Vital,
long-standing issues in public broadcasting came to a head this
year. The issues were increased government funding, freedom from
interference in programming, and the independence of individual
stations in choosing the programs that they air. To the extent that
these matters came closer to resolution in 1973, the outcome seemed
favorable for the successful development of public
broadcasting.
Evidence of
an improved climate can be seen in a two-year Congressional
authorization of $55 million for 1974 and $65 million for 1975,
compared to $40 million in 1973. In addition, an agreement was
reached between the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the
public body that administers federal funds, and the Public
Broadcasting Service (PBS), the national organization for
noncommercial program interconnection. After much debate, these
major agencies agreed on machinery for deciding how national
programming will be offered to the nation's 234 noncommercial
stations. Under the arrangement, public television stations retain
considerable independence, a condition that the Foundation has
always viewed as essential for the system to operate effectively in
the public interest.
The
Foundation's role as the largest single source of private funds for
public broadcasting ($250 million granted over the past
twenty-three years) is diminishing as federal funding increases, as
the system continues to grow, and as stations build support from
individual subscribers, corporations, and their local communities.
Over the next four years, the Foundation will grant $40 million on
a decreasing scale, after which it expects to assist only a limited
number of public broadcasting projects, including programs by
talented individuals, minority and women's programming, and applied
research.
During 1973
the Foundation continued its support of major producers of national
programming. Assistance was also given to efforts to increase
audience support of public broadcasting, local news and public
affairs programming, and research on public broadcasting
viewing.
PROGRAMMING
For support
of national programming, the Foundation granted $6 million to
public television stations in Los Angeles, New York, and
Washington, D.C. Together with WGBH in Boston, which has received
Foundation assistance in the past, these stations produce most of
the national programming for public television. Each production
center develops its own programs, which PBS schedules for
presentation among member stations throughout the country. The
Foundation also provided $1.2 million to CPB and PBS to buy and
distribute programs produced at stations other than the four major
production centers.
During
1973, WETA-Washington gave national viewers a special weekly series
called "A Public Affair/Election '72" and presented daily coverage
of the Watergate hearings. WNET-New York produced such programs as
"VD Blues," which received the highest rating of the fall season on
public television, and "An American Family," a controversial series
that sparked widespread comment and drew many new viewers to public
television. KCET in Los Angeles continued Hollywood Television
Theatre with such productions as "Awake and Sing."
The
Foundation gave terminal support to "Newsroom" programs at KQED in
San Francisco and KERA in Dallas, which feature firsthand
analytical and interpretive reports. WJCT-Jacksonville (Florida)
received terminal funds for its community involvement program
"Feedback," a combination of coverage of local issues and an
opportunity for viewers to call the station with comments or
questions.
DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH
Although a
few public television stations have substantial numbers of viewers
who make annual donations to the stations, most have had to rely
heavily upon funds from school boards and local, state, and federal
tax dollars for their income. To help stations diversify their
funding, the Foundation two years ago began a program to assist
local public broadcasters in raising money, especially in the form
of paid subscriptions from viewers. It is estimated that if 10 to
20 per cent of the 35 million public television