Quick Takes
ITVS films continue to rack up awards
Four ITVS films were honored last week (Dec. 3) at the IDI Documentary Awards ceremonies, presented by by the International Documentary Association: ...Pubcasters need to gird for a serious fight, analysts say
Hollywood’s The Wrap eyeballs the overall public broadcasting picture — “Massive budget shortfalls, vicious in-fighting and a power shift in Washington” — ...Reality TV isn’t, proclaims Ken Burns
PBS documentarian Ken Burns has some strong opinions about reality television — and all are negative. In an interview for a Kansas City Star ...The Economist and PBS NewsHour soon to join for doc project
PBS NewsHour is partnering with The Economist to run docs on subjects that the magazine covers, including politics, health, technology, religion and government. Starting in January, ...CPB soon will assist station mobile DTV efforts
Broadcasting & Cable is reporting that CPB is close to announcing an initiative to help stations fund the cost of deploying mobile DTV. CPB ...Former APTS president’s wedding gets write-up in New York Times
The recent nuptials of Larry Sidman, former president of the Association of Public Television Stations, and his bride Jana Singer were featured ...Whither college radio? Not without a fight
Add Vanderbilt University’s WRVU to the list of student-operated radio stations that may be offered for sale to the highest bidder. Vanderbilt ...KVCR-TV might not survive immediate CPB funding cut, station president says
“Halt to federal funding could doom KVCR-TV” reads a headline in today’s (Dec. 6) Sun newspaper in San Bernadino, Calif. With Republicans ramping ...Interim president appointed new head of KMBH in Harlingen, Texas
John Ross is the new president of television and radio operations at KMBH in Harlingen, Texas, which has been mired in controversy ...Dear Apple: Please stop being such a Scrooge
Public Radio Exchange, a leading developer of iPhone applications for public radio stations and programs, is promoting an online petition that asks ...$6.2 million in RUS grants go to 13 licensees for digital conversion work
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday (Dec. 3) announced $6.2 million in grants to public television licensees in 13 states to complete ...Rep. Eric Cantor: “Big Bird will be just fine without his federal subsidies”
Looks like the “Big Bird defense” (Current, Nov. 29) might not be as effective in preserving public broadcasting funding as it was in the mid-’90s, ...Fresno, Calif., PBS affiliate cuts three positions
ValleyPBS in Fresno, Calif., has eliminated three positions due to budget constraints, reports the local Business Journal. Paula Castadio, ValleyPBS c.e.o., said two receptionist positions ...NJN may stay on the air past Jan. 1 funding deadline, governor says
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has decided that the New Jersey Network may remain on the air after Jan. 1, when state ...Deficit commission fails to pass plan that included ending CPB funding
The White House’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform fell short of the 14 members necessary to approve its plan for ...