Do you think PBS has way to many fundraising drives now? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

LUNCH · 08-02-2013, 12:23 PM

The main programs I watch on PBS are the British shows,like the Britcoms etc.However over the past few years PBS has really ramped up their drives to raise more money,and they do it for weeks on end now.They used to do it only a few times a year and for only one week at a time. If they really want to raise more money they should just show more classic programs from the UK.Anyhow,has PBS also increased the amount of times they ask for money in your area?

UMFaninMD · 08-03-2013, 11:07 AM

It seems they do pledge drives every other week and the shows they use to get money are shows I wouldn't watch unless I had a gun to my head, like those three-hour concerts with the 50's groups, Celtic Women, and all those boring seminars on how to live healthier. But PBS says those are the programs that bring in the viewers with the most money to donate.

I would think that they would get more money by showing all those British murder mysteries and dramas, which is what I watch PBS for.

LUNCH · 08-03-2013, 11:44 AM

Wow,every other week,that is beyond unacceptable in my opinion.. The thing that bothers me is PBS removes the British shows from the schedule whenever they try to raise money.If they still aired the shows from the UK at a different time,than that at least would be OK.--I also think over-doing the fundraising encourages more people to NOT give them any money.Afterall why should someone pay to see more and more fundraising.

catlover79 · 08-03-2013, 11:45 AM

I've always thought that!!

Vahan · 08-03-2013, 11:49 AM

They're taxpayer funded. Of course they have too much of that.

tlc38tlc38 · 08-03-2013, 12:09 PM

I don't really care how many fundraisers they do, I just wish my local PBS station would put Mister Rogers' Neighborhood back on the air!

tiredmike59 · 08-03-2013, 12:15 PM

My local PBS guy said, " If you are watching these shows and you have not donated,that is like stealing " No it's not.
I still have a few splinters in my arms from sliding down the telephone pole after illegally hooking up my cable years ago. Now that's stealing.

UMFaninMD · 08-03-2013, 10:58 PM

Speak of the devil, I just turned on PBS and they're doing another pledge drive! Right now they're airing "3 Steps to Incredible Health with Joel Fuhrman." Tomorrow is another fun-filled day of health seminars and a two and a half hour concert of country pop superstars. I still can't believe this is what they air to raise money.

Schmoopie · 08-04-2013, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiredmike59

My local PBS guy said, " If you are watching these shows and you have not donated,that is like stealing " No it's not.

OMG, someone actually said that? That's horrible! What a way to lay a guilt trip on people! I agree that PBS is doing way more pledge drives, but the government has cut their funding which really ticks me off. PBS is totally worth saving and has some great programs. Fortunately we have two PBS stations. Before we got cable that's all my husband and I used to watch and we still watch it quite a bit. I love that David Hyde Pierce supports it as well.
I feel a bit guilty that I've never contributed but I certainly don't think it's stealing if someone hasn't donated. That's beyond ridiculous to say that. That's like saying that if you go over to someone's house and watch a movie that is on HBO and you haven't paid for it, you're stealing. Um... right!

yankeesrj12 · 08-04-2013, 11:18 AM

PBS should just be shut down. There is no reason for taxpayers to be footing the bill for a network when there are hundreds of other channels on the air. I'm sure another network would grab the rights to popular series on the network, such as Downton Abbey, Sherlock, etc. I'm guessing a children's network would be interested in a few of their children's programs as well.

Vahan · 08-04-2013, 11:32 AM

LUNCH deleted a post that was in response to mine. What happened?

LUNCH · 08-04-2013, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vahan

They're taxpayer funded. Of course they have too much of that.

Yeah,that's another thing if they are still getting money what's the deal with PBS becoming so money hungry.--Vahan that's what I originally posted.I've been having computer problems .

Zoneboy · 08-04-2013, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiredmike59

My local PBS guy said, " If you are watching these shows and you have not donated,that is like stealing " No it's not.
I still have a few splinters in my arms from sliding down the telephone pole after illegally hooking up my cable years ago. Now that's stealing.

That's bull-crap, if a station's over-the-air signal can be picked up by an outside antenna then you're not stealing. The same thing is true for unscrambled satellite signals. I've seen many baseball games that were not scrambled or blacked-out that my satellite dish was able to pick up. If the game had TV coverage by both teams, usually the broadcast by the home team would be blacked out but the one from the visitors would be in the clear and free to watch.

LUNCH · 08-04-2013, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yankeesrj12

PBS should just be shut down. There is no reason for taxpayers to be footing the bill for a network when there are hundreds of other channels on the air. I'm sure another network would grab the rights to popular series on the network, such as Downton Abbey, Sherlock, etc. I'm guessing a children's network would be interested in a few of their children's programs as well.

Considering what most of the commercial TV channels have turned into,programs like Downton Abbey and other programming from the UK like classic Britcoms etc. would be filled with their endless commercials,sceen clutter etc. and heavily edited,and that's IF they decided to air them. You raise a point that I've wondered about,and that is why is PBS basically the only channel now that airs Classic(older) shows from the UK,and even PBS's selection has become quite limited.

yankeesrj12 · 08-04-2013, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUNCH

Considering what most of the commercial TV channels have turned into,programs like Downton Abbey and other programming from the UK like classic Britcoms etc. would be filled with their endless commercials,sceen clutter etc. and heavily edited,and that's IF they decided to air them. You raise a point that I've wondered about,and that is why is PBS basically the only channel now that airs Classic(older) shows from the UK,and even PBS's selection has become quite limited.

I think BBC America could easily air Downton Abbey. It would fit well with the other British series on the network and I don't think they'd cut all that much (if any) from the ITV version.

The only thing that may prevent a series like it from airing on BBC America is that BBC and ITV are rivals in Britain. I don't know if it would matter all too much, however, since its a sister network of BBC and not in the home country.

08-02-2013, 12:23 PM	#1
LUNCH Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 23, 2010 Location: New York State Posts: 1,304	Do you think PBS has way to many fundraising drives now? The main programs I watch on PBS are the British shows,like the Britcoms etc.However over the past few years PBS has really ramped up their drives to raise more money,and they do it for weeks on end now.They used to do it only a few times a year and for only one week at a time. If they really want to raise more money they should just show more classic programs from the UK.Anyhow,has PBS also increased the amount of times they ask for money in your area?
	Last edited by LUNCH; 08-02-2013 at 01:35 PM.

08-03-2013, 11:45 AM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I've always thought that!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

08-03-2013, 12:09 PM	#6
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,257	I don't really care how many fundraisers they do, I just wish my local PBS station would put Mister Rogers' Neighborhood back on the air!
	__________________ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 In loving memory of my best friend, my Mama.

08-03-2013, 11:07 AM	#2
UMFaninMD I love a mystery Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,287	It seems they do pledge drives every other week and the shows they use to get money are shows I wouldn't watch unless I had a gun to my head, like those three-hour concerts with the 50's groups, Celtic Women, and all those boring seminars on how to live healthier. But PBS says those are the programs that bring in the viewers with the most money to donate. I would think that they would get more money by showing all those British murder mysteries and dramas, which is what I watch PBS for.

08-03-2013, 11:44 AM	#3
LUNCH Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 23, 2010 Location: New York State Posts: 1,304	Wow,every other week,that is beyond unacceptable in my opinion.. The thing that bothers me is PBS removes the British shows from the schedule whenever they try to raise money.If they still aired the shows from the UK at a different time,than that at least would be OK.--I also think over-doing the fundraising encourages more people to NOT give them any money.Afterall why should someone pay to see more and more fundraising.

08-03-2013, 11:49 AM	#5
Vahan Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2008 Posts: 2,712	They're taxpayer funded. Of course they have too much of that.

08-03-2013, 12:15 PM	#7
tiredmike59 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 05, 2010 Location: OUTLAW STATE {MO} Posts: 1,868	My local PBS guy said, " If you are watching these shows and you have not donated,that is like stealing " No it's not. I still have a few splinters in my arms from sliding down the telephone pole after illegally hooking up my cable years ago. Now that's stealing.

08-03-2013, 10:58 PM	#8
UMFaninMD I love a mystery Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,287	Speak of the devil, I just turned on PBS and they're doing another pledge drive! Right now they're airing "3 Steps to Incredible Health with Joel Fuhrman." Tomorrow is another fun-filled day of health seminars and a two and a half hour concert of country pop superstars. I still can't believe this is what they air to raise money.

08-04-2013, 11:18 AM	#10
yankeesrj12 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 09, 2008 Posts: 4,335	PBS should just be shut down. There is no reason for taxpayers to be footing the bill for a network when there are hundreds of other channels on the air. I'm sure another network would grab the rights to popular series on the network, such as Downton Abbey, Sherlock, etc. I'm guessing a children's network would be interested in a few of their children's programs as well.

08-04-2013, 11:32 AM	#11
Vahan Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2008 Posts: 2,712	LUNCH deleted a post that was in response to mine. What happened?