----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Larry Jarvik cites Victory at Sea, NBC Symphony, Leonard Bernstein, etc. as examples of network programs which carried out the functions now served by PBS. It is telling that we have to go so far back to find such vivid examples. I would recommend that people look at Vance Kepley's important essay on Operation Frontal Lobe in Tino Balio's anthology on the American Film Industry in the Age of Television. (Sorry I don't have a full cite handy.) Kepley would argue that these programs originated at a specific moment in American television history when the ability to fill out the schedule and attract upscale viewers was more important than ratings. As the program day was filled and as television reached the entire population, there was a shift towards more common denomenator types of programs which would have broader mass appeal and many of the high profile culture and documentary programs fell by the wayside. I suppose that gives us some hope that the emerging networks, Fox, UPN or Warners would adopt a similar strategy to round out their dial, but I wouldn't hold my breath. They seem to have defined their desired audience demographics very differently than early television even if they face some of the same problems. The other key factor which led to the emergence of shows like VICTORY AT SEA would seem to be pressure from the FCC towards community service and responsible use of the airwaves. However, since deregulation of the broadcast industry and a crippling of the FCC seem to be also part of a conservative agenda, it is hard to see how we can meaningfully subject the networks to this kind of incentive. The point of PBS was that it would provide the kinds of programs which were culturally important or reflected minority perspectives and which could probably not find a broad popular audience on TV. In some ways, PBS's success in building an audience (as well as its turning increasingly towards entertainment shows like ARE YOU BEING SERVED to broaden its base) are the cause of its inability at present to define and sell its mission. I don't think, however, that abolishing federal funding for PBS would be sufficient to motivate the networks to suddenly start financing THE CIVIL WAR. --Henry Jenkins