[Mid] PBS and NPR

I've been reading all the posts about funding for PBS and NPR. Several people have asked why programs can't support themselves through advertising. Let's look at that a minute. Would you rather have programs interrupted by commercials or not? What do children learn when the program they are watching is constantly interrupted by ads that urge them that they need new stuff to be happy?

Noone really knows until a program airs whether it'll be popular or not; some shows that have turned out to be incredibly popular in the beginning couldn't get an airing anywhere but PBS. Is popularity, which is presumably what attracts advertisers, necessarily a good thing? What about talk shows on a par with supermarket tabloids, shows that degrade people as a form of entertainment, etc.?

The SCA is hardly a commercial success, nor has it attracted as many participants as better-known groups. And we're getting a break from the government in that we're a tax-exempt organization. Because we've convinced the government that we're doing something not just to amuse ourselves but that's of benefit to the larger society.

Mathilda

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