Can PBS Survive Broadcastings New World Order?
WASHINGTON — With corporate contributions dwindling and the prospect of 500 cable channels threatening to lure away viewers, public-television officials will gather Thursday to plan the most dramatic overhaul of the network in its quarter-century history. The crisis facing public TV is reflected in the Draconian measures being explored to bolster its survival: Officials are considering options ranging from dismantling part of the 350-station public-television network to transforming the nonprofit Public Broadcasting Service into a high-tech marvel, able to distribute up to 60 channels of video via a new Telstar satellite to be launched this month.
