Is PBS soon going to start showing commercials?

[LUNCH]

Does anyone know if PBS is going to start showing commercials during programs soon?I heard they may but I'm not sure.

[AKA]

Yep.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/31/bu...ia/31adco.html

[LUNCH]

I guess it does not surprise me considering how un-controlled advertising has ruined alot of American television.I mainly watch the Britcoms on PBS which of course air un-edited and commercial free,at least up till now.

[tiredmike59]

If they start showing commercials, then they should stop begging for donations.

[Regulus]

Originally Posted by tiredmike59

If they start showing commercials, then they should stop begging for donations.

SECONDED!

Thay should also cease to be Subsidized by our Tax Dollars!

[jimpickens]

Agreed 100% if the go commercial then no tax money but on the plus side maybe they'll have more decent programing as for unedited programing IFC is now commercial and their shows are unedited.

[LUNCH]

Don't count on better programming if they add commercials.It's the opposite.On most once commercial free stations that started showing ads their programming went way downhill.Just one example, look at what an un-viewable mess AMC became.And they used to be almost as good as Turner Classic Movies.Plus once commercials are added they start heavily editing the programs too,again look at AMCommercials.

[AKA]

...but on the other hand, AMC now has great shows like Breaking Bad (the best show on television), Mad Men, The Walking Dead and Hell on Wheels, so it's not all bad.

[Zebra 3]

One more reason not to watch TV.

[Schmoopie]

Originally Posted by AKA

...but on the other hand, AMC now has great shows like Breaking Bad (the best show on television), Mad Men, The Walking Dead and Hell on Wheels, so it's not all bad.

That's true. I hated AMC with a passion when they started showing commercials and then when they changed their format to be just a regular movie station, but I love Mad Men and those other shows are pretty good.

But as for PBS, they've shown commercials occasionally but I don't think it'll ever be like regular television. They've been talking about showing commercials for years. I don't think it would be so bad if they aired the entire program uncut and then showed a few commercials. PBS is still one of the best stations out there, IMO.

[Ryan Chamberlain]

Wow. This really shows what a sad state our economy js in. It's so bad that Public TV is gonna show commercials. What's next. NPR selling out and playing Lady Gaga? Wouldn't doubt it.

[ajgenard]

I really don't see this as a huge issue. According to that article it's going to be the same amount of program content (still FAR, FAR more than any commercial network) just spacing the breaks out instead of cramming them all at the end of of a program. Also, they are not adding "commercials" advertising a product - just the same sponsor messages and promo spots.

Basically this will be the same amount of programming with the same kind of breaks they've always used, just at different times. No big deal.

[UMFaninMD]

I just wish they would air better programming during pledge weeks. Three hour specials of 50's doo wop music and self-help shows featuring how to save money, lose weight with hypnosis and controlling diabetes IMHO are not programs I would air to get viewers to donate money. But I read that those shows are the ones that actually bring in money.

I can't complain too much though. At least PBS airs the British dramas and mysteries BBC America won't because they think endless reruns of Star Trek: Next Generation, The X-Files and the Battlestar Galactica reboot is what represents the best of UK programming, just because it features a few British actors and actresses.

[jimpickens]

And maybe with the additional revenue they can afford some more quality programs.

[James28]

From Wikipedia:

PBS plans to temporarily move the corporate and foundation sponsorship tags aired at the beginning of and following its primetime programs, as well as the local and national network program promotion breaks normally inserted between programs, and insert them within four breaks of select programs on the network's primetime schedule (particularly Nova and Nature). This is to be a temporary experiment in an effort to prevent declining viewership; daytime programming will largely be unaffected by the trial experiment, which will last until the network receives new government funding and reverting the primetime lineup back to commercial-free programming by year's end.