THE END IS NEAR?

posted by James Reel

The head of PBS is apparently considering moving underwriting announcements away from the interval between programs, on the theory that if the transition from one show to another is seamless, people won't tune out. But where else could underwriting announcements go? Into the middle of a program, just like on commercial TV. Escaping mid-show commercials is one thing people have always liked about PBS, so if they have to endure underwriting spots in the middle of Nova, that's just one more reason viewers will see little difference between PBS and all the other stuff on the tube. And if they see little difference, they'll be less inclined to fork over their own money to support the service. I'm beginning to think that one of the job requirements for running PBS is getting a lobotomy.

At least over here on KUAT-FM you will not have to put up with underwriting announcements between the movements of a symphony. We have standards.