How is public television different from other commercial stations?
A. Public television is an interdependent system of local public service providers that are deeply rooted in their communities and connected to a national programming and distribution service, PBS. PBS consistently serves up the very best in on air and online services. Local public television stations represent the last locally-owned, locally controlled media outlet in our country. Cable and other pay-TV platforms operate in a different model that, by necessity and design, addresses viewers as consumers, not lifelong learners. Unfortunately for our society, channel proliferation is no substitute for quality and public service. In a crowded media environment, there should be room for at least one source of high quality news, information and cultural programming, including local content, that is available to all regardless of ability to pay. PBS and its member stations fill that important role. Q.
A. Public television is an “interdependent” system of local public service providers that are deeply rooted in their communities and connected to a national programming and distribution service – PBS. PBS consistently serves up the very best in on-screen and on-line services. Local public television stations represent the last locally-owned, locally controlled media outlet in our country. Cable and other pay-TV platforms operate in a different model that, by necessity and design, addresses viewers as consumers, not lifelong learners. Unfortunately for our society, channel proliferation is no substitute for quality and public service. In a crowded media environment, there should be room for at least one source of high quality news, information and cultural programming – including local content – that is available to all regardless of ability to pay. PBS and its member stations fill that important role.
