member" stations to carry that programming and thus the PBS "Network" operates at "Zero" profit to produce and air that particular program. Never mind that the production "Company" can operate other offshoot and branded ventures based upon the program (Magazines, Product Endorsements, Licensing Fees to outside interests producing BRANDED product, PRODUCT PLACEMENT WITHIN THE PROGRAM itself, Speaking tours, Convention and Event appearances, Speaking Fees etc. etc. etc). True, some of those funds do not flow into PBS coffers and a lot of interests count their PBS presence as just good advertising to help sell all of their other "Stuff".
On top of that, the employees of the PBS stations, the Production staff and the stars of the programs draw salary…GOOD salary. They have pledge drives filled with pleas to "Keep this station on the air because without YOU, we can't afford it". Yeah, RIIIIIIGHT
For programming they don't themselves produce "In House", they have to pay. But seriously now. There are programs that are tailor made for PBS and it's not just Domestic Production. A LOT of what PBS airs wouldn't BE bought by any Commercial interest. They can't make money on it. For competition in programming, PBS is bidding for a lot of product alongside Scripps/HGTV, Discovery, and The History Channel (and BBC America sometimes). Each one of those concerns CAN and does turn a tidy profit…Commercially. PBS could, they just have been operating in this insulated and protected realm where the standard CAPITALIST Marketplace forces are kept at bay.
Speaking of Commercials. There WAS a time where "Underwriting" messages could appear on PBS, In fact, they were the only Commercial messaging allowed. Short instances where Archer Daniels Midland, Owens Corning, GE and plenty of other Conglomerates could only make general statements, present their logo and say something short about how the company was benefitting the world or somesuch. in the business, we call that Corporate Messaging. It's good PR but doesn't sell a particular PRODUCT, it's Promotion of a Company. Now, you DO see what are, for all intents and purposes COMMERCIALS touting PRODUCT on PBS. It's a COMMERCIAL entity now. They can exist alongside Commercial Broadcasters but they are SPECIAL and PROTECTED.
It's well past time to have them support themselves. They ARE capable of it but it's up to the MARKETPLACE to decide if they are worthy of surviving.
Adspace is sold and PRICED depending upon the amount of eyeballs a station's programming attracts (that's the simplistic explaination, but close enough). More viewers means your Spots are worth more and are going to be more desirable. If PBS is such a "NEEDED" presence in the Broadcast Spectrum, they'll survive but only if their culture can adapt to emergence from the protective bubble they're in.
A new tactic…like making everybody poorer, including Americans yet to be born, with a staggering debt.
Anyone who thinks we are not, and have not been, for decades, on the right side of the Laffer Curve's peak, has been sniffing the tailings of one too many Redi-Whip containers.
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