What PBS owes to ‘Honey Boo Boo’
What PBS owes to ‘Honey Boo Boo’:
When Discovery, The Learning Channel, History, Bravo, A&E and similar networks emerged, there was a real fear it could lead to the death of PBS. Each specialized network would pick off a portion of PBS’ audience for programs on science, nature, history and the arts. Founded as an alternative to commercial TV, PBS was losing what made it unique.
Yet in the past few years, these cable networks discovered that it was much more profitable to create reality TV stars. PBS’ path was cleared, and it is making the most of its new chance.
“It is now once again something that the viewer can’t get anywhere else,” said Beth Hoppe, PBS’ programming chief.
Long live PBS!
I’ve been approached by broadcast television networks to turn my content into some type of cable show, but it’s things like Pawn Stars and Honey Boo Boo and Mermaid mockumentaries that make me wary of committing to something so large. Would they want me to amp up the sex appeal? would they want me to create some type of unnecessary drama, a la reality TV in order to bump up the views? I’m confident that PBS would have no such ill intentions. I’ve always been a fan of their programming and their hosts – everyone from Bill Nye to Neil deGrasse Tyson to Ken Burns has been a role-model in my life. It’s good to see that they remain committed to creating high-quality educational content in lieu of competing networks that are more focused on mindless entertainment.
I would totally watch a PBS show in which Emily did her version of Bill Nye/Neil deGrasse Tyson/Ken Burns. Because that show would rock.
Reposted from http://lies.tumblr.com/post/57936036598.
