PBS Prez Upset By Efforts to Cut Funding for Public Television

Congressional Republicans are apparently unimpressed by "Downton Abbey"

The head of PBS told a group of media dons yesterday that the current effort to slash funding for public television was "disappointing," especially in light of critically acclaimed public programming such as "Downton Abbey."

PBS President Paula Kerger told the Television Critics Association that the House Republican-led push to cut funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting would especially hurt smaller stations. Many of them receive more than half their funding from tax dollars, Kerger stated, even while nationally only about 15% of PBS resources are publicly funded.

The fight to save PBS from the financial chopping block hasn't been helped by the news that one from its celebrity roster was recently arrested for indecency. Anticipating negative press, Kerger fired widely-recognized actor Fred Willard, voice-over host of the PBS program "Market Warriors," after he was caught engaging in a lewd act in an adult theater.

Via AP & the Los Angeles Times.

Do you think a certain level of funding for public broadcasting should be preserved?

[CanisCanemEdit]

Billionaire Liberal George Soros already provides millions to PBS for their leftist "Public Television" programming. The farce of "Public Television" needs to end.

[Bobolinsky]

Public Television isn't nearly as bad as NPR.

[PoliticalTvlr]

A perfect place for his money as long as there are no political strings.

[ir0nw0lfe]

No. PBS radio and television are anachronisms and in light of the economy they should be defunded. Let private donors take up the funding if desired. This is an easy budget cut.

[Just_Lisa]

Amen to that!!

[MongoAPillager]

had not much use for them since car talk guy's retired

[Bobolinsky]

They retired. I moved earlier this year and my NPR reception sucks. Only time I listen to NPR is when I'm on the road... in the morning... on the weekend. or during Hannity.

I liked them. I learned a lot over the years from Click and Clack.

[Real4WheelDrv]

I used to LOVE car talk! Dangit didn't know they were done. Maybe if I contact their legal reps at Dewey Cheatem and Howe I can get in touch lol

[MongoAPillager]

4 npr they were a class act,should have went cable or something

[Bobolinsky]

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

[srennelkztirF]

Of course. We should borrow even more money from China to keep it going strong. The well-being of a prehistoric giant-bird and a talking wooly mammoth are at stake here, folks. Jim Henson didn't build Sesame Street, you know...it was already there, bridges and all.

[thatGuy]

Every thing needs 2 be cut.. if there is no money how do you spend it..

[Thunderchicken]

PBS is another luxury that we can no longer afford.

[Wilberhum]

I like some of what PBS but it isn't a biggie to be. It isn't a biggie to the budget either. A .5% decrease in our massive and excessive military budget.

[Thunderchicken]

I also enjoy some PBS programming. (Although I'm still mad at our local station for firing a commentator I liked to watch. I rarely agreed with him but he had a valuable perspective on local issues.) But to the real point, when you're broke and in debt as we are, every little bit helps.

[Stratton]

I like PBS programming also, and I'd be willing to donate to support it if it weren't already being supported by my tax dollars. Why does "public" televison have to mean "government" television? Let the viewing public decide the future of PBS by voting with their dollars.

Oh, and Wilberhum - that defense budget you hate so much is the only reason you have the freedom to express your political views on an Internet forum. Try doing that in China.

[autiger]

Nope.. Let them survive in the "free market". I always wonder what is PBS ratings anyway? Kinda of like Amtrack huh?

[ST_Louie_Sue]

Most of the time they're having fund raisers begging for money. The U of Alabama guy has some good shows but I could live without those without any problem. I think PBS has out served it primary goal which was to provide radio & TV to out lying areas decades ago who otherwise would have none.

[autiger]

I watched something on Winston Churchill the other night on PBS.. Wondering why the History Channel doesn't show stuff like that.

[srennelkztirF]

If I had a pet frog, he'd probably look like Kermit.

[ir0nw0lfe]

So what's the desk with the new handle. They kill your account?

[srennelkztirF]

They killed three in a row. I made more effort to hide my identity with this one, but that really isn't saying much.

[srennelkztirF]

*more OF AN effort. My auto-correct is deleting words.

[FollowTheMoney]

Nah... Let the bureaucrats have a voice.

[2starider]

The "P" in PBS means Propaganda not Public. I'd rather not support their distortion and outright lies diquised as news or information with MY tax dollars

[Realthinker]

Defund it entirely. Some years ago PBS adopted the slogan "If we don't do it who will?" thereby justifying their federal funding.
These days that question is answered with Food Network, Cooking Channel, HGTV, A&E, Bravo, Travel Channel, National Geographic, and host of Discovery channels, and at least a dozen others.
The notion that only PBS can produce good British drama or comedy is also obsolete.
NPR's political commentary is also redundent.

[Troy]

If we have to borrow the money from China, OF COURSE!!!