Congress Plans To Vote on Cutting Funds for Public Broadcasting

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I don't watch PBS, but I do like knowing it exists. There are people in the US without basic cable and these are exactly the kind of people who need smarter stuff like PBS supplies available to them. I'm perfectly fine with the taxes I pay going to support PBS.

James

DO you seriously think those people are watching PBS?

PBS should be supported by the state government and not the federal. If you want it then pay for it with your taxes or something. It makes no sense that the federal gov. has something a huge minority watch.

[TobalRox]

Exactly. Plus commercials brings in revenue which brings in higher budgets which brings in better programming which brings in more revenue which...

which leads to less time actually devoted to programming, which leads me to hitting the fast forward button more, which....

[Gohron]

It'd be a shame to see some channels like PBS have to cut back or be shut down but I honestly don't think the government should be giving any money to any television or radio station.

[piku]

Besides, it was losing the federal component which turned all our news stations into infotainment crap and scare mongering.

The strong laws restricting broadcasting were lost because cable made them irrelevant and unfair. What is the point of regulating broadcast news so heavily when people could just switch to CNN? And further, how is it fair to broadcast stations that they have to follow rules their competitors don't?

PBS should be supported by the state government and not the federal. If you want it then pay for it with your taxes or something. It makes no sense that the federal gov. has something a huge minority watch.

Actually the vast majority of PBS funding does come from the state and not the federal government. My notes are buried in a box out in my garage so I can't get them right now but it is pretty lopsided.

which leads to less time actually devoted to programming, which leads me to hitting the fast forward button more, which....

There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. It is unfortunate that selling advertising in breaks located between programming is the only way for stations to make money but thats just how it is. I don't think the federal government has any driving reason to support a station just so it could be the only one that doesn't have commercials.

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Actually the vast majority of PBS funding does come from the state and not the federal government. My notes are buried in a box out in my garage so I can't get them right now but it is pretty lopsided.

oh in that case I'm okay with PBS staying on the air. As long as it's not sucking federal cash.

Off-Topic: Is Barney still on?

[James]

DO you seriously think those people are watching PBS?

Some of them are, and that'll have to do.

If you want it then pay for it with your taxes or something.

I'm perfectly fine with the taxes I pay going to support PBS.

James