Tonight, I saw my first full on commercial on PBS.

[No Elephants]

PBS used to be commercial free. Then we got "commercial creep."

At the end of a program, the announcer into who had brought the program to "you." Fair enough.

Then, the announcer began adding a brief description of corporate sponsors.

Progamming got a little more commercial during fundraising seasons, when lighter, and programming that comes close to what you might find on commercial stations increased. Doo wop, skin care product mogul Dr, Perricone's "unselfishly" sharing about skin care, financial planners, self-help gurus bloviating about stuff they pull out of their ears to sell their books, etc.

Then, fund-raising stints got longer and appeared more times during the year. (Now that I think of it, I noticed that same pattern with Trinity Broadcasting Network, too. I think TBN was first, though)

Then, the old school PBS programming got more and more infrequent, even when it was not a fund-raising season. Programs about politics and investing proliferated. (I like Washington Week, for example, but its sponsor gets to have a say about who is on the panel, including choosing one member--information I stumbled upon accidentally--should some announcer be intoning THAT at the start of the show?)

Tonight though, a full on filmed commercial, albeit a fairly brief one. Little kids putting circles on a wall if they knew someone who was over 90. (As if kids that age make a distinction between 50 and 90 on their own.) People living longer, so they need to prepare for their own futures in ways they never had to before. And this company was the one to choose to help with that.

[Enthusiast]

1. I loved the "old" PBS.

Public institutions are under assault on every front. I often envision a future when we see the results of this right wing assault. The nation will be unrecognizable. But they are the "conservatives"?

[No Elephants]

2. I feel as though I've been under assault.

PBS has been complicit. I've had no choice.

[formercia]

3. PBS is the victim of a Coup

thanks to Bush Gang.

They got their wish about controlling the Media.

[No Elephants]

4. Like any lady, PBS had the ability to say "no."

It could have spent less on programming for a while. It has a huge backlog of fantastic programs that no one has seen in 20 year or more. I could have dusted them off and re-run them.

It could have been a little less lavish in its new programs. For one thing, Meryl Streep and celebrities of her magnitude don't have to be off screen announcers. They could give some up and coming actors a break.

It could have pushed harder on fundraising from the public. It could have done a lot of things, IMO. Remember, it has little to no competition.

Instead, it chose to sell its soul.

[Enthusiast]

5. Right you are! nt

[formercia]

6. I agree

The Bean-Counters said they need more revenue, so spend more on talent to attract viewers. The reason it didn't work, is the PBS base viewers are walking away and not donating. Why should we donate to a commercial station. If they want to play the free market game, let them do it and fail.

I never watch PBS except on rare occasions. I never watch TV, except on rare occasion. It stresses me out, with all of the obvious propaganda and spin control.

Screw the media.

I'm going to work in the garden..Later, folks. :)

[Enthusiast]

7. Obvious propaganda causes stress.

I used to enjoy NPR. No longer!

[bikebloke]

8. I once had a temp job at PBS.

Just for a day moving furniture. One woman demanded that they buy her a new credenza because she didn't like the one they gave her. And they said they would. After that I would never consider giving them money.

[Divine Discontent]

9. yeah, I don't like the sound of that, either...

[Enthusiast]

10. That woman should be punished.

I keed.