The CPTV Problem

William Olds writes:

I’m looking forward to the Frontline program “The Internal Struggle Between Vice President Dick Cheney and  CIA Director George Tenet.”

I noticed that CPTV does not appear to have scheduled it, and the  listings in the Courant’s TV Week shows that this program is not  scheduled to be shown by CPTV for the entire week. ( I suppose it’s  possible that it may be scheduled sometime after midnight.) And I find that disturbing.

Have they explained why they are doing this?

We're amid yet another pledge period at Connecticut Public TV, which means many confounding programming substitutions.

CPTV is full of odd programming decisions when it is not on pledge time (it's never been good to such shows as "P.O.V." starting up later this month, and "Independent Lens," winding up this week when an unforgettable two-part documentary on children with cancer - which won't be seen in Connecticut at all).

But during pledge time, all the usual PBS programming is off, in favor of all kinds of odd choices.

As noted in today's column, that includes playing a 2004 Peter, Paul & Mary documentary twice tonight instead of "Frontline" -- now titled "The Dark Side" -- even once. (CPTV says it will show the "Frontline" episode a month from now -- July 25 at 9 p.m.).

But even Peter, Paul & Mary would agree that the "Frontline" should take precedence over at least one of those two showings of their documentary tonight (the first two of SIX times it will be on this week).

It's all part of the ultimate deception of pledge time -- "Without your money we wouldn't be able to bring you this kind of wonderful programming!" -- which later this week includes repeat showings of low grade filler from a motivational speaker to a concert by a Pink Floyd tribute band. 

Where do you send money if you DON'T want this kind of programming and would prefer to see the PBS feed uninterrupted instead?

Comments

[Tom Morehouse]

One year later and it's September 2007; the CPTV decline continues. The programming void described by Roger Catlin in June 2006 was repeated last week, September 8-16, 2007.

Connecticut Public Broadcasting's president and ceo receives over $200,000 in annual salary. Shouldn't the citizens of Connecticut expect more than a week of Johnny Mathis and Suze Orman reruns?

Yeesh.

Tom Morehouse
Eastford CT

[Tom Cosgrove]

I agree with every comment you made. Hooray for the TRUTH!!

The Springfield PBS station is running the show as sceduled.