The Future of Public Broadcasting The Digital Turning Point

349 PBS Stations NBC has 194 Affiliates

California

Three Major Presenting Stations WGBH -Boston-Frontline, Nova, Masterpiece Theater, American Experience WNET -New York-Charlie Rose, American Masters WETA -Washington,DC-The News Hour, Washington Week, Ken Burns Six other “Majors”-LA, SF, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Chicago, Indianapolis

WGBH -Boston-Frontline, Nova, Masterpiece Theater, American Experience

WNET -New York-Charlie Rose, American Masters

WETA -Washington,DC-The News Hour, Washington Week, Ken Burns

Six other “Majors”-LA, SF, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Chicago, Indianapolis

The Economics Filmmaker brings idea to Producing Station Producing Station develops a show. Gets foundations and corporate “underwriters” on board Takes the package to PBS and CPB Producing station and filmmaker can end up with DVD and foreign

Filmmaker brings idea to Producing Station

Producing Station develops a show.

Gets foundations and corporate “underwriters” on board

Takes the package to PBS and CPB

Producing station and filmmaker can end up with DVD and foreign

How the “Network” Works PBS essentially sells the programs to the local stations. Local Stations raise money for programming through pledge drives Stations budget for programming based on market and membership size. Relatively anarchic system compared to commercial network system (barter)

PBS essentially sells the programs to the local stations.

Local Stations raise money for programming through pledge drives

Stations budget for programming based on market and membership size.

Relatively anarchic system compared to commercial network system (barter)

The Problems The whole system is on a one year funding cycle Impossible to plan for long development cycles The system as a whole is under-funded Requiring stations to spend valuable resources fund raising There is an excess of democracy in the allocation of resources

The whole system is on a one year funding cycle

Impossible to plan for long development cycles

The system as a whole is under-funded

Requiring stations to spend valuable resources fund raising

There is an excess of democracy in the allocation of resources

National Public Radio

History Formed in 1970 after the creation of the Public broadcasting Act Went on the air with 90 stations as members Morning Edition started in 1973 Early 80’s, government tried to cut all funding for NPR Joan Kroc willed NPR $200 Million in 2003

Formed in 1970 after the creation of the Public broadcasting Act

Went on the air with 90 stations as members

Morning Edition started in 1973

Early 80’s, government tried to cut all funding for NPR

Joan Kroc willed NPR $200 Million in 2003

News Shows Morning Edition 14 million daily listeners. All things Considered - 13 million daily listeners

Morning Edition 14 million daily listeners.

All things Considered - 13 million daily listeners

Better Model Gets 60% of budget from listener contributions. Central Programming wing at NPR to avoid presenting station rivalry Needs only 4% of budget from CPB, so much less vulnerable to political interference

Gets 60% of budget from listener contributions.

Central Programming wing at NPR to avoid presenting station rivalry

Needs only 4% of budget from CPB, so much less vulnerable to political interference