COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA H0U8B OF REPRESENTATIVES

COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

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In rei Budget Request - 1983 - 1984 PPTN

Verbatim report of hearing held In Room 401, Main Capitol Building* Barriaburg, Pennsylvania, on Thursday,

February 24, 1983 3i30 P.M.

BON. MAX PIEVSKY, CHAIRMAN Bon. Kurt IwlXl, Vica-Chairman Bon. Joseph M. Hoeffel, III, Secretary Bon. H. William DeWeese, Chairman Subcommittee on Capital Budget Bon. James M. MoZntyre, Chairman Subcommittee Bealth and Welfare Bon. Ralph Pratt, Chairman Subcommittee on Bduoation

MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Bon. Mary Ann Arty Bon. Joseph C. Manmiller Bon. Gibson Armstrong Bon. Richard A. McClatchy Bon. Thomas R. Caltagirone Bon. Gerald F. MoMonagle Bon. Italo 8. Cappabianoa Bon. George Miscevich Bon. Brian D. Clark Bon. Nicholas B. Moehlmann Bon. Roy w. Cornell Bon. Howard F. Mowery, Jr. Bon. Ronald R. Cowell Bon. Frank Pistella Bon. Alphonso Deal Bon. George F. Pott, Jr. Bon* Dwlght Evans Bon. Carmel Siriannl Bon. Stephen Freind Bon. Nilliam J. Stewart Bon* Allen Kukoviob Bon. Tod Stuban Bon. Joseph Levi, III Bon. Edward A. Wiggins Bon. Stephen B. Levin Bon. Peter R« Vroon

Reported byt Jerry Book

one Rwgirtwtl Proftnonal Reporter

135 S LanJic St***t {-fumnialrtown, l-'ennrqlvania 17036

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ALSO FMOTWi

Bdwerd Solan - Staff

Miohael Herahook - Executive Director

Al Pergoson - Staff

Leon Bndy * Staff

Lou Groesaan - Staff

£E& ££ Pago mmtammmm

Shel Slagal 35 President ft General Manager, WLVT-TV 41

Andrew Bradley, Chairman Budget c Financa Committee

Shal Parker, Ganaral Manager PPTN 33 37

Rick Jonas Assistant Ganaral Nanagar M m , Hershay 41

lira. Pose LeFever oiraotor of Pisoal Affalra

Larry Masaenger Oiraotor of Vaohnloal Operation*

Mrs* Joan Aoflaro Director of Community Salatlons

Philip T. Barmen^ Chairman Pennsylvania Public Television Network IPPWl )

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(The Prepared Statement of Philip X. Bttiuf Chairman

Pennsylvania Public Television Network is as follows)t

Statement submitted by Philip I, Barman* Chairman

Pennsylvania Publio Television Network (PPTN) for tho

Bousa Appropriations Committee Searing February 24, 1993 - 3i30 P.M.

"The Pannsylvania Publio Talavision Network

Commission was created in 1968 with the passage of

Aot 329. The act charges the Commission with making

public television available to all people in

Pennsylvania and encouraging the growth and development

of a dynamic, free, and effective program service.

The PPT" Commission governs the network, and a current

list of its members is enclosed. The Commission

performs statewide coordinating functions, including

the operation of the statewide network and its

operating center, and makes operating* equipment and

facilities, affirmative action training, and

programming grants to each of the seven stations. By

1969, network interconnection facilities were

operational, and the seven member stations were linked

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through a 1600-mile microwave system.

" D M seven independent noncxwnierolal stations are

located in the following communitiest Bethlehem,

Brie, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Pittston,

and University Park, laeh station has its own board

of diraotors and independently determines operational

and programming policy. Baeh is individually

responsible to the Federal Oossninioatlons Oossdssion

for westing federal broadcast rules and regulations.

In a period when government must be increasingly

efficient and cost-effective, the Pennsylvania

network's ability to receive and transmit programing

on behalf of all seven stations has the potential to

perform a task once on behalf of all seven stations,

eliminating the .need of a seven-fold repetition of

that same task. The consequent personnel and machine

cost-savings translate into hundreds of thousands of

dollars annually.

"Hasn't the era of the emergence of new

electronic media--video disc, cable TV, pay-cable,

subscription TV—rendered public television obsolete?

A number of juries are delivering their answers to

these questions, and the verdicts are in publlo

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television's favor. In Meant weeke, both TV Quito

and 0.8. Wawa and World Resort have carried perceptive

artiolaa and an aditorlal deacribing why public TV la

vary much ellWand wall. Tha anolosad oopiaa of

raprinta ara oonaended to your raadlng beoauae they

answer sons pravalant misconceptions and provida an

excellent suaaary of tha overall atata of public

broadcasting.

"Although public talevialon should never baoona a

captive to ratings* daclslon amkara daaarva to know

vhathar anyona la watching. Nationwide, public

television viewerahip haa sore than doublad over tha

paat fiva yaars. Statewide data compiled for tha

atata'a seven public atationa indioata that tha

paroantaga and numbar of Pennsylvania houaaholda

watching publia talaviaion ara inoraasing daspita tha

prolifaration of competition tram cable, disc, and

tape. In just one year* according to A.c. Mielsen

data, Pennsylvania's public talaviaion atationa

enjoyed a 12 percent etatowide inoreaaa in viewing

houaaholda in November 1982, over November,1981. This

paroantaga increase tranalataa into 1,638,000

Pennsylvania viewing houaaholda and 2,112,000 in- and

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oot-of-atata housaholds. in addition to public TV

attracting graatar audlancas, viawars ara toning to

public stations mora hours par vaak.

"Katloawida audlance raaaareh studias also

provlda halpful danographio lnfoxnatlon about

nonccanercial TV audiancas. Tha dlvarsa programming

offarad pradiotably attracts a dlvarsa audianca. Tha

public talavision audianca, in aggragata, la vary m o h

lika tha population of tha Onitad States. Whan ona

awwinaa tha aducatlonal lavals, tha occupational

classifications, iaoona lavals, and minority

populations, tha publia talavision audianca vary naarly

mirrors tha danographio aukaap of tha nation aa a

vhola. Tha oharga of alitisa, tha allagation that

public 9V ia only for tha salact fair, ia ansvarad by

audianca raaaareh findings* Micbaal ftica of tha Aspan

Instituta diaaissas than out of hand. Ba aays that

public talavision's broadcasts ara a "braaking opan of

what vara anoa^tha prasarvas of tha rich and powarful—

a braaking opan so radical, so insistently daaocratia,

that anyona, anyvbara, by tha siapla act of toning to

a particular atatlon, can hava and anjoy things that r

only 20 yaars ago vara tha narks of privllaga."

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"Any discussion about public broadcasting

properly focuses on ths product or the programming

which is made available to 95 percent of too people of

ths Commonwealth through »PTH. Public TV is enjoying

ons of ths bsst years svsr—with programming which

receives high critical acclaim, some of ths industry's

most prestigious awards* and ths praiss of an

increasing number sad percentage of viswsrs. k more

detailed look at PPTN'S programming is attached under

ths heading of " W W Programming in Perspective,"

"Because of ths critical importance of solving

the state's economic woes and because of the national

leadership which WQBD/Pittsburgh is taking in

producing programs on the subject of teenage drug and

alcohol abuse, this statement will highlight only

these two subject areas. The Pennsylvania network

recognises the important role it can play through

programs dealing with unemployment end the state's

economy. Later this month, WHYY/Fhiladelphia will air

a special on unemployment which will feature a

telephone hot line and a panel of community resource

people who will give advice on such topics as

prevention of mortgage foreclosures, where to go for

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personal counseling, how to keep yourself busy while

you're looking for work, and job alternatives you may

not have been aware of. In April, the network will

be carrying WPSX/University Perk's High Tech, High

Stakes end a live interconnected broadcast which will

take a comprehensive look at the unemployment situation

in the Crmmnnwealth*—both programs ere PPm-funded.

On April 19, 1983, » T » is playing e key role in a

"Conference on Pennsylvania's Economic Future" end will

carry the highlights to ell four corners of the

Commonwealth at a later date. Also to be broadcast

later with network financial support is WITF/Harria-

burg's "Hhen A Factory doses." The mention of

specific Pennsylvania programs should not diminish

the importance of the enhanced economic understanding

which national series such as The MaoMail/Lohror

Report, Enterprise, end nightly Business Report, along

with the network's The People's Business and Fro-Con,

bring to the state's TV viewers.

"The growing number of the long-term unemployed

in the Commonwealth has made us aware of another way

that public television is proving helpful. A phone

call and letter to Philadelphia's WHYY-TV gave that

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station credit for litorally preserving an unemployed

steelworker's sanity. Tha usual daytime oommarolal

programming far* lad him to become a regular watcher

of Channal 12. Ha showed his appraolatlon for his

continued food mental health whan ha was again

gainfully ••ployed by mailing tha station a

contribution.

"Last year the Bouse Appropriations Committee

heard how a $23,000 PPTN production grant helped

leverage eleven times that amount to enable WQED/

Pittsburgh to produce Tha Chemical People. This

community dialogue on teenage drug and alcohol abuse

is designed to arouse concerned interest and motivate

positive action. Effective drug and alcohol abuse

information and prevention information depends on

people who understand the problem and want to do

something to solve it* In November* The Chemical

People will go statewide and nationwide via PPTW and

the Public Broadcasting service (PBS).

-"''"PPT* hits.talked repeatedly about tha network's

two-way microwave system and its greater potential to

deliver services*and to bring certain economies to

state government. The PPTN-led study. Public

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Taliiiiawiniinattlona In Fannaylvanla. oonplatad a faw

'aontha ago* dtftorlbaa thaaa opportnnitiaa In mora

detail. PPVM'a traffic and routing ayataa ooatrola

tha aicrowava dallvary aystam and ia in bad ahapa. It

la 13 yaara old, falling, and now parta ara BO longar

avallabla baeaaaa tha awnufaoturar ia oat of that

buainaaa. Mhila tha raooamandad funding ineraaaaa for

PPTH oparationa, prograaadag, and aqulpaant ara

waleoaa, thay laava aignlfioant capital aqnipnant

naada unaat at both tha natMork and atatlona.

"At tha Daoattbar 9, lt»2, guartarly mooting of

tha PPTN Coaadaslon, tha aanbara raaf f iraod thair

lntaraat in broadaning tha niaalon of VMM to parait

tha foliar utilisation of tha natMork'a diatribation

and othar raaouroaa, Vhaaa objaetivaa can ba attainad

by aaandaanta iatroduoad ia tha Qanaral Xaaonbly. Tha

Ooamiaaion alao iaatraetad tha W i n ataff to work with

appropriato individuala ia and out of govaraaant to

atady tha faaaibility and daairabillty of two aarvloaa

whiOh ara a logical follow-up to tha public

talauuaamni oationa atudyt Nora inforamtion for tha

haarlng iapairad and for tha agricultural indoatry by

tha uaa of talataxt. Talataxt ia tha ganario tars for

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systems which encode printed information in a

television broadcast signal and permit the saltation

of individual "pages" of information by a dooodor-

oqulpped user. PPW la presently airing a number of

PBS shows whioh are alosed-oaptioned. Captioning is

a loss sophisticated form of teletext in which the

text does not appear on the screen without a special

decoder.

"As Pennsylvania moves toward doing more of its

business electronically, PPTO'e experience and ability

in the telecommunications field becomes an even more

valuable Commonwealth resource. To bring information*

education, enlightenment* and an improved quality of

life to all Pennsylvanians is essential, and P P M

will continue to perform that role to the very beet of

its ability.*

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ON OFFICERS

lp I. Berman of Che Board f Allentown a

irman s I. Pollock t, Morris Coupling Company

ON MEMBERS

ew M. Bradley, CPA rg

n B. Craig Coordinator Pennsylvania School for the Deaf 8h

awe Froke Manager ty Division of teaming and Telecommunications Services sylvama State University ty Park

s Lehrman Grass rg

. Hughes, Esq. Sh

jnck E. Leu&chner t Executive Director for Communications inia State Education Association rg

cable Harold F. Mowery, Jr. Representatives rg

in Niebuhr, Jr. 2 Vice President nversity ihia

ian Weyerhaeuser Piasecki 1

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COMMISSION MEMBERS - 2 i

Rose

la Council on the Arts

ble Robert C. Wilburn Designate la Department of Education

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n P. SiegeL and GeneraL Manager

Bethlehem i

ble Mark S. Singel Pennsylvan La

ble Richard A. Snyder Pennsylvania

4,

J. Specter

ble David W. Sweet epresentatives

11. Tollefson ector, WPV1-TV la

k Toole Director, Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit

C. Van Dufaen e l lor Emeritus and Professor of Pittsburgh

Commission Vacancy

PP1N PtOlI'-AMMING JN PERSPECTIVE

r types of programs are bi>.Jcast on PPfN member stations.

Shared programs are produced by PPTN member stations and distributed statewide via PPTN's microwave interconnection. Programs specifically funded by PPTN arc '1HL PEOPLE'S BUSINESS, PEOPLE'S BUSINESS SPECIAL RLPORfS, PRO-CON, and PENNSYLVANIA SPECIALS.

Nationally distributed programs are acquired through the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), or the Lastern Educational Television Network (ELN), one of public television's regional networks. PPTN Operations Center records and stores most of the incoming PBS and EES programs, giving stations the option of delayed broadcast, allowing them to air programs at a time particularly suited to their local audiences

Local programs are produced by member stations to air in their specific market and to meet local community needs. When a local program has statewide impact, it is offered Lhrough the PPTN interconnect to other PPTN stations.

instructional television programs are acquired by PPTN member stations for broadcast during school hours to students in grades K-12. These programs, which are carried over the network, are usually 15-20 minutes in length and cover a whole range of subjects such as language arts, mathematics, and science.

jugli these four types of programming, PPTN continues to meet the Lie television programming priorities identified in 1974 by the pie of Pennsylvania. PPTN is committed to meeting the eight needs itified foi public television with innovative and creative £ramming. These goals and a few examples of current programming t focus on these priorities are listed below.

GOAL. A 10RUM FOR PUBLIC DEBATE

. Pro-Con. PPTN's monthly public affairs series, now in its second season, continues to present a balanced view of controversial statewide issues The Death Penalty, School Prayer, TM1 UesLcrt, Community Living for the Mentallv Retarded.

• The Constitutor - That Delicate Balance: The critically acclaimed four-part series in which journalists, judges, lawyers, and politicians clash over divergent views on crucial consitutiunal i.ssi>es.

KAMMINC IN PCKbPELTIVC

COAL: A FORUM FOR THE LIVELY ARTS

. Bach Mass in B-Minor; (A PPTN Pennsylvania Special) The 82-year-old Bach Choir of Bethlehem performed at Christmas for PBS viewers nationwide.

. Young Artists in Concert: (A PPTN Pennsylvania Special)

*. Previn and the Pittsburgh

*. Kenaedy Center Tonight

American Playhouse: A showcase of outstanding plays, short stories, and novels.

The Shakespeare Plays A six-year cycle presenting all of the Shakespeare Plays

Great Periorniances: Now in its tenth year, Gr^at Performances reached new heights wiLh the acclaimed "Wagner's Ring" and "Brideshead Revisited."

COAL: TO SERVE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR WORLD

*. WQED/Pittsburgh heads a five-station $6 million consortium to create family and children's programming for public television.

Powerhouse: An effective and entertaining new series directed toward inner city children.

Sesame Street: 64 percent of all 2-5 year olds watch it.

*• What's In the News

*. Once Upon a Classic

The Electric Company

•grams that have be-n produce*! by a PPTN member station for distribution.

RAMMING IN PERSPECTIVE

.UAL: TO KNOW HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS

. The People's Business: PPTN's weekly capital report.

. Frontline: A new hard-hitting weekly docu­mentary series.

• The MacNeil-Lehrer Report: The innovative hour-long nightly version will air this summer.

. Lawmakers

Washington Week In Review

JOAL: TO RECEIVE HEALTH INFORMATION

*. The Chemical People: (A PPTN Pennsylvania Special) As a result of this programming and community outreach in Southwestern Pennsylvania, 102 action-oriented task forces were formed to combat local teenage drug and alcohol abuse. The program will be aired nationally in the fall.

. And Baby Makes Two. (A PPTN Pennsylvania Special) focused on the need for communica­tion between parents and children on the subject of sexuality.

• Trapped in Fear* (A PPTN Pennsylvania Special) will examine agoraphobia and its treatment.

.OAL: ADULT EDUCATION FOR CREDIT AND FUN

. PBS Adult Learning: Last year (81-82) more than 53,000 viewers enrolled in PBS tele­vision courses for college credit, and enrollment in the fall semester of 1982 increased by a solid 37 percent.

. This Old House

. Last Chance Garage

. The Woodwright's Shop

grams that have been produced by a PPTN member station for distribution.

tAMMINfi IN PERSPECTIVE

JOAL: TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND PENNSYLVANIA'S MANY FACES

. High Tech-High Stakes: (A PPTN Pennsylvania Special) will look at Pennsylvania's position in the national shift to high technologies.

. Profiles in Excellence; (A PPTN Pennsylvania Special) will profile the winner's of the Hazlett Memorial Awards for Excellence in the Arts in Pennsylvania.

. When a Factory Closes (A PPTN Pennsylvania Special) will focus on the personal tragedy in a plant closing.

. Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships' (A PPTN Pennsylvania Special)

. Pennsylvania Journey: (A PPTN Pennsylvania Special) A trip through Pennsylvania's geography and history.

The Plight of the Pennsylvania Farmer: A People's Business Special Report.

Cemetery Ridge: (A PPTN Pennsylvania Special) will focus on this historic battle near Gettysburg.

SOAL. TO HEAR PUBLIC OFFICIALS SPEAK AND THE OPPOSITION RESPOND

People's Business Special Reports: The Governor's Budget Message; The Democratic Response, Ask the Governor and Ask the Legislature (call-in specials); Election '82 In Review.

People's Business m-depth weekly coverage: Profiles of close election races; interviews with cabinet nominees; pre­election coverage of third party candidates; coverage of the NOW Conference and the Northeast Regional Conference of Black Elected Officials.

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'*" * ^ ' itroy the but di nes are tough public station picked up his daily newspaper and nstioral public-broaacastmg service that trough Ipoears to b e COping spotted a from page headline mat read had been m place since 1968 bringing And > hiirinet cuts a n d the Deficit Dooms CBS s Cable TV Arts Serv- to the home screen such a'ttinguisned guise y„a i/B^nnrSv7oe ,ca He shook his head—and then smiled series as Gnat Performances and Mas- public 3t newiecnnoiogies After losing more than S30 million in less terpitca Thaaira One arm of that snack thai w sy than a year of operation, the article said. was the sudden emergence of new elec- gesse

•ast September the presi- CBS had decided to dose down tfe cul- ironic media—cabia TV pay-cable sub- public it Coast public-broaocastmg tural-cabia-programming network that had J scnptnn TV. videoaiscs. Almost overnight, publx

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oonbnuM mng percentage of t>e dona another way But I just don t tee supplant traditional Federal tax-based agra itting their money's (| happening" support within the foreseeable future By to it ippropnate use" of Far tram being a dire threat to public ' tar the most controversial ol the options ubil He some elitist little television, cable TV w one of the greatest they scrutinized was the airing of com* dreri

blessings ever bestowed on it So says- mercials on public-TV stations. Congress burc er, CBS Cable went tarry Grossman, president of the Public has. in lact. authorized an 18-month com ilyhadnt supported Broadcasting Service, who points out experiment m which seven stations are havi (horizonof other so- that—since cable systems are legally broadcasting commercials of the sort you broa ertorming-arts serv- obligated to transmit the signals of all local see on network television (only tour rmn- towi The Entertainment TV stations—that factor immediately eiim- utes an hour, however, and clustered so the c

l/ABC s Arts—indi- mates the so-called UHF handicap (almost as not to interrupt programs) and two olh- from audiences and were two-thirds of U S public-TV stations are on era are doing so-called'enhanced under- trine le red Pay-TV net- me UHF band, which is weaker and more ' writing." which means bnaf corporate- pay-3ffice and Showtime* difficult for many viewers to tune in) and messages that ere not quite full-blown towi het of theamcai films gives PBS instant parity with commercial commercials The puoiic-TV community te oprn tal attractions and stations ami cable program networks. Thar sharply divided on the issue of public TV pore mostly selling old has helped public TV, says Grossman, to going commercial The most outspoken legu

real tanged monster mora than double its viewership in the last opponent ol the scheme have bean CPB TV thai was»leap | M year, 4 a t i m a whan me audiences president Plisler and PBS president Ivor

)ur public television 0 ( the old-line networks are dwindling dra- Grossman ' It is not the answer," Pfister casti 1 mora like a paper maticaily—mostly aa a result of that same insists "Not now Not in the future " Awing pete

cable*TV growth And besides, says commercials leads inevitably to courting takir. Grossman, cable obviously will produce over larger audiences with ever junkier brat

:-TV station WNET, lowest-common-denominator program- . programs, he is certain, and that would be broa hn pondered all that m i n g 10 support its scores of channel*. 1 the end of public TVs dream of excel- cnpi a Chicken Little sto- and public-TV programs will stand out in I lenca of a >e all faded A lot of high relief in that tumble of competing- I Nonsense, says WOLN's Chitester; its r zled by sugarplum mediocrity He is persuaded that—except 1 whose station is one of the seven offering Fedc 1 technologies would , tor public-TV—' television is going to get full commercials Plater's position is fund Kjblic broadcasting worse not batter" its audience fractured unacceptable ' Most "distressing," he vmo oysl* we were told and fractiomzed, and its money pool too adds is the skeptical tone of many pub- tons iplort our franchise. shallow to produce worthy programs ff s lie-broadcasting officials which suggests fare hey re businessmen- - r persuasive- eceneno. ai id one that c o w they re incapable of anything but putting An 1 on investment and merciel operators will have to refute out their hands to the Government" temt sir doing what we On June 30. 1983, the ad experiment bars

If the bogeyman of New Media appears | will end and two months latere report will cor™ atelier chairmen of less threatening than it did a veer ago, the go to Congress on how successful it'was. port ubiic Broadcasting, specter of dwindling funds is more omi- At that time, says Commissioner Ouelto, builc ense that the new nou% than ever Sensing the Administre- legislation may be introduced that will equi| ispiace pubhe tele- tion s attitude toward long-range support decide if public TV is to be nnged-around- with noiogias have yet to of public TV Congress in 1981 set up a the-collar with the same advertisements this 1 if'll render a signifi- Temporary Commission on Alternative that choke commercial television. ism? 1 a large percentage , Financing lor Public Telecommunications gob tew technology will I under me chairmanship of FCC Commia- Meanwhile other influential voices vt the g ol the more than 90 ' sioner James Quelio Its report listed no being heard about how to mitigate public as B watch public teievi- fewer than 33 options Among them lot- broadcasting s eternal money problems, warn

lenes tax credits for contribution, excise FCC Chairman Mark Fowler favors a spec- "mor sident of CPB. said taxes, ownership ol caule and satellite (rum fee that would have commercial ming casters in time an systems, producing programs for com- broadcasters—presumably in return for alter do now then bless mercial broadcasters tax-return checkoffs. • almost total dsregulation—pay a tiny slice basic wj to lead the charge The Commissior was at pains to point J of their revenues into a fund that would publi we ought not put inis out however that none of those devices. 1 help support public broadcasting In return mere an taxpayer if it can nor combinations of them, is likely t o - • I tor that windfall public broadcasters would whicl

TVfiUlKOeCfMBEIUI 1982 I IS

i '

I eenbnuad '

revenues and ratings in brief the Inn the Carnegie Commission o n t o Future of ! has lain down with the lamb to protect the Public Broadcasting when it recommend-best interests ol both of them ed in 1979 that the service ought to have

Still, the most formiaable champions of an annual operating fund of Si 2 billion public TV are m Congress, which has, with hall of that coming from Washington repeatedly and in bipartisan style restored No such sum ever materialized and prob-some of the budget cuts made by the Whit* ably never will In fact, the Administration House. Sen Barry Goldwator (R-Anz), in the last lew years has budgeted less for chairman ol the Senate communications public broadcasting than the Pentagon subcommittee, says 'Seeing the type of- spends on its 103 military bands Other work public broadcasting is doing. I'm countries do it differently Canada, for eager to help them. The state of com- example, has an annual par-capita invest* mereial TV in this country is so deplorable merit in public TV of SI 7 21, in Great Bnt-that public television is a welcome relief am, it's $15 54. in Japan, $10 90 per from that" Rep. Timothy Wirth (D-Col), person In the U S, the Federal contn-chairman ol the House subcommittee on bution is 87 cents tor each Amencan Telecommunications, Consumer Protec- But public broadcasters shouldn t amo­tion and Finance, feela that the message matically assume there will be any Fed-has gone back to the White House loud eral aid indetaitely. says Bernard Wunder, and clew that this is not a partisan issue " NTIA s director and the Administration s Public broadcasting fills a very important chiel spokesman tor telecommunications need in this country People like it" affairs I can t accept that (here will always

be a need tor it." he told TV GUIDE He And yet one of the most persistent cnti- disagrees that the selling of advertising cisms of public television is that many of undermines the cnaracter of public TV ' I its programs are too elitist.' too narrow |ustdont believe that And other sources in their highbrow apo**l to interest most of revenue, if pursued vigorously, might people—«w tt* ieyre underwn- help ease the Government out of public ten, in pert by every American taxpayer TV he leels In any case, he is still per-But PBS s audience research shows that suaded (despite the uncertain future of more than three-fourths of public-TV view- cultural cable channels) that such new ers are not college graduates, and almost media as direct broadcast satellites will half live in households win annuel income* one day take over at least part of the mar-of less than $20 000 The public-TV audi- ket and that public TV will not necessarily ence does in fact, closely minor the U & be me dominant torce m cultural pro-population Thus, charges of elitism seem gramming ' For such reasons, long-rang* hollow to public broadcasters One expert funding at ever higher levels seems to him observer Michael Rice of the Aspen insti- bad policy tut*, dismisses them out of hand, saying

that public-TVs broadcasts are a ' break- Against that view CPB president Pt.ster ing open of what were once the preserves thinks that Congress and the White House of the neh and the powerful—a breaking ought to say, We have a precious thing open so radical, so insistently democratic, here and then assure that it breathe* that anyone anywhere by the simple act and works' If they did says Phster. "W* ol tuning to a particular station, can have could have the premiere noncommercial and enjoy things that only 20 years ago broadcasting service in In* world— were the marks of privilege' And if the including the BBC1' new TV media ever do pre-empt televised That s the goal and all parties to the culture says Rice then we ll be right beck discussion agree on iL How to get there where we started—providing excellence is what has kept public TV dyspeptic for only to those who can pay for it and effec- the whole 14 yeers of its life And how does lively disenfranchising all the rest. it spell relief Same as you and me

A similar concern was on the mind of M-O-N-E-Y @

IB TVGUtOEOCCUMiRII 1962

I

i ft

SECTION I

APPROPRIATION 34-33

NIA PUBLIC TELEVISION NETWORK - NETWORK OPERATIONS

i

lie Broadcasting Service u ?*^i i l" ^ ^ ^ . £ Mm i H l 1 1 J?** - -<s» »-• ' *jd in all-out drive to secure its \ -*??*^f*aJ'^^ 3 H J S > mBk n k A ^ w , . -**'*V,HSH as a major source of high- f fS^T^**^! *^iJisBmmmmK4issSmu.̂ JSBl!l^»-£^ ~ *'"' ' ^ 3 S » \ 3 j three big commercial net- "•Juppeta" creator Jim Hanson, canter, stars In PBS special about making of new turn. sutnng back on plans for a ' ison" beginning in January, typical station affiliated with ABC, CBS study by the A C Nielsen Company, roal PBS wdl unveil on its or NBC which measures broadcast audiences, s some of the most ambt- But viewer habits are changing, and indicates that about 50 percent more i in its nine-year history PBS is gaming The network has more Americans with cable watch public offerings than doubled its number of viewers in television than those without ines of plays on "American the past five years, says PBS research Financial woes persist. Despite its that wdl include "Until She director Dale M Rhodes During its programing successes, PBS soil has ma-ama about a woman's expe- Oct 11-17, 1982, fall premiere week, jor problems, many of them financial th the grand-jury system, PBS attracted more than 52 percent of Without the advertisers who pay for Vilder's "The Skin of Our all US TV homes -about 85 million commercial television, public TV has a nunneries, "The File on people—a 13 percent increase over the to make do with funding from a variety

' about an interracial mar- previous year The network claims, fur- of sources About one fourth of its reve-sen a black American man thermore, that surveys show its audi- nues come from federal funds and the • Englishwoman ences are a broad cross section of the rest mostly from state and local gov-rersial" new series. The public and not elitist at all ernments and contributions by mdivid-io is launching a new week- A few PBS shows, such as the Na- uals, corporations and foundations, JSSMIS series, "Frontline," tumal Geographic special, "Sharks," Efforts over the years to locate other if documentaries on contro- have even attained the drawing power sources such as a tax on the sale of TV cs Other presentations will of commercial-network offerings, at- sets—have foiled The result is that eight-part series on "Win- traebng more than 17 percent of all PBS programers are unable to finance hdl The Wilderness Years," homes where TV sets were on. Most many new "blockbuster" programs ca-art Wagner opera cycle, broadcasters consider mat an amazing pable of attracting huge audiences of the Nibelung," and Ma- achievement, especially in light of the Instead, they have generally turned graphic specials on China 136-munon-dollar annual PBS budget to comparatively less expensive talk uca for all programs—a tiny fraction of the shows, concerts and foreign series such nmer, PBS plans to intro- amounts spent by each of the "big as "Masterpiece Theatre." Mir-long nightly news pro- three" networks One of the chief concerns at PBS yect long contemplated but Qrowth continues. Such successes headquarters in Washington, D C, is led by the commercial net- also are providing the network with federal support Network officials say show wdl be an extension substantially improved morale follow- there are indications the Reagan ad-

:Ned/Lehrer Report" ing predictions a few years ago that ministration wdl propose cutting pub-PBS is not aiming for die PBS would collapse under the com- he radio and TV funds in fiscal 1985 to mces that typical situation bined competition of the commercial 75 million dollars, about half the cur-ttract on commercial televi- networks, non-network commercial rent appropriation. Executives say that a PBS official "Our audi- TV stations and cable channels In- would be a severe blow—perhaps fatal

j from all backgrounds, but stead, PBS continued to expand while "to some broadcasting across the U S ive one thing in common rivals, such ja the CBS cultural chan- Lawrence K Grossman, president of it is why our programs can nel, floundered and died PBS, worries that the network wdl al-•ranging and different from Contrary to many expectations, cable ways be underfunded But he believes things on TV" actually has helped public television the organization is strong enough to ihargad. Some critics con- Confined in many cibes to the less pop- survive and flourish despite present lubhc television caters to an ular ultrahigh-frequency stations on problems He concludes "At a time 'elite" and that there is lit- channels 14 and above, public TV used when all the commercial networks are

/ the network to attract the to be ignored by many viewers because retrenching and retreating, public tele-bltc About 5 percent of TV it was hard to locate and fuzzy to watch vision must be the one to move forward ing during the average eye- Now, however, growing cable sys- and show everyone else the way " D uned to public television, terns in many areas make PBS shows as wim about 28 percent for a clear and easy to dial as any other A By WILLIAM L. IUCDOUCMI.

U S NEWS & WORLD REPORT Jan 10 1883

The Editor's Page g^^^T^pS^B

TV: We Deserve Better K^WUi'J By Marvin Stone

It u painful co watch the self-inflicted But questions about the intellectual will not wounds of network television After a rocket- die Nickleby" eventually appeared on a col-like flight in profits over the last decade, to lection of stations put together by Mobil Cor-heights above 630 million dollars in 1981, the poration, which was trying to embellish its cor-Big Three are looking back on a year when it porate image "Nickleby" was pronounced a was much harder to show net gains From here triumph Aside from whatever value it might out, they face rising costs of production, a have as a Dickens masterpiece, it displayed shrinking share of the nation's viewers and the acting more sincere and human qualities more prokpect of pouring out further millions to seek genuine than your usual sitcom trash a foothold in cable, pay-TV and moviemaking Reaction to "Nickleby" might indicate that

In such a setting, a certain amount of panic is commercial television is underestimating the understandable, but still it seems that those are brainpower of Americans and their capacity for dollars enough to support some imagination enjoying TV's you-are-there presentations of and courage in programing What a large seg- works forbiddingly known as "classics." And ment of the public will remember, for example, they also may be overlooking a potential gain, is that the Big Three networks turned their at least in good wdl backs on the Royal Shakespeare Company's Network television now stands, in a sense, at four-part "Nicholas Nickleby" and, in some the stage reached 10 years or so ago by the cases, for reasons of their own, pressed their book industry Traditionally, the big houses affiliates to do the same had included on their lists each year some tides

Remembered, too, will be that it was left to useful just for their excellence and the reputa-the Public Broadcasting Service to run the tape tion of the company When production costs of the Vienna State Opera's bouncy "Fleder- went out of sight, the business departments maus" and introduce to American television asserted their power Nothing was to issue un-Bayreuth's spirited and innovative version of less it promised big profits. the Wagner "Ring " Well, publishing is a business It is the paper-

These are intellectual (read snobbish) exer- back romances that rake in the green. But book cises, in the established view of the market- publishing has lost luster Moreover, if there is place, and PBS is 'elitist" no high standard to emulate, where can the

Leaving aside for the moment the question quality of the product and the level of public of whether these treasures are, indeed, purely taste go but down' intellectual, a viewer has a right to inquire If the nomnteUectual is all that is to be courted by Fortunately for television and its watchers, commercial television, where are the new ro- TV does have a yardstick: PBS There is more mantic series and situation comedies to take the to come in the season of public television—six place of those that are wearing thin' What further episodes of the Bayreuth "Ring," with fresh inventions are there to engage viewers its exciting young cast and direction, continued who have grown weary of "Love Boat" and deep-investigative reporting, perhaps an hour-

Fantasy Island" and Archie Bunker and Alice' long news program, and other innovations And, the prime question, where can we turn On its uny federal appropriation, together the dial when we finally tune out the reruns of with private grants, the public network is gain-the reruns of "M*A*S*H"' ing followers who sense that PBS is where it's

happening If only some of its quality could rub We all know and understand that the net- off on die people who mastermind commercial-

works are prisoners of the popularity ratings television programing!

o US NEWS ft WORLD REPORT Fab 7 191

Fiscal Year 1983-84 Appropriation Request

Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee

February 24, 1983

nation 34-33 PA Public Television Network - Operations

ation. mary Financial Data

1981-82 1982-83 1983-84 e Funds 4,412 4,800 4.952 sral Funds - 0 - - 0 - - 0 -sr Funds - 0 - - 0 - - 0 -

tonnel

Costs

State Funds 789 902 915 Federal Funds - 0 - - 0 - - 0 -Other Funds - 0 - - 0 - - 0 -

Complement 12-31-81 12-31-82 Budgeted

Authorized Filled Authorized Filled Authorized Filled State Funds 26 24 26 24 26 24 Federal Funds - 0 - - 0 - - 0 -Other Funds - 0 - -0- - 0 -

rating 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84

e Funds 1,512 1,600 1,555 sral Funds - 0 - - 0 - - 0 -sr Funds - 0 - - 0 - - 0 -

d Assets

e Funds 14 108 108 sral Funds - 0 - - 0 - - 0 -sr Funds - 0 - - 0 - - 0 -

lts

e Funds 2,097 2,190 - 2,374 sral Funds - 0 - - 0 - - 0 -sr Funds - 0 - - 0 - - 0 -

ficant Cost Assumptions Used in Calculating the Request

This appropriations request assumes that the Pennsylvania

c Television Network can continue to provide an efficient and

tive service to the public television stations and the citizens

e Commonwealth with a 3.2 percent increase. We anticipate no

ordinary increases in operations line items which could

usly threaten this assumption.

ry of Lapses

1980-81 1981-82 1982-83

State Funds -0- 45 -0-

Purchases of Nonrecurring Items

83_

Satellite Earth Terminal $ 52,000 Telephone Equipment 22,000 Line Printer 10,300 Video Controller 7,000

84

Frame Synchronizer $ 20,000

Permits the integration of satellite-distributed program materials into PPTN programming.

Audio Switcher $ 25,000

Permits utilization of auxilliary audio circuits without time-consuming physical manipulation.

Test Oscilloscopes $ 20,000

Replacements for thirteen year old units which are obsolete.

AutomatLC Level Corrector $ 5,000

Utilized in control of satellite received signals.

Waveform Monitors $ 10,000.

Principal quality control device for video. Replace thirteen year old units which are obsolete and malfunctioning.

amnatic Implications of the Requested Funding Level

The most important programmatic implication is that this is

get which perceives no new initiatives or program thrusts. It

request which reflects a "business as usual" approach to the

tions of the network and to the Commonwealth's support for

Derations of Pennsylvania's seven public television stations.

tive

Included in the appropriation for Network Operations are

for grants to­

la) support the broadcast operations of Pennsylvania's

seven public television stations,

(b) support modest equipment acquisition and replacement, and

(c) support Affirmative Action Programs at the stations.

Also included in this appropriation are funds for the

tion of the network facilities.

The network continues its efforts to provide these services

fectively and efficiently as possible. There are no significant

istrative or policy changes affecting the appropriation in the

we discussed, other than an attempt to do more with less and

sure that operations continue in a responsible manner.

While the statistics regarding personnel complement do not

ate a reduction in staff (a reflection of the specific dates

hich you sought the information), personnel complement is at its

t level since 1974. Fifteen of the staff (62.5%) are involved

engineering and scheduling operations while the balance of the

' has the responsibility for the administration, community

ions, fiscal operations and office services to manage and support

efforts. Further staff reductions may well impair network

tions.

Much of our equipment and the entire traffic and routinq system

itmoded and experiencing technical difficulties. Continued

nee upon existing equipment places the network in a difficult

ion. During 1981-82, a two-month outage of the computer-assisted

IC and routing system required manual operation of the network with

Tease in efficiency and an increase in errors. The equipment was

red to only 80% efficiency since replacement parts are no longer

actured. This is a serious problem which must be addressed in

ear future.

r Expanded Programs

contemplates no new program thrusts nor the expansion of old

ams.

acts 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84

Corp. of America, New York, NY 343,722 343,722 343,722 videotape recorders for PPTN stations

Corp., Redwood City, CA 111,996 37,332 -0-videotape recorders for PPTN stations

rn Microwave, Syracuse, NY 754,932 754,932 754,932 work interconnection system

rn Microwave, Syracuse, NY 41,250. ocate WITF terminal

ti Clabell Co., New Holland, PA 56,525 66,025 75,525 N building lease

n. Alder & Cohen, Pittsburgh, PA 9,783 5,000 -0-al research on communications matters

Lite Systems Corp., Virginia Beach, VA 20,900 ball Satellite receiving antenna

s to membez stations 2,09 7,000 2,190,000 2,374,000 sral Support, Capital Equipment acilities, Affirmative Action

of Routine/Housekeeping Contracts 15,250 17,195 17,825 L/air conditioning maintenance; ining service, copy machine;etc.

il Augmentations

LCted Receipt Accounts

il Block Grants

SECTION II

APPROPRIATION 34-34

AN IA PUBLIC TELEVISION NETWORK - PROGRAM SERVICES

FISCAL YEAR 1983-84

APPROPRIATION REOUEST

Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee

February 24, 1983

>ropriation 34-34 PA Public Television Network - Program Services

lfication.

1981-82 1982-83 1983-84

Summary Financial Data

State Funds 2,373 2,641 2,747 Federal. Funds -0- -0- -0-Other Funds -0- -0- -0-

Personnel - Not Applicable

Operating - Not Applicable

Fixed Assets - Not Applicable

Grants

Grants to member stations:

Program Acquisition/Local 1,413 1,498 1,558 Production; Utilization/ CommunLty Use; Promotion

Statewt.de Program Production/ Promotion, Audience Research 960 1,143 1,189

Significant Cost Assumptions Used in Calculating the Request

This appropriation request assumes only a four percent increase

in grants for the programming priorities of the stations and

the network.

History of Lapses

1980-81 1981-82 1982-83

State Funds -0- -0- -0-

Maior Purchases of Nonrecurring Items

Not Applicable

Programmatic Implications of the Requested Funding Level

The costs for the acquisition and production of quality

programming, long the hallmark of public television, are subject

to marketplace demands. The advent of newer technologies,

including multi-channel cable systems, subscription television,

Home Box Office and many others, has caused increased competition

for good product. An increase of four percent in this

appropriation will help to insure that the citizens of the

Commonwealth have access to public broadcasting's finest

programming.

Narrative

Included in the appropriation for program services are grants

to stations for:

(a) acquisition of programming from national and regional sources,

(b) production of programs of local and statewide interest, and

(c) promotion of programming.

In addition, a small grant goes for audience research so

that stations and the commission have an indication of the

audience for public television within the Commonwealth.

Stations acquire programming through the Public Broadcasting

Service (PBS), the Eastern Educational Television Network (EEN)

and other services. These programs make up the bulk of the

programs broadcast to the citizens of the Commonwealth by the

State's seven public television stations. The stations also

produce programming for their coverage areas of more local

interest, and this can be shared throughout the network if

it proves to have broader appeal. The section of this

presentation entitled "PPTN Programming in Perspective" provides

more detailed information regarding this programming.

Grants made to stations for the production of programs

with statewide interest. These programs, such as "The People's

Business" and "PRO/CON" highlight issues of concern to many

'ennsylvanians includinq programs on the plight of the

>ennsylvania farmer, Pennsylvania's economic climate, and the

:risis with our infrastructure. The programs also permit the

rultural resources of the State, such as the Bach Choir of

iethlehem, the People's Light and Theatre Company, the

>hiladelphid Folk Festival and the Northeast Pennsylvania

>hilharmonic Orchestra to be shared by all. Some of these

urograms have also been shared with people throughout the

rountry over the PBS network and have received national acclaim

md awards.

Audience research utilizes less than one percent of the

:otal appropriation. However, the research has provided the

stations and the Commission with useful information indicating

:hat more Pennsylvanians are viewing public television more

>ften than ever before. Citizens are also supporting their

Local public television stations with more contributions than

sver before. The 1981-82 fiscal year saw a 29% increase over

:he previous year in the level of public support. Just over

L74,000 households contributed more than seven-and-a-half

ullion dollars to their local stations.

SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR PUBLIC TELEVISION IN PA July 1981 - June 1982

/ \ Memberships & Other \ / _ . _ \ Station Fund-Raising \ / Foundations, \ \ / Business and \ 28.6% \ / Industry \ \ I 22.8% \ 1

\x ^^^ \ Federal / V^/V-^' 'r* l*.v * \ 20.5% /

\ Commonwealth of \ / \ Pennsylvania \ /

Lties, \ % \ / ivernment \ \ /

^ ^ ^ 4.8% \ >S Miscellaneous

ew or Expanded Programs

The network anticipates functioning in the same manner

ith regard to this appropriation in the 1983-84 fiscal year.

ontracts

Only grants to mamber stations as indicated above.

ederal Augmentations

None.

estricted Receipt Accounts

None.

ederal Block Grants

None.

31

CHAIRMAN SWZXLi X would like to welcome you to

the hearing for the Public Television Network. Vm Repre-

Mutative Kurt Birlkl froa Lehigh County. To ay left Is

Representative Caltaglrone. Next to ae la Mike Berehook

from the House Approprlatlona Staff. To ay Immediate right 1

la Al Ferguson of the Bouae Approprlatlona Staff. Also*

Leon Rudy froa,ay staff. Representative Howard Nowery froa

Cumberland County.

Mr. Barman and Mr. Parker, whoever la leading

off , If you would Identify the people with you for the

purposes of the stenographer, Z would appreciate that.

MR. BSBMANi I am pleased to be here. Z aa

Phil Barman of Allentown. Z aa the Chairman of the PFTN

Cornel aelon. I have with aa a commissioner, Andrew Bradley.

Be Is Chairman of our Budget and Finance Committee. Beat to

him and to ay left Is Shel Slegel. He Is President and

General Manager of WLVT-TV. That's the Lehigh Valley station

and Chairman of the FPTM Network Operations Committee. To

ay Immediate right Is Shel Parker who Is General Manager of

FfTO. Also, Hick Jones* Assistant General Manager of PFTN of

Hershey. Me have with us additional staff to answer any

queetiona that you might have* Mrs. Nose LeFever, Director

of Fiscal Affairs. Larry Messenger, Director of Technical

32

Operations. Mrs. Jean Aufiero who is the Director of

Cossmnity Ralations. we are hara to answar any quastions

that you amy have. Ha pasaad through to yon a doouaant that

gave yon a stataaant and a request for funds and we can 90

through it if you lika but Z think that would ba radundant.

wa ara praparad to join you in any conversation that you

aight hava about our work.

CHAIRMAN ZWXKLi Yes, wa would lika to pose

several questions and Z would first recognise Representative

Caltaglrone*

BY lumroBMSAXXVB CALTAQIROWB TO MR. PRZL BKRMAHl

Q lha first thing that Z would lika to ask of you

is* what is your total eomplenent of paid employees?

A Rick?

MR. JOMK81 Twenty-four.

BY RBPRC8BMTATZVB CALTA6XR0MI 90 MR* PHIL BBRMANf

Q You hava seven locations spread around the state.

Do you anticipate any other cosnunities being added to the

system?

A Shel Parker, the General Manager, will answar

that.

MR* PARKBRt The seven locations, Mr* Representa­

tive, ara licensed through the P.C.C. and by Federal law and

33

at tlit present tine we have covered 95 percent of the state

with those •even broadcasting stations which are menhir

stations of the network. Our hope is in the foreseeable

future to add some equipment union would give us almost 100

percent coverage of the Commonwealth.

IT BBFBBSBBYATXVB CAtTAaxBou TO MB. SHBL PAXXSSU

Q Zf you would, would you mention where they night

be, the places that are missing?

A The big gaps are in Somerset, Fulton and Bunting-

ton County. Mo, Bedford County. Those are the three areas

that hopefully by the use of translators the existing stationi

can provide signals into those areas.

BY MPBBMMTAT1VB CALTMXBOMB TO MR. PHIL BBBMAMi

Q The increase that you are requesting in here, do

you really feel this is going to be adequate to cover your

needs as far as the appropriation from the State is concerned

for the coming fiscal year?

A That's an excellent question and X would like

Bhel Parker to answer it because he is responsible for it.

KB. PABKBBi Clearly, we could use more money and

Z think the saving grace for public broadcasting through thess

many years, four or five years anyway, has been the people of

Pennsylvania. As you will notice in the document, they have

34 *- . - ,.----- . — -,

joined stations and contributed iaoraaalng amounts of nonay.

Z think as you will also notioa la tbo statamsnt wa did havs

fond hopas of rseaiving an axpsasivu plooa of squipasnt which

totals about $100,000 which is a switching and routing

systsm. X think if wa oould havs our way in ths capital

aqulpnant araa, that is whara wa would turn, Claarly, thara

la a eorralation, a diraot oorralation, batsman tha amount of

progrsmulag that tha stations oaa do, tha axoallanoa of tha

talaatad staff and all of thosa othar oonsldaratlons with tha

aaount of funding that la availabla to us from Psnnsylvania

as wall as from tha four or fiva othar soureas of inooma*

BEFBMBllTaTXVB CALTMXBOHBi I havs no furthar

quaationa at this tins. Thank you* Mr. Chairman*

CHaZmim HfZXLi Rapraaantativa Mowaxy, any

quaations?

REPHB1BMTATIVK MQNBBYt X just hara a ooupla of

quastions.

BY RCTBBSPITATIVg NOBBY. TO MB. PHIL BBBJOJh

0 Thara has baan a raduetion in Fadaral monay for

public talavision* is that corract, and if so, what la tha

Impaot aa far as tha raduetion going into 1983?

h Shal Siagal, tha N.O.C. Chairman, will answsr

that,

35

MR. 8 X H H 1 The Pederal reduction at the present

time is approximately one-third of the riiwmiilty service

grant that the station received last year. In raal dollar

terns, for example, at oar station next yaar thara will ba a

loss of approximately $202*000. Zt*s about $200,000* It

varies from on* station to anothar. So tha impact has baan

oonsidsrabla in tha ayatan. In addition, tha President has

asked for a rssaiasionto taka bask soma of tha money alraady

appropriatad in tha coning budget. 80 it could ba somewhat

worse although tha Legislative infomation that we hava now

is that tha Oongrass is not going to support that rescission.

Bat at tha least, wa would ba getting a cutback of about

$200,000 at our station that will up tha scale to as •men as,

X think, $700,000 at W.Q.B.D. in Pittsburgh.

BY RBPKBsBMTATXVB M0WJCXT TO MB* SBBL 8IBGBL1

Q anothar question that Z had and X was wondering

how it would inpaot bars in Pennsylvania is that thara nave

baan more indications of advertising baooning a part of public

television which, of course, in the past was one of tha thingi

that wa kind of an joyed, about public television is that wa

didn't hava to go through all of the commercials. X was just

wondering whether or not yra look at this as a possible way

of filling tha gap and if so to what degree do you feel in tin

36

near future you will be going in that direction?

K The F.C.C. Coanlssion studied the temporary

ooaulsslon of alternative funding report la dun to bo ooa-

pleted la Juno of thia year. Tan stations are in that

oo—•rclal experiment. The results are already in to a

largo extent and the results clearly indicate that publio *

television is not going to bo able to turn to ooaw• rclal

advertising to recapture anywhere near the loaa of Federal

funds and the continued support of the State Legislature and

the continued support of the Federal governaont is going to

bo necessary. I think if ooanerclal advertising should ever

find its way into publio broadcasting and X say if because

there are away stations that don't think it will ever come

a tout, it will probably be along the lines of the B,B.C.

where the coaujeroiels, if there are any, are grouped at the

and of the prograaa and at the beginning. But X don't think

you will ever see prograaa interrupted on publio broadcasting

with oonaarclals.

Q xa that foaling as a result of the response that

you got from the tan trial stations as far as the viewing

publio or was it because there was not sufficient ooasiarelal

interest in supporting advertising in that area?

ft, There was considerable interest by advertising

37

agencies S Bd other companies in tte oow—rolal experiment.

As * aatter of fact, in Maw Orleans and in Chicago market

raaaareh was dona in tha oaaamnitiaa and thara really wara

vary, vary fair negative casponsas in tha ooaaranitiaa to tha

idaa of tha advertising as it was oarriad particularly whan

it was waightad against tha fact that this was tha only

alternative and thara was going to ba no funding ooold yon

put up with this? And to a large extent the cosnercials

ware tastefully done. Many of then ware institutional type

of advertising and consequently the impact was really

negligible* Bet nany stations do not like that idea at all.

X don't think it really will become a significant part of our

income if it ever cones about.

BY RBPREBBHTATZVB MOUBBl 10 MB* 8BBL PABXBBi

Q I've had the privilege of serving on their

commission in the last couple of years and it has been a

very gratifying experience and Z just have one thought that

maybe they would like to elaborate on* There was a bill

proposed last year to broaden the basis of public television

to allow it to get into a broad tana called telecommunication!

which is referred to just briefly here in your printed

remarks. I was wondering whether or not you would juat

briefly like to elaborate for the benefit of this group

i i • i «

4 .

30

basically what you had la Mind u f t r u flam—iimlnai Iniii

and how it would impact and provide broader aarvloa hara in

Pennsylvania?

A We appreciate tha opportunity, Mr. Bepreeentatlve.

The raai origin of tha legislation came about because we have

under-utilised oapaolty. As you will aaa in your doeumentatloi,

wa have a vary expensive and aophistioatad two way microwave

delivery system whieh anablaa us through tha member atationa

to reach almost everybody in Pennsylvania and tha thought waa

that ainea tha taxpayers are putting that much noney forward

and because there are so many eoonomiea efficiencies that can

be gained from tha full utilisation of this equipment that

it really,serves us poorly not to be making 100 percent

utilisation o« it. So' this lad to a long range planning

committee, a report, formal committee action and tha establlan-

ment of certain priorltiea among which and in conjunction with

our friends of the Department of Education and W.I.T.F. and

eome of tha other stations was this concept of tele-conferenc­

ing. Where Instead of bringing people in from all over tha

state to Barrlsburg or another city with expansive travel and

lodging and food and all of those types of expenses the

participants in a business meeting or conference would go to

the seven stations whieh than would be tele-conferencing

39

centers or mini toleooiawinloation centers. This was oar

fond hops and one »t our format goals when and If thia

legislation vara to beooa* law. Me aza also, as was alluded

to in tha doounentatlon, engaged in a feasibility study of

how wa can halp tha agricultural ooastunity of Pennsylvania

through tha encoding of writing on your picture tuba if yon

have a deoodlng devioe. Also, a hatter service for the hear­

ing iapalred. Also* we have tha capability with this inter­

connect to have a public radio network in the Coxaoawaalttu

that la another reason why if this legislation can beooa* law

wa can batter serve tha five or aix public radio stations In

tha Gosswnwealth by interconnecting than tbraally and providing

inforaation such as what happens here in Harriaburg. so that

the listeners all over tha state can experience and know

bettor what is happening in their capitol.

0 That nay not all necessarily be good, that latter

part.

A We're sura it will reach 95 percent. That's a

long winded answer but that's sons of the goals and aspiration i

that wa have aa a ooaadssion if we are able to expand.

KINUUJMTAT1VE MONBxYs Thank yon vary much.

That's all that X have, Mr. Chairman.

CHhllMMt SNXXLi thank you, Itspresentative Mowery.

40

BY CBAISKJUI IWXXL 10 MR. PHIL BBRMUli

Q Z would lik« to rofor *y questioning to pago 3,

the graph that you show on your appropriation requeet. With

raapaot to tho two large areas, two largo percentage areas,

that you uaa to generate your lnoone. Nsnberships psoduees

28.6 percent and foundations and business and industry 22.t.

This was for 1981-82, taking ua to Juno of 19*2. With tho

ooonoagr in tho situation that no soo it in today, do you

anticipate tho naabarshipa to drop off and also have you

boon as suooossful or do you anticipate boing as suooossf ul

in ganarating foundation requests and corporate donations?

A Z would liko to pass that to final Slogol who is

tho station managar and who can answer spaoifioally froa his

experience which is siadlar throughout tho state.

MR. SIROELt Our experience is probably parallol

to nost stations. In our ease, wa found, for exanple, in tho

prosont fiscal yoar businoss and industry, corporate under-

writing and corporate support has actually ineroasod over last

yoar despite tho eoonceln probleaa. Tha nanbarahipa have

incraaaad aonavhat also and I think this, porhaps, has a let

to do with tho idaa that people who support public televiaion

roaliso thoro is going to bo a significant aaount of private

support noodod. Z think nest yoar tho graph, obviously will

41

•how tlM Fadaral part of that pia gutting suallar. SO

daapita tha ooemMqr x think you will probably find ovar tho

naxt fow yaara fairly ooaalatoat to what you hava nara. zt

•ay vary A littla froa aarkat to aarkat bat I think it'a a

pratty fair rapraaaatatlon of tho way thia will bo*

BY CHkXKMMI SNZXL 10 MR. RZCX JOHBSl

Q Assuming that will hold up, thara won't ba any

problasu Do you want to hava a follow-up on that?

A Too. Z would Ilka to aaka nota of tho fact that

that 29.6 paroant aaabarahipa and othar atation fond raising

was a 29 paroant inoraaaa ovar tho previous yaar and it

raprasanta seven and a half Million dollars, 81-S2 was not a

raal bannar yaar all across tho country. But, X think* that

Inoraaaa shows what tho public has com to expect and support

in public broadcasting with a 29 paroant inoraaaa.

BY CHAXIMMI iWXXL 10 MR. S O L SZKZILi

Q AssuMlng that tha Padaral amount will ahrink aa

you hava iadioatad and assuming and let1 a hopa that it

oontinuaa aa far aa aaabershlps and foundation support but if

that would ravaraa itaalf, what othar alternatives would you

hava in gonarating ravanuaa aslda fro* coming to tha Leglsla-

tura for inoraaaad support and would that ba your final place

to ganarata interest?

«

A Obviously, all of us are operating a lot HOT*

economically or hava b u n doing thia la light of tha decrees*

Federal appropriation*. It saaaa that tha broad underwriting

guidelines ralatad to oorporatlona and buslaaaaaa provlda sow

avenues la trying to recapture some of that through buaiaaaa

and industry through program underwriting which la picked up

somewhat alnoa our underwriting guidalinas hava baan broaden*

oonsidarably. X think you can only go back to tha public,

however, so many tinea. You hava on air television options

and you hava continual pledge weeks where X try to be aoaa

where also whan wa are having pledge weeks so X don't hava

to watch what's going on. You reach a saturation point in

a U of that* X think tha ultimate answer is, obviously, to

try and continue to provide servioss to tha state so that

tha state faals that it la an Important part of tha state9 a

responsibility. But X think beyond that is to operate as

economically as you can and wa are always trying to do so and

to out costs wherever possible, so X think that over tha

next few years wa are going to sea stations that perhaps

undertook a variety of program projects and many of which

on pilot projects and developmenta are doing a lot lass of

that because those tend to cost a lot of money and can't be

followed through with foundation funds. X think foundation

43

funds are going to be particularly nor* difficult to got over

the next eeveral yours boemuss of tho onounts. Many of tho

demands of private — non-profit agonolos aro asking aoro and

mora in that area.

Q X have ono aoro question and than I will recog-

nlso Representative 8tnban oho has joinad us. Do you sos tho

influx of tho paid oabla movie and sports programs, homo box*

do you soo than as a sorious throat to public television and

what aro thoy doing to you and what do you antioipata in

yoars to come?

A What thoy aro actually doing is providing us with

aoro viawors than wo have ever had before. as xoro of tho 4

promitai band typos of programming is available, pooplo aro

now tuning out of tho normal eonmeroial aotwork and into tho

promium bands and ia so doing '*' lot of thorn aro dissevering

public television, Public television viewing has had a

higher inorease — as a Batter of fact, ooaoerolal network

•lowing has gone down significantly over the last throe years.

Public television is the only network viewing that has in

feet gone up over the last three years. X think many of you

any have read today where R.C.A. cable just gave up their

pay television, they were the big competitor for B.B.C.

programming with public television. They just decided today

44

that thay ara *o longar going to do that and thay ara going •

to go out of buslnaas with that* C.B.8. oablo has goaa out

of bualnass with cultural talawlaion. So what hao raally

happanad la that thara has baan a falling away of a lot of

ooapatitlwa or aarwioaa that vara supposad to ba ooapatitiwa

baeauaa of tha loyalty that publio talawlaion paopla hawa,

vlawara hawa* and oonourrant with thia our programing haa

actually ineraaaad. Sawaral yaara ago or lot ua aay thraa or

fear yaara ago wa probably wouldn't hawa gnaaoad that that

would hawa happaaad bat it haa happanad and X think what wa

hawa aaan it has baan a significant inoraasa of publio tala-

wialoa. That oabla haa not baan ooapatitiva but on tha

contrary oabla haa raally baan halpf ul to ua in aany amrkata

around tha oountry*

CHAIRMAN IWIKLi That la wary intaraating. Thank

you vary anon. napraaantativa Stuban.

BBPXBSYMTATXVS STUBANt X hawa no quaationa.

CHAIRMAN tffXKLt Mr. Sarshoek?

Ml* HERBBOCKt Ho quaationa.

CHAIRMAN iNXXLi Mr. Farguaon?

MX* FBJtSUSOMt Mo quaationa.

CHAIRMAN INXXLi Mr. Rudy?

MR. RDDYs X hawa no quaationa.

45

CHaXBHftM IWZXLi Thank you vwry anon. *•

appxaoiata your doounant and your input today.

X naraby oartlfy that tha pKoeaadluga and

avidanea takan by aa bafora tha Bovaa of Kapraaantativaa,

Coamittaa on Appropriationa, la folly and aoourataly indioatad

1 B ay aotaa and that thla ia a troa and oorract tranaeript

of aaaa,

JaW ^k#/l4pox^/Blg -

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