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Show Sverre erence, TELEVISION Saturday, December25, 1999 8:00 8:30 10:00 TELEVISION PBSto Maintain High Standards, Focus on Future Did you knowthatactor Michael Keaton was once thetrolley driver on sMister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ Of course, ons, born in 1989,is known for much more. During the past four years, PBS revenues grew 54 percent — $98 million. The network ieee a ene sigel, with 348 stationsnach 92.4 million weekly viewers. Thepast season saw PBS, headquartered in Alexandria, Va., celebrate its 30th birthday with an eye toward the future. “I see our core values remain- ing the same,the use of television and telecommunications as a public service,” said John Wil- son, head of programming.“With biemphasis on good stories well told.” Whatchangesis the wayto tell ieee ‘Stories. Technology offers xpanding array of possibiliiiato bring solid teaching tools into the homefor children, and also to find new waysto look at dramatic arts andscientific marvels. “Forme, the exciting thing the future holdsis not just an explosion of channeloptions, but turning the medium into a two-way medium,” Wilson said.“Instead of television being a passive device,it will allow you into the [World Wide] Web.” The new enhanced digital broadcast includes multicasting. It allowsthe viewerto dig intoa show.Publictelevision plans to exploit the new digital signal. “It allows viewers to feed back to others,notjust the producers,” said Wilson. “And we're seeing that now with PBS on-line,a ro- bustInternetsite thatis local and national, It allows people to come together.” Not everyone is happy with the legacy of PBS.In Glued to the Set, author and National Public Radio commentator Steven Stark says public television's greatfailure is its inability to attract a large audience orto develop a consistentvision. “Public television has never feesout whatit is supposed to the public,” writes Stark, cdaing that PBSrelies too heavily on British dramas instead of a home-grown product. Wilson “Instead, ititis an unwillingness to pander to the lowest commo! common denominator,” said Wilson. “While it may not be a great Madison Avenue approachto television, we're about oe dren’s programming and stantlyre omaives in prime pacety PBS prime time not ratings barn forachive, iar is oeTedame aan ney: rs Gander VOR Pls tien you ony ecitioned " letters 10 10:30 11:60 |
