Comments for PBS Bans New Religious Programming at http://www.thenewamerican.com , comment 1 to 7 out of 7 comments http://www.thenewamerican.com Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:11:58 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/constitution/1257#comment-2475 TPT has MULTICASTED for several years and has substantially increased the volume and variety of its nonsectarian programs--many of which have been locally co-produced with Christian and other sectarian organizations. That can't be credibly characterized as "religious antipathy" or "a bias against religion." Mr. Dubord and others who say such things have failed to review the large array of religious programming PBS and its member stations have provided under the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. He also failed to validate his claim that the Act, which authorizes federal funding of PBS and NPR, is "unconstitutional." And he apparently doesn't know that the annual federal subsidies public TV and radio receive are far less than the subsidies commercial TV and radio receive. Indeed at about $1.20 per-capita, the U.S. ranks last among Western nations in annual federal funding of public TV. Compared to the annual cost of Pentagon fraud and waste, that's chump change. Mr. Dubord and others are also unaware that the "GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media poll shows Americans consider PBS the nation’s most trusted institution among nationally known organizations." And a majority believes "the federal funding PBS receives is insufficient." The entire poll is available via Google. Richard Lee Dechert (A media researcher and retired TPT staffer speaking only for myself.) - Richard Lee Dechert Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:50:31 +0100 http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/constitution/1257#comment-2474 Contrary to Mr. Dubord, PBS stations will be able to provide new sectarian and nonsectarian programs. He failed to carefully review the updated PBS requirement on religious programming summarized in the 6/16/09 posting on "Current," a public broadcasting newspaper: "In a compromise with the small number of PBS stations running religious programming, the PBS board today approved a membership requirement that would allow those shows to continue but would ban more sectarian programs to be added on PRIMARY channels. Also, religious programs may be carried on MULTICAST [SECONDARY] channels or OTHER PLATFORMS as long as PBS branding is not included...." [Emphases added] And Mr. Dubord failed to note that the PBS board updated its requirement to accommodate the federally mandated 6/12/09 conversion from analog to digital television, whereby 356 local member stations can MULTICAST two or more digital channels from one FCC-licensed transmitter. For example, TPT (Twin Cities Public Television) in Saint Paul is using two licensed transmitters to MULTICAST one PRIMARY channel in a high-definition format and three SECONDARY channels in standard-definition formats. Per my understanding of the requirement, TPT could provide sectarian programs on one of its SECONDARY channels if they're not PBS-branded, its Website could be a PLATFORM for services if they're not PBS-branded, and its other channels can continue providing PBS-branded nonsectarian programs like the award-winning "Religion & Ethics Newsweekly." - Richard Lee Dechert Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:41:37 +0100 http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/constitution/1257#comment-2344 Our Constitution is nothing more than trash. Government ignores it and pays it no respect. Now with the press a lapdog and not a watchdog, Government can take us full speed into Socialism. http://animal-farm.us/change/obamas-wet-spot-482 - Foxwood Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:18:51 +0100 http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/constitution/1257#comment-2328 Its time for a complete boycott of PBS and that mean no more of it and no more listening to those wretched pledge breaks no more CTW and NO MORE OF NOVA or any of the others we can hit em where it hurts them the most right in the bank accounts - Flu-Bird Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:53:46 +0100 http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/constitution/1257#comment-2327 Yes, there is a bias against the Christian World View by PBS. I am also weary of the low quality programming spewed out to the public on regular TV as “B” commented on above. Although there are some great TV programs on PBS the slant of the politically correct messages cannot be denied. This includes public radio programming, which may have occasional interviews with conservative state representatives on legislative processes in our state, but the mainstay is definitely leftist viewpoints from professors and those who hold various positions in office. - bg Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:56:58 +0100 http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/constitution/1257#comment-2326 The authors final comments are rediculous. In this age of scarce journalism and junk TV, we need public broadcasting more than ever. One wonders if the author ever watches what is on the air. - b Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:09:30 +0100 http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/constitution/1257#comment-2324 I don't see an attack on Christianity. Do you? - Richard Robinson Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:17:21 +0100