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John McInnes makes the claim that cable is not available in remote areas. In
fact, 98 % of America is cabled. Some 30% choose not to take cable -- just as
many Americans choose not to subscribe to a daily newspaper. Is the answer to
the latter a federally-funded free newspaper? PBS is not free. It is
supported by local, state, and federal taxes as well as by corporate sponsors
and station donors. In this way, it actually is more costly than commercial
television or cable, which get no tax dollars. In addition, satellite,
multimedia, VCR's etc. provide alternative services. Many libraries offer
free cassette rentals.
 
I only saw two episodes of American Cinema but concur with John's analysis,
but would go even further -- it is worse than the Hollywood specials found on
TNT, AMC, etc. It cost some $6 million tax dollars to make as opposed to the
other clip shows, which cost taxpayers nothing. Why pay for Paramount studio
public relations efforts?
 
Larry Jarvik
Center for the Study of Popular Culture