Nancy2 wrote:

> You must not understand how PBS funding works. Each local affiliate
> selects and buys the shows their target audience wants. If they are
> showing reruns of some shows constantly, it's because either the
> target audience wants them, or because your local affiliate has used
> up its money on other programs.

I don't understand it either. I live close enough to the US to get PBS and
used to watch it before I got satellite. Every few months they would have a
begathon and run shows like Monty Python's Flying Circus and some of the
other good British comedy shows. Then the fundraising team would come on
between episodes with a spiel about how if we wanted to see good programming
like these call now and make a pledge. You kinda get the impression that if
you donate money because of the promise of those shows they will start
showing them, but that is the last you see of Monty Python until the next
begathon. If they get a lot of pledges for things like Monty Python, why do
they not run it as one of their regular programs. If they don't get enough
positive response (pledges) for Monty Python, why do they keep using it in
their pledge drives ?



> In addition, many local affiliates
> forego showing programs available nationally, so they can show locally-
> produced shows or shows with a local interest. Many times here in
> Iowa, we don't get to see nationally-advertised programs in primetime
> on PBS because our affiliate shows Iowa-interest programs instead.
> C'est la vie.
>
> If you want to influence what your local PBS station broadcasts,
> donate generously during their fund-raising drives, and make sure you
> let them know what you want to see.
>
> N.