Does Anyone Watch PBS?

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   kathyinmnposted 12 years ago

   With the government planning to cut back on PBS (Public Broadcasting System) if they get in, I was wondering how many of us watch PBS? Not all of have children, and not all children like the PBS children’s programming. 
   
   PBS dose have some interesting adult programming such as Nova, Antiques Road Show, Masterpiece, and some sitcoms they run such as in the past was “As Time Goes By”, (I loved that) now they are showing “Call the Midwife” . Masterpiece Classics has had some awesome programs on it Just one that I adore and wish I could afford to buy is “Cranford”, ah well, maybe someday.
    
   Do you watch PBS? If so, what do you watch?

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      psycheskinnerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Sure.  I watch a lot of the history shows to learn more about the US (as an immigrant).  I also watch the music concerts and the British comedies.

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      jponiatoposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      "The Red Green Show."

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      twosheds1posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I watch it frequently. Frontline is without doubt the best show of its kind in TV history, and I watch it regularly. I also watch Nova, Downton Abbey and Sherlock. Ken Burns' documentaries (e.g. The Civil War) aired on PBS as well. I think, though, they aim a lot of their programming towards older folks (my local PBS station still shows the Lawrence Welk show!). They need to aim more programming at younger groups to maintain their relevance.

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         eternals3ptemberposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Frontline, well said twosheds

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      Peelander Gallyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      PBS is more interesting to me than popular sitcoms or shows like Dancing With the Stars any day of the week, and I'm young. I grew up with already-dated Britcoms like Keeping Up Appearances, Are You Being Served? and Chef! and wish they were on Netflix. More recent favourites include Independent Lens, Antiques Roadshow, Nature, Nova, etc.
      
      People and corporations should be and are responsible for most of the funding, but what the government provides is pretty inconsequential. The fact that there's even a debate about it just proves how effectively politicians and lobbyists are able to distract people from real issues.

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   Backwater Sageposted 12 years ago

   I love PBS. It is good that the government subsidizes it a little, but they don't carry the load. Most of the funding is private from individuals, corporations and organizations . . . the "Puplic". Brace up, the government is going broke. There is no way around it, take a clue.
   
   Like every other aspect of life, we, the public need to step up and shoulder the load. We have to watch out for each other, and work together. Times will be tough. Don't be cry babies. Forget the government.
   
   http://youtu.be/oXo6G5mfmro

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      psycheskinnerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      280 million,which is--depending on how you count is 12-19% of the budget, is probably the difference between being able to operate and not being able to operate.

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   Uninvited Writerposted 12 years ago

   I do watch PBS. And I'm in Canada. American Experience is one of the best documentary series' ever, I have learned so much from watching that show.
   
   The entire amount given to PBS is used up by the Pentagon in 6 hours. Being in a country where some networks are subsidized by the government I don't see the big deal. And PBS offers so much more. The first round of cutbacks in I think the 1980s changed some of the programming on PBS, and brought in more pledge drives. But it still has some amazing shows... and of course Britcoms and Wallander...

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   spopovitchposted 12 years ago

   i used to watch PBS all the time in the 90's when i was a child and i still love PBS and i cant believe this so called goverment is going to do something like this, PBS is the best.

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   classicalgeekposted 12 years ago

   I watch PBS many hours each week: Nova, occasionally Nature, all the mysteries, costume dramas, home repair shows, comedies, the history shows, and many sewing and cooking shows.
   
   PBS is my major source of learning to cook, sew, and do stuff around the house. I even got inspired to attempt to learn to pull sugar, from watching one of the independent films!

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   kathyinmnposted 12 years ago

   I watched PBS for years and when I could aford it, I did give to PBS.
   
   Yes we may have to carry the load a little more, but we get so much wonderful programing. PBS will not die just becouse the goverment will be cutting back.
   
   Keep watching and keep enjoying it.

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   kathleenkatposted 12 years ago

   Not all of us have TVs and cable, either.
   
   And what percentage of people that do actually watch PBS? IMO the government shouldn't be paying for something that only reaches a small portion of the population. Public radio is great, as everyone can tune in in one way or another. Cars, cell phones, internet, mp3 players...boom boxes come cheap nowadays. Even if you don't have one of those, you can undoubtedly find a friend or an establishment that listens to the radio.

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      Peelander Gallyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Most people have TV's. Educational programming on PBS reaches a lot of kids who are too poor for cable, as was my case.

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         kathleenkatposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Most people have TVs? And what percentage of these 'most people' have children? And what percentage of these people with children will put on PBS?
         
         The loss of PBS being detrimental to poor children? It would be nice if people didn't rely on TV to educate their kids, but that's a completely different issue.

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            classicalgeekposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            It's not just children who benefit. Think of all the people on SNAP who buy junk because they don't know how to cook. PBS provides instruction on cooking and it's free over the air and on the internet. In the same way, PBS also provides instruction on home maintenance and repair, as well as stunning documentaries on history, current events, literature, music, and many other subjects. Even their dramas teach history, and face it, we'd all be poorer for never having experienced Monty Python.

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   awareposted 12 years ago

   loves PBS
   the roadshow
   nova
     the news hour

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