The higher ups at PBS, working on their periodical “re-evaluation of standards,” are considering yanking the PBS affiliation from KBYU in Provo because the station regularly shows religious programming.
This news is revealed in the Deseret News’ story, KBYU may lose its PBS affiliation. While not a federal government attempt to regulate what is broadcast on the station, it might as well be. Furthermore, this is something that really doesn’t make a lot of sense coming from PBS.
Whether you like KBYU or not, what is the station really hurting? It’s not as if it is the only PBS offering in Utah (you can also watch KUED which shows basically identical PBS programming) for your “Sesame Street” and “NewsHour.”
Still, PBS, free of real world concerns such as selling advertising, apparently has time to worry about this kind of stuff.
“We are in a new era of digital television, and it is appropriate that PBS review its membership criteria from time to time,” said Marquis, explaining that the last review was conducted a decade and a half ago. “PBS is currently soliciting feedback from stations on this latest draft of the policy recommendations and how the recommendations might impact stations and their local audiences. We are obviously quite engaged with these conversations.”
Let me preface my comments by saying I am a far left wing big government New Dealer when it comes to PBS. It may not be the government’s job to make people literate, but I am glad they do it anyway.
Going after KBYU is not smart, but it is rational. Too many times KBYU uses its airwaves to promote shows that are obviously infomercials for the Mormon church. I would expect any station that is showing programming in favor of one religious group to also be condemned for their actions.
PBS is federally funded, and the federal government has no business funding ANY station whose programming has such an obvious slant toward a religious group.
In the realm of public relations, this could look bad. As far as the mission of PBS, this should have been done a looooooong time ago.
Perhaps a good question is why are there two PBS affiliates in the Utah market? Are they competing against each other, working well in the public interest to provide better programming than the competitor? (No.) Is there another outlet that the religious programming in question would be better served on? (Yes. BYUTV). These are two devil’s advocate arguments off the top of my head.
Im sick of PBS pushing home improvement down my throat. New Yankee Workshop, This old House, The Woodwrights shop, Ask This Old House and others are destroying our culture by showing 80 hour projects condensed into 22 minutes making housewifes around the USA think that if youre a man, you can re-plaster a ceiling or build a replica 1620′s end table with what is in your garage.
Going after KBYU is not smart, but it is rational. Too many times KBYU uses its airwaves to promote shows that are obviously infomercials for the Norm Abrahm and Tommy Silva . I would expect any station that is showing programming in favor of one master carpenter to also be condemned for their actions.
PBS is federally funded and the federal government has no business funding any station whose programming has such an obvious slant toward home improvement by do-it-yourselfers.
In the realm of public relations, this could look bad. As far as the mission of PBS, this should have been done a looooooong time ago, when Bob Vila was still on This Old House (could have nipped his entire career in the bud!)
Wow! Chili, that was funny. Did Maureen Dowd help you write that?
I was wondering why the NY Times kept calling me? Should I answer it?
Chili, you are creeping on my mission.
But seriously, well done.
While not a (locally) popular outlook – I am in favor of “home improvement” programming – particularly current episodes, which KBYU does not offer. They air the same old stuff over and over. Further, I am fervently opposed to “religious” broadcasting on any PBS affiliated station – unless ALL religions are represented. It comes as little surprise that only one variety of this opiate gets any attention on KBYU.
I stand ready to defend BYU’s right to believe and to behave in whatever manner it sees fit – but NOT on a public broadcasting network.