People
PBS’ Marie Nelson takes SVP position with ABC News
|
After nearly five years as PBS’ VP of news and public affairs, Nelson will work on strategies to attract multicultural audiences to ABC News.
Programs/Content
Curiosity Correspondent Emily Graslie will take PBS viewers on a ‘Prehistoric Road Trip’ next summer
|
The program lineup for 2020 also features an “American Masters” film about Rita Moreno.
Development
Capital campaign, spectrum sale fund new WOSU headquarters
|
The open-space building incorporates classrooms, meeting centers and a media learning lab.
Tech
Never-ending winter hampers conversion of TV translators
|
Engineers at public TV stations in the Mountain West are still coping with wintry weather as they try to complete their pieces of the national conversion of translators to new channels.
Tech
TechCon features pubcasters sharing opportunities, challenges of ATSC 3.0 rollout
|
This year’s TechCon presented the first real-world ATSC 3.0 experiences from several early adopters.
Education
New partnership takes WQED education program into more West Virginia libraries
|
The program has grown to 30 participating libraries since 2014, with an additional 10 launching this year through West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
System/Policy
Director’s push for innovation in Arkansas creates friction with foundation
|
The Arkansas Educational Television Commission is threatening to sever its relationship with the AETN Foundation.
Tech
Public Media Venture Group explores ATSC 3.0 project
|
Single-frequency networks will be an important part of the company’s work on the transition to the ATSC 3.0 digital TV system.
System/Policy
New PBS policy will locally limit national content on stations’ digital platforms
|
PBS says limiting national content to local markets will help avoid viewer confusion and strengthen station brands.
Programs/Content
PBS starts same-time streaming in April as OTT work advances
|
Local public TV stations continue to clear streaming rights as PBS negotiates with digital providers.
System/Policy
FCC proposal to allow sales of EBS spectrum gets thumbs-down from public TV
|
Representatives of stations told FCC officials that allowing sales of the educational spectrum could create a “hostile leasing environment.”
Quick Takes
Oklahoma AG seeks third party to distribute OETA Foundation assets
|
A receiver is necessary because the foundation is a public charity, the AG said.
Programs/Content
Subscription streaming channel PBS Living to premiere Thursday
|
The lifestyle and how-to programs will be available on Amazon’s Prime Video Channels.
Programs/Content
Experiments with 360 video prepare stations for next wave of innovation
|
Broadcasters in Nebraska, Texas and Florida are learning how to engage viewers with immersive media productions.
Programs/Content
‘PBS NewsHour’ to expand with new bureau at Cronkite School in Phoenix
|
The expansion is part of the show’s push to become an around-the-clock news provider.
WNET takes over NJ Spotlight for collaboration with NJTV
|
Reporters for NJ Spotlight and NJTV, the public TV network operated by WNET in the state, will collaborate on broadcast and online content.
Programs/Content
APT selects first local programs for new ‘Hometown Create’ feature
|
“Hometown Create” will include full-length cooking, travel, gardening and other how-to shows produced by local stations.
Programs/Content
Vegas PBS seeks ‘sense of place’ in project to save residents’ photos
|
The station wants residents to bring old photos to community events, documenting the history of Las Vegas and its relationship with water.
Programs/Content
OPB drops ‘Finding Your Roots’ episode featuring presidential candidate
|
“At the beginning of a presidential candidacy, to be doing a valentine to one candidate, I just don’t think it’s a very smart thing to do,” said Oregon Public Broadcasting CEO Steve Bass.
Programs/Content
Work advances toward goal of education metrics database
|
The effort will create “a national picture of the great work that public media is doing in education,” said Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Andrew MacCartney.