D.C. PBS Station Insists Its 'Call Congress' Ad Doesn't Take Sides -- As It Warns of 'Devastating Effect' on Kiddie Shows
The Washington Times took up the issue today of how PBS and NPR stations exploit their own airwaves to lobby against Republican budget-cut proposals. Reporter Seth McLaughlin and Stephen Dinan reported that spokesmen for PBS superstations WGBH in Boston and WETA in Washington “said their appeals never told their audiences which way to lobby Congress, but only to call and let their feelings be known.”
A look at WETA’s ad (which we recorded after the February 22 Frontline) shows this is simply and obviously untrue. The announcer clearly insists the House Republicans are putting kiddie programs at risk and cuts “will have a devastating effect on WETA and the television programs you and your family rely on.” Do they really expect people to agree this isn’t an advocacy ad? Do they think someone would say "I'm so glad they've inspired me to call and say "I hate WordGirl and Sid the Science Kid. Please defund those little jerks.'" Here’s the whole script:
(video, audio and transcript after the jump)
ANNOUNCER: As you may know the House of Representatives has passed a bill to eliminate all federal funding of public broadcasting. They want to completely eliminate the federal funding that supports educational and commercial-free children's programs.
[Over images of children’s TV characters comes the exploitative graphic: “Eliminate special children’s funding."]
Shows like Sesame Street, WordGirl, and Sid the Science Kid are at risk. These cuts will have a devastating effect on WETA and the television and radio programs you and your family rely on - like Masterpiece. Mystery! NOVA. And the PBS NewsHour. Do your elected officials know how you feel about funding for public broadcasting?Call your representatives in Congress today and let them know where you stand. And for more information visit our Web site at WETA.org.
The 2009 CPB Annual Report shows WETA’s combined radio and television efforts received over $7.5 million from CPB. There was no line item for "special children's funding." All the aforementioned shows are made by profitable private entities: Sesame Street by Sesame Workshop, WordGirl by Scholastic, and Sid the Science Kid by the Jim Henson Company.
McLaughlin and Dinan added that some stations are more blatant in arguing against budget cuts on their taxpayer-funded airwaves: WQED in Pittsburgh urges on its website to "Stop the Senate From Cutting Funding for Public Broadcasting and WQED!" The station's also airing a TV ad featuring historic footage from a 1969 hearing in which Fred [Mister] Rogers testified for Lyndon Johnson's original $20 million grant for the new CPB. Rogers died in 2003.
[Hat tip to MRC's Geoffrey Dickens for finding the ad.]
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Comments
Any person that 'relies' on
Submitted by MI_Woodworker on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 4:24pm.
Any person that 'relies' on any TV show has a serious problem. There are literally hundreds of cable TV channels, when PBS was conceived, a family was lucky to get 3 TV stations. The time for ending public funding is now.
Big bird and Ernie a little caviar please?
Submitted by Tomorama on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 4:33pm.
I only need to add ONE SIMPLE FACT, Sesame street ALONE raked in 221 million dollars last year alone in sales.
My children grew up on Sesame street and some of their other wonderful childrens progams and I thanked them over and over with donations MANY years ago.
When I found out how much this "company" was raking in and STILL GETTING taxpayer dough, I said no more.
Now that I found out how left of left of left their "news" is and has been, WTF are they getting a bleeping dime?
THIS MUST BE STOPPED with simple facts BROUGHT out so the public can make the easy decision.
Make them fight to survive like everyone else.
Tickle Me Elmo
Submitted by MadRat on Wed, 03/09/2011 - 2:46pm.
I wonder how many millions Sesame Street made on Tickle Me Elmo. Guess everyone forgot about that. Try going into your average variety store (Walmart, K-Mart, Sears, Walgreens, etc.) and see if you can manage to find no trace of Sesame Street after going to the baby, toy, book, music, video and clothing departments.These cuts will have a
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 4:40pm.
These cuts will have a devastating effect on......programs you and your family rely on -
Nope, no slant there....completely neutral.
\sarc
They NEED those extra bucks
Submitted by MaximusBraveheart on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 4:44pm.
They NEED those extra bucks so they can pay their execs and hosts LOTS of money! Also like here in North Texas, they are buying up radio stations with their extra cash. They bought formerly Christian station 91.7FM in Dallas. They also repeat on stations in neighboring towns to provide blanket coverage area.
---
“Sesame Street,” for example, made more than $211 million from toy and consumer product sales from 2003-2006. Sesame Workshop President and CEO Gary Knell received $956,513 in compensation in 2008.
---
NPR reported its five highest paid employees were:
1. Managing Editor Barbara Rehm, $383,139
2. All Things Considered host Robert Siegel [pictured], $350,288
3. Morning Edition host Renee Montagne, $332,160
4. Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep, $331,242
5. NPR afternoon programming director Richard L. Harris, $190,267.
The most eye-catching salary ever reported on an NPR tax form is probably the $505,132 paid to broadcaster Bob Edwards in FY2004, the year he was ousted as host of Morning Edition, quit, and went to XM Radio.
snip
Then-president of NPR Kevin Klose made $465,994 from the network and $151,375 from the NPR foundation for a total of $617,369. Kenneth Stern, who served as CEO before leaving abruptly in March of this year, made $427,057.The 2007 return showed 15 people at NPR with the title of vice president or senior vice president. Most made between about $190,000 and $260,000.
Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2008/12/12/those-soft-voiced-anchors-npr-make-big-bucks#ixzz1G2iB49p7
-- Maximusbraveheart -- Is TRUTH knowable? Moral Relativism is the abandonment of Truth. Truth is knowable. Truth conforms to Reality. Reality is observable by evidence & witness in this day & from history. Relativism is Sesame Street play land.
Sesame Street CEO made $956,513?
Submitted by SickofLibs on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 4:56pm.
Outrageous.
Meanwhile, the main Muppets obviously haven't been reupholstered in decades and most of them need their eyes buffed out due to cataracts... Bird Bird is constantly walking into lamp posts nowadays and they think the kids don't notice.
Talk about priorities.
Maximus
Submitted by TexasMom0517 on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 7:15pm.
LOVE your screenname! If your Congressman has an R by his name, send him the info about buying up radio stations. If you have a Dem, send the info to Mike McCaul or John Culberson.
It is long past time for CPB to be defunded- lock, stock and barrel.
So by saying that if they are
Submitted by ninerdog on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 5:03pm.
So by saying that if they are defunded the shows will be harmed is that not admitting that there product is not economically viable? In other words they have no product that people would pay to see. I say defund them and make them compete in the market place. If they cannot compete then failure is an option.
Words fail me
Submitted by Beukeboom on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 5:23pm.
The deceit and hypocrisy demonstrated so openly and brazenly in the claims that they aren't lobbying and the ads aren't advocacy is just so mind boggling as to defy description.
WETA campaign
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 5:23pm.
I'm in the WETA area, and I've noticed the bombardment of "Call Your Congress" ads on its programming is shameless.
It's the old "Give in to us or we shoot the dog" ploy.
But as Famed ACORN-exposer O'Keefe has recently recorded (two actors posing as Muslim Brotherhood reps offering $5 million to NPR), NPR's Schiller (not the CEO one) privately says that it can live without Federal dollars.
I would run counter ads on MSM TV. List some of the non-children's programming like Antique Roadshow and Brit sitcoms (WETA blankets the lineup with these every Saturday night), and pose the question, "Would CPB/PBS really cancel Big Bird to spare these programs?"
Galvanic, If such an ad
Submitted by Scuba Dude on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 5:32pm.
Galvanic,
If such an ad were ever run it should also show the salaries the executives are getting paid with the question, "What are your tax dollars really paying for? Programming for children or a lavish lifestyle for an executive?"
Great point, Dude
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 5:59pm.
And an image of the actual executives crouched behind children as their salaries appear over their heads.
Oh, I LOVED that cover of the
Submitted by BD on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 8:51pm.
Oh, I LOVED that cover of the National Lampoon in the 1970's.... "Buy this magazine or we will shoot this dog." Perfect!
Here it is.
Submitted by Beukeboom on Wed, 03/09/2011 - 11:03am.
Here it is.
PBS's denial.....
Submitted by almostacowboy on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 5:24pm.
that their "Call Congress" ad doesn't take sides is as believable as Obama saying "If you like your current health plan, you can keep it."
The USSM must be stopped
Submitted by Pickles and Peppers on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 5:28pm.
The Union of Soviet Socialist Muppets have gotten away with freebies long enough, and we must take drastic action to ensure this type of commercial free programing ceases to exist...or more will suffer.
Another feckless comment
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 6:24pm.
Was that supposed to be cute? Because it wasn't.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Effective enough
Submitted by Pickles and Peppers on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 6:41pm.
For you to leave another greasy stain beneath my comments.
Your comments are oily and smarmy enough....
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 6:47pm.
...to do that all by themselves, feckless shill.
Why do you think CPB/NPR ought to be publicly funded? Since your implied whining "for the children" has you making snarky comments?
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
What's that?
Submitted by Pickles and Peppers on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 6:52pm.
After your shrill name calling you now want to engage me in discussion? What's in it for me?
Shrill?
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 7:14pm.
Look it up, feckless shill.
You've been tagged and bagged, as a retread, little trollster. It's a little late for you to attempt to engage in discussion.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
What a shame
Submitted by Pickles and Peppers on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 7:25pm.
sniff...sniff.............
Quit wasting bandwidth
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 7:31pm.
...with unneccesary spaces, feckless.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
1....2....3 moronic comments, HA HA HA!!!
Submitted by lsudolemite on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 7:17pm.
Yep, LSU
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 7:30pm.
Maybe it's Scamnesty, so in love with looking at himself in the mirror he makes absolutely zero sense.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Parents who allow their children to watch this commie crap
Submitted by Dave. on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 5:31pm.
...are guilty of nothing less than child abuse.
As for PBS, they make plenty of money without having to use the government as an instrument of plunder.
It's time to cut them off for good.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
I just have one word in
Submitted by jdhawk on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 5:31pm.
I just have one word in regards to Sesame Street, et al, Pixar. Kids today want more than a couple of hand puppets repeating endlessly words that start with "A."
Sorry, NPR, your kiddie crap just isn't cutting it anymore.
But I have a "call a friend" tip for you - pay your own way. If your kiddie programs are so good, then they will survive in the for pay marketplace. My bet is, if handled right, they will survive.
What won't survive is you liberal crap that you foist on your viewers and listeners at every turn complete with soft melodic voices and classical music in the background. We all realized long ago, no matter how you package it, it is still socialist claptrap.
Congress defund public broadcasting! Now!!!
Nickelodeon, too
Submitted by Mary Louise Turner on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 8:25pm.
Don't forget that Nickelodeon has pre-school programming that is almost as popular, if not more so, than PBS' shows, especially "Dora the Explorer". I see very few little kids wearing Sesame Street gear anymore; they're wearing Dora or SpongeBob clothing! It is l-o-n-g past overdue to defund the evil twins NPR and PBS...I have always wondered about
Submitted by BD on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 9:14pm.
I have always wondered about the NEED for new programming on Seseme street. I mean, they have 30 years of them in the can. You would think they would simply re-run them every day and call quits to production. Like a child is going to notice that Bert in 1989 was ten years out of style (His outfit never changes.) or that the letter J is getting old...
But then they cannot pay the creative staff a dime...
After Tickle Me Elmo...
Submitted by Beukeboom on Wed, 03/09/2011 - 11:05am.
After Tickle Me Elmo...
Where have all the captialists gone, long time passing..
Submitted by upcountrywater on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 5:55pm.
NPR is all about a bigger larger fee bagging government. Where the stinking shows will run on forever...
A dark time in America when successful programming, cannot be left to the competitive marketplace.
You Didn't Build That.
Goebbels would be so proud of
Submitted by Thoreau on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 6:53pm.
Goebbels would be so proud of NPR. Keep socialism alive through the children!
Picklepuss---
Submitted by matthewdean on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 8:01pm.
A feckless shill, a retread troll, a moronic liberal commenter, and a sniffer.
Accurate, funny, timeless.
MD
Send Lib kiddies to bed without their taxpayer dessert...
Submitted by Slyrr on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 8:22pm.
The LIE is exposed. It's too late for NPR and PBS, they're done. They can't hide behind Elmo and Big Bird anymore
They said flat out - the amount of tax money they get is 'miniscule' and they 'don't need tax money to survive'.
You libs can't have it both ways on this! Either you get the bulk of your money from tax dollars or you don't. You can either 'do without ' tax money, or losing it will 'kill Big Bird'.
What's it gonna be, libs? You've been caught red-handed now, with that red hand in the taxpayer cookie jar. And naughty little children who steal cookies get PUNISHED and sent to bed without their supper.
Bout time.
NPR Dallas
Submitted by MaximusBraveheart on Wed, 03/09/2011 - 12:45am.
Has millions in the "bank" that they spend time on figuring out how to best invest it outside of NPR. Yet, they fund raise constantly like they are on their last dime. Seems very misleading about not being able to continue w/o your donation right now! Then they vote to pay themselves huge salaries yet are a "charity." Didn't a Church or two get investigated for this? The Bakers? Who is their "Tammy Fae?" Seems like NPR only gets a defense by the media. If it were religious they would have an investigation and constantly display the "horror" of this abuse of their power and of their funding.
-- Maximusbraveheart -- Is TRUTH knowable? Moral Relativism is the abandonment of Truth. Truth is knowable. Truth conforms to Reality. Reality is observable by evidence & witness in this day & from history. Relativism is Sesame Street play land.
In the early 80's I worked at
Submitted by BD on Wed, 03/09/2011 - 9:26am.
In the early 80's I worked at an NPR afiliate radio station teching the "All Things Considered Show" in the afternoon.
Wanna talk about low paying jobs? I was paid next to nothing and it was originally set up as a work/study through the university. WHat it all boiled down to was the University was actually paying for most of our hours (possibly from state money) while we did lots of fundraisiing hours.
And the most painful part was I had to sit there and listen to NPR badmouth Ronald Reagan every evening.
Time for them to go.
Reminds me of J.Jackson Jr. speach
Submitted by MaximusBraveheart on Wed, 03/09/2011 - 12:33pm.
You mean they did not provide you with a free iPod, laptop, home, food & education out of their own pocket? Seems hypocritical of these Progressives!-- Maximusbraveheart -- Is TRUTH knowable? Moral Relativism is the abandonment of Truth. Truth is knowable. Truth conforms to Reality. Reality is observable by evidence & witness in this day & from history. Relativism is Sesame Street play land.