Pledge Week. Oh no, make that Pledge MONTH. How long can this crap go on? Let me preface this rant by stating that I am a huge fan of Public Television—in theory. I grew up on PBS and loved it. I learned, I grew, I enjoyed. I’ve even contributed in the past. But I refuse to give them any more money if Pledge Week lasts an entire month and at least four or five months out of the year are devoted to it. I can’t speak for other PBS stations’ pledge programming—I am not fortunate enough to be able to view WNET in New York or WGBH in Boston. I’m stuck here in Springfield, where Ozarks Public Television devotes an entire month to bringing us endless reruns of Wayne Dyer, Celtic Woman, Andre Rieu, and Daniel O’Donnell. I never thought I’d look forward to a Lawrence Welk Reunion show, but that’s been the most entertaining thing on OPTV since they started this fundraising drive which might be over by Christmas.
Our cable provider, Mediacom, doesn’t carry the second OPTV digital channel (OPTV-ED), which might actually show the normal PBS offerings. So next week, when I should be watching the new concert version of “Chess” on Great Performances, I’ll be subjected to “Save Money Now.” Thrilling. It makes me long for the days when the late Aunt Alice rang the cowbell during the teleauction. Step it up, OPTV. Get some new pledge specials, because the ones you’ve been recycling for the past few years are definitely not “special” anymore!
I am JL, and I am pissed about missing "Chess!"
3 comments:
The age-old never-ending circle..."if you don't air what I want to see I won't contribute" vs. if you don't contribute stations don't have the funds to air what you want to see. Ergo - if everyone who watches PBS financially supported PBS, there would no longer be pledge drives!
As to the program on CHESS, I saw it in the OPTV listings for Sunday, June 21st @ 4pm.
Thanks. I will be checking OPTV that Sunday afternoon to see if they follow through with showing "Chess" (a full week after the national PBS feed). But I won't be counting on it. I have found their online schedule to be less than reliable. I'll spare you the details. I guess Wayne Dyer, Christiane Northrup and the endless repeats of "Celtic Woman" are what bring in the pledges. I still have not been impressed with the quality of OPTV ever since it was taken over by MSU.
OK, NOT a full week...whatever.
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