Programs/Content
Launch of PBS Kids streaming channel reshapes multicast lineups
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Stations must make room by dropping an existing subchannel, adjusting bandwidth or acquiring encoders to add an entirely new channel.
Multicast
Vme plants flag for ‘quality’ Spanish-language TV
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The Spanish-language multichannel for public TV is in the midst of a revamp that includes station outreach, such as chef Hamlet Garcia’s appearance at KLRN in San Antonio.
System/Policy
Multicasts tailored to local priorities
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Bolstered by ratings data on their digital multicast channels and years of experience in managing them, public TV station programmers in many markets are refining their channel lineups.
Programs/Content
PubTV multicaster V-me faulted for airing ‘ordinary commercials’
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V-me, the Spanish-language multicast channel carried by 42 public TV stations, pulled underwriting spots from its schedule last month amid complaints about potential violations of FCC standards for noncommercial sponsorship. V-me Media, a for-profit venture in which New York’s WNET has a minority ownership stake, is in the process of reviewing all sponsorship spots under tightened underwriting guidelines. RoseLynn Marra, director of station relations for V-me Media in New York, told Current that V-me has heard from “three to five” stations about its underwriting credits since January, and is working to address their concerns. She declined to identify the stations or the specific problems they raised. But V-me’s leadership moved abruptly last month to ensure the channel was in compliance with FCC underwriting rules.
Programs/Content
New channel in Pittsburgh: All-pledge, all the time
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WQED has come up with an idea that initially might make some public broadcasters cringe: an entire multichannel fully devoted to fundraising. Yes, all pledge shows, running 24/7. That’s exactly what WQED Showcase will be. The Pittsburgh station will debut its fourth channel possibly as soon as November. Station President Deborah Acklin came up with the concept for the potential revenue stream, which appears to be a pubcasting first.