Left-wing TV/radio is irrelevant, a waste of taxpayer funds

Miami Herald ^ | Dec. 20, 2003 | JOHN BERTHOUD

[livesbygrace]

For years, the government-owned Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and its affiliates, National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), have been the recipients of large public handouts.

Tax dollars from wealthy, middle-income and lower-income Americans have gone to subsidize programming whose audience is disproportionately upper-income. The dollars flow to CPB and then to PBS and NPR and their member stations in the form of direct handouts as well as tax deductions for contributions made by individual viewers. In 2003, CPB received a $363 million federal appropriation.

That's an incredible 45 percent increase in just four years!

The time has come to end the gravy train of taxpayer dollars.

When CPB was created in 1967 -- before the Internet, before satellite television, before VCRs or DVDs, before cable TV with hundreds of channels -- a stronger case could be made that there was a public benefit to subsidize other voices and programming. But now, with the media explosion of the past quarter century, there is certainly little justification left for public subsidies.

Why continue to underwrite Julia Child and Emeril Lagasse -- especially when viewers can watch the Food Network, where the latter often appears?

Why subsidize history programming on PBS when viewers have the History Channel or can rent history documentaries at their local video store?

Along with all the stations on free radio, listeners can tune in over the Internet to hundreds of stations all over the world. And for less than $10 a month, listeners can receive the 100 channels of XM Radio in their cars and homes.

Further, while PBS and NPR have perhaps made some improvement in recent years, they still often reveal a substantial leftward bias.

Recently, NPR's ombudsman harshly criticized host Terry Gross for being unfair to conservative Bill O'Reilly in an interview. Gross repeatedly referenced material from Al Franken's book that is highly critical of O'Reilly and as the ombudsman observed, 'By the time the interview was about halfway through, it felt as though Terry Gross was indeed `carrying Al Franken's water.' ''

Tremendous revenues

In discussing NPR, Richard Rahn observes that the public subsidies and leftward tilt are related events: ``NPR will never be fair and balanced. Because it depends on government, it will always support government spending over the rights and needs of taxpayers. It attracts a staff that is hostile to the private sector and that loves government.''

PBS and NPR have proven quite capable of generating healthy cash flows. Successful PBS children's programming has produced tremendous revenues.

For example, the show Dragon Tales -- which had received more than $4 million in federal subsidies -- now brings in buckets of cash through sales of books, DVDs, CDs, and other items. Another PBS series, Clifford the Big Red Dog, also has generated big bucks from traditional sources as well as from lucrative deals with candy and cereal makers.

But beyond great success in marketing, PBS and NPR get generous support ''from viewers like you.'' Most recently, Joan Kroc, the widow of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc, gave the staggering sum of $200 million to NPR. Surely, with this massive new amount in hand, NPR is more than capable of completely weaning itself from taxpayer dollars.

In the 1960s, when television comprised just the three major networks, the Internet was undreamed of and media choices were greatly limited, there was more rationale for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and having tax dollars flow to PBS and NPR.

Today, we live in a different world. It is time to recognize that taxpayers can get a far better return on their dollars elsewhere.

John Berthoud is president of the National Taxpayers Union, a 350,000-member organization dedicated to lower taxes and less wasteful government.

[livesbygrace]

Well said.

[SandRat]

The time has come to end the gravy train of taxpayer dollars.

AMEN to that!

[Savage Beast]

PBS and NPR have a definite "point of view". A "news broadcast" with a definite "point of view" should not be supported by any government, even in part. It amounts to a propaganda machine.

[sirchtruth]

Ya know, who really even listen's to NPR except for wealthy elitist libs?

Another example of Lib side of the Gov't wanting to steal our money to satisfy their bogus, BS, feel good, mealymouthed, prickish, PC programs...

[ChiMark]

The ratings are never revealed for NPR because their programing is "underwritten". Last I heard Chicago's NPR is off the screen. The listerner base is very small. What a waste of tax dollars. Now if the Republicans can get up the cahones
and eliminate this hand out.

[DesertDreamer]

Great opinion piece!

Just one question......What will happen to "Antique Roadshow"? That's the only program of any value (to me) that isn't already being produced by a cable network. It could be a boost to the HGTV line up...just hope they're listening.

[Ukiapah Heep]

Why are we still funding these traitors?

[SandRat]

Because this has become the "Sacred Cow" of the left and until we can get a super majority in both houses with a conservative in the WH it will never get done.

I'll give you another reason to hate them. They Created "Barney the Purple Dinosaur."

[bk1000]

"Just one question......What will happen to "Antique Roadshow"?

There are similar programs elsewhere. One is called 'Appraise This', although I am not sure which network.

The only rub with CPB is that these channels are broadcast over the air so that one is not oblidged to purchase cable.
(more of that 'fairness' BS, sort of like NTSC color signal must be compatible with B&W TVs, thus the poor quality of our system compared to PAL)

[FormerACLUmember]

Why should my blood and sweat money tax dollars go to finance a propaganda operation of my sworn enemies, not to mention traitors to my country?

[mhking]

What will happen to "Antique Roadshow"? That's the only program of any value (to me) that isn't already being produced by a cable network. It could be a boost to the HGTV line up...just hope they're listening.

Appraisal Fair and Appraise It! are currently on HGTV's schedule (tonight at 6 & 6:30 ET, respectively).

[OldPossum]

For a moment, I was stunned. At first I thought this was from the editorial pages of the very liberal Miami Herald, and then I saw the information about the author.

[IronJack]

Now is a good time to shut down these propaganda mills. No sense feeding the enemy.

[FITZ]

It's time to let the left pay for it's own programs.

[Jack Armstrong]

****What will happen to "Antique Roadshow"? That's the only program of any value *****

Oh shucks ,Does that mean we will not be listening to Click & Clack the TAPPET BROTHERS "OBFUSCATING" every Saturday morning? and I will probably miss A Prairie Home Companion with that snot nosed Garrison Keillor sniffle his runny nose through another monologue about idealist liberal postmodern hippies in St.Paul.

[Liberal Classic]

Defund PBS and NPR! Let them get their own advertisers like everyone else.

[Jack Armstrong]

http://www.prairiehome.org/features/photos/performances/20031206/images/11.jpg

[Jack Armstrong]

Bill Moyers (off the aire) NOW

[AngryJawa]

Oh no! You mean Bert, Ernie, Elmo, and Big Bird will have to resort to crass commercialization to support Sesame Street? The "Tickle Me Elmo" will never be the same...