NYP: PUT PBS OUT TO PASTURE - Getting government out of the broadcasting would quiet the hollering.

New York Post ^ | June 26, 2005 | Editorial

[OESY]

It's time to take the public out of the Public Broadcasting Service.

That is, it's time to cut taxpayer-funded broadcasting loose and let it compete....

Conservatives have long charged PBS with liberal programming bias. Now liberals are claiming that congressional Republicans are trying to influence programming and personnel.

Those charges got louder with the naming Thursday of former GOP co-chair Pat Harrison as president and chief executive of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting....

This came after 16 Senate Democrats — including New York's Chuck Schumer and both Jon Corzine and Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey — called for the dismissal of CPB board Chairman Ken Tomlinson.

Tomlinson essentially had run afoul of PBS staffers' notions of how best to run the system.

Adding to the background noise was a congressional effort to cut $100 million from the $400-million-a-year federal contribution to PBS's budget. (The effort failed in the House.)...

But these tussles — whether over editorial standards, political bias or the budget — obscure the central question: Why is a public broadcasting "system" necessary any longer?

When broadcast TV consisted of only three major networks and a few UHF channels, PBS had a fair claim to being a valuable venue for alternate information and entertainmental options.

But in today's 500-channel cable- and satellite-universe, that's no longer the case.

PBS used the slogan: "If PBS doesn't do it, who will?"

That question's long since been answered: CNN, Fox, MSNBC and CNBC, for starters.

Nickelodeon produces educational shows for children.

The Learning, Discovery and History Channels do general educational programming. A&E, Bravo and Court TV fill other niches.

New York state alone has nine public broadcasting stations....

Talk and news radio continues to expand — including the creation of liberal network Air America and the explosion of Sirius and XM satellite radio....

[OESY]

I for one enjoy several of the cultural nonpolitical programs PBS offers, but I don't think others should subsidize my tastes, except voluntarily. Using taxpayer dollars is wrong and often amounts to corporate welfare for the rich. The fact that these corporations are nonprofits for tax purposes overlooks the bloated salaries they pay. If PBS programming is so valuable, as Liberals argue, then the marketplace will support it.

Unfortunately, the socialists who run PBS have no idea how to function within a free market and, thus, don't know how to separate themselves from this government gravy train. Fortunately, Tomlinson and Harrison appear to know how to make PBS commercially viable. Meanwhile, the attacks against them as political partisans are silly, a clear case of the pot calling the kettle black, as anyone who has ever watched PBS knows.

[goldstategop]

The House just voted to save PBS. It has well-connected supporters and I don't anticipate its demise any time soon.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[mewzilla]

Here's an idea: Let taxpayers decide for themselves how much they want PBS. Put a box on the federal tax return forms that would allow taxpayers to donate, if they wish, to the CPB.

[M. Espinola]

"Here's an idea: Let taxpayers decide for themselves how much they want PBS. Put a box on the federal tax return forms that would allow taxpayers to donate, if they wish, to the CPB."

That's a capitol idea!

[mewzilla]

I think so :)

I'd love to hear someone ask supporters of the CPB what's wrong with it....

[Between the Lines]

"The House just voted to save PBS. It has well-connected supporters and I don't anticipate its demise any time soon."

For most state governments, the state PBS network is a source of pride that they view as their baby and not a part of a federal network. Yet they depend on federal dollars to keep it afloat. Until this changes, we will always have PBS.

[ops33]

I agree. Even if PBS and NPR were as balanced as they could possible be I would support the end of government subsidies. My tax dollars could be better spent elsewhere.

[nmh]

I agree!

Make em earn their keep like everyone else.

[LibKill]

Yep. No more taxpayer bucks for these folks.

Root, hog, or die! :)