Posted on 01/27/2010 4:32:52 PM PST by Abakumov
Public broadcasting's defenders make contradictory claims that the federal government only supplies a fraction of its funding, yet cutting it would put the organization into a death spiral. Public broadcasting receives about a 15 percent subsidy from the federal government, which is a reasonable cut to take in the public interest. Times are tough, and public broadcasting should not be given immunity from shared sacrifices.
Some of public broadcasting's programs can be competitive in the marketplace. "Sesame Street" has long been used as an icon by PBS defenders, who stridently decry any attempts to "kill Big Bird." But "Sesame Street" is also one of the most lucrative franchises to emerge from the public broadcasting system. The not-for-profit Sesame Workshop has merchandising deals for toys, games, clothes and air fresheners, among other things. Last year, Universal Studios Dubailand signed a deal to build three "Sesame Street"-themed venues at its Middle Eastern theme park.
If the Sesame Workshop became a for-profit publicly traded corporation, it could assume a large part of the burden of supporting public broadcasting, assuming its stockholders thought that was good business. In any case, we doubt that Big Bird is hurting.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I believe that cutting funding of NPR should be done first. PBS is much less propoganda-based than the lousy NPR State-Run-Media arm of the communists/socialists. Even C-Span is totally liberal-biased in all their commentary, IMHO.
They want to have it both ways.
PBS may only receive 15 percent in DIRECT federal funding. But how much do they receive indirectly through tax credits by those who contribute?
These “tax credits” are the same tax credits that the left refuses to apply to religious schools because the left does not think the government should fund private religious education.
Cut FRONTLINE and Independent Lens!
what other national media operation is headquartered a few blocks from the White House?
The social worker replied "Well the kids need to see Sesame Street".
I went home and checked and you could actually receive Sesame Street on my small black and white TV.
Yes, they do use this as an excuse and it has been going on a lot of years.
So Sesame Street can have product placement from Pepsi and McDonalds? No thanks.
Sesame Street’s purpose is to educate. Commercial television’s purpose is to create consumers. I know I’m in the minority here, but I still believe public television has a place, especially where children are involved. My kid’s going to be bombarded with enough commercial messages. There needs to be at least one port in the storm.
The CPB needs to be ended.
The more we do this, the more we are amusing ourselves to death.
How much of those royalty payments does PBS see? Zilch.
If PBS would require a marketing profit sharing deal with their shows, they wouldn't need government help.
That port used to be books and magazines. Now with supervision that port is the internet. Nobody needs TV.
That is hilarious!
It is amazing as Green Secular Progressivism is a religion.
Wait, you’re telling me that PBS has zero partnership arrangements with the producers of Sesame Street, Barney and Thomas the Tank Engine?
That’s just criminal stupidity.
I have big problems then with using tax payer money and tax free contributions being used to float such incredibly profitable franchises. These producers don’t need to float their shows in a competitive fashion with Nick Jr, Nickelodeon, Disney, Sprout or any other number of outlets?
So PBS gives them the slot. Pays them to produce the shows. Member stations pay a per episode licensing fee on top of that and then make nothing on the franchise they created?
Wow, that’s an even bigger racket than I ever imagined it being.
I know Fred Rogers Family Communications didn’t really whore out the puppets, trolley or anything else from that show but the three I mentioned? They’re beyond whorish on how they’ve been merchandised.
If they must watch Sesame Street, buy the old ones on DVD. The first few years were a lot better than what is on it now.
However, for a while there when my kids were little, I did often have a compulsion to brutalize a purple dinosaur.
I love you,
you love me,
let's hang Barney from a tree!
Okay, I agree with you partially. Point by point on that one:
Books- Agree completely. My wife and I are both voracious readers, and will do our level best to turn our boy into one as well.
Magazines- I like magazines, but can you name me one that isn’t advertiser-driven, especially one aimed at kids? The only one that used to be was MAD, and guess what? Now they run ads.
Internet- I shudder to think of the time when he discovers the internet. It’s the wild west out there. Again, lots of advertising out there, even on the kids sites. And no matter what kind of supervision you offer, anyone with half a brain will find what they want to find. You never had a kid on the playground with a stolen copy of dad’s Playboy? Trust me, it’s 10 times worse nowadays.
Television can be a great teaching tool when its used right. An episode of Mr. Rogers got me interested in writing, which is now my full-time career. I simply object with turning children into consumers before they’re at an age when they can make good decisions.
Ugh. Barney is the devil, and Dora and Diego are his tiny minions. It pains me to watch Dora with my kid, I feel like my brain is trying to escape from my skull. But, at least I get to point things out to him and try to teach him about what’s going on. Thank God he doesn’t like Barney.
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