Is Public Broadcasting Needed Anymore?

This came up in Cokie Roberts appearance on MSNBC this morning.

She pointed out that in rural areas, NPR stations receive a greater percentage of funding from the government and are more likely to provide a service that others don't.

And, while that might be nice, I'm not convinced that it's a service that's necessary. And, I don't think it's enough of an argument to justify public financing.

Also, the fact that there is a government subsidized radio station in the market could be the very reason that a for profit station doesn't exist. Why would someone start a station, and incur the risk and costs, when there's already a subsidized station in place. You wouldn't be able to compete.

The costs to broadcast are now incredibly low. (There's already Free Libyan Radio on the air in Eastern Libya.) It's the license and regulations that make it expensive.

I don't se why these stations couldn't either make up for the funding or be replaced by commercial stations if they went away.

 

As much as NPR uses the smaller/rural stations to justify their continued government funding, I read this post, and think that the day will come where -- without government funding -- NPR will throw them overboard the minute it becomes in their best interest. (The only thing that might stop them is the composition of the board, which is heavily weighed towards local stations):

 

Yeah, we need it because it's the only good radio. The rest all sounds the same.

 

Well, it wouldn't go away without public funding.

As the link above points out, it's programming could easily be distributed over the internet, and with smart phones, etc., internet radio is much easier to access.

And, if it went way, who's to say that someone wouldn't fill the gap?

 

They sure as hell aren't filling the gap now.

 

Why would they? How could they compete against a commercial free, subsidized competitor?

No one is competing against the Post Office for basic, residential mail service. Now, I'm not suggesting we put the Post Office out of business, but if it did go away, that service would be replaced by the private sector. But (besides the fact that it's illegal), to compete against the Post Office now would be suicidal.

 

No. It's all the sweeter when I know teabaggers are fuming that Prairie Home Companion is costing them .002 cents a year.

 

The Post Office has a ton of competition -- FedEX, UPS, email, newspapers delivering fliers etc.

Radio has been watered down to the least common denominator. For the most part, Screechy talk radio and pop stations playing the same songs over and over.

 

The NPR station in Boston, WBUR, has the highest ratings in morning drive time of ANY station (It's not in the book, but this is a known fact). There is a consumer demand for public radio. I'm not so sure about public television. I mean, how many doo-wop revival programs does any one society need?