TV Blog

By Cyberlion

May 9, 2009 5:58 PM | Link to this

My fondest memories was volunteering for the KLRU Auction. I used to work for UT and didn't make that much money, but for several weeks, I would get off work and stay until the wee hours of the night. I'd get up the next day and do it all again, until it was all finished. I could have spent that time working a second job, hanging with my friends, although most of them were doing the same thing after I roped them into it. It was a great time, a good community based project and it's time to gear up for it again. It's too bad management decided to do away with something like the auction, maybe that's why the community has drifted away because those of us that are not owners of endowments, or multi-billionaires have no other way to contribute but with our sweat equity. That's a very big shame, hopefully things will change in the near future.

By ben

May 7, 2009 12:43 PM | Link to this

John Gillnitz, We figured out the problem. What you call "non-partisan journalism" is what 47% of the country thinks is biased. I already pointed out the egregious example of having PBS' Gewn Ifill moderate a debate after having written a book (and not disclosing that, the crime is in the cover-up) about Obama. Should Rush Limbaugh have moderated a presidential or VP debate? What's that, Rush Limbaugh is biased? Hope your brain doesn't explode trying to resolve this.

By Palmer Glacier

May 7, 2009 12:19 PM | Link to this

Putting aside the PBS bent for a hard left turn in most of their programming (which I doubt KLRU could change if they wanted to), I have stopped contributing to KLRU!

I am simply tired of tuning to KLRU to see my favorite British comedy or Nova program to find that it has been preempted by a seemly never ending “Beg – A –Thon” from “PBS central” in New York or Boston or who knows where.

The oft-interrupted Beg-A-Thon programming is usually some useless self-improvement nonsense or music program that might make good radio, but is not very interesting to watch.

I sincerely hope that KLRU will go back to its local roots for support. The old auctions and fundraisers were actually fun to watch. I enjoyed seeing the local staff and my neighbors on Channel 18.

If you are going interrupt the programming to raise money, at least make it the regular programming that I tune to KLRU to see.

By Blue

May 7, 2009 8:01 AM | Link to this

"The web is free except that you have to buy a $4000 Mac and $2000 screen to watch the same PBS shows KLRU broadcasts at the same quality with no downlaod times."

Um, no. You do not need a "$4,000 Mac" to do this.

By Buckogirl

May 7, 2009 1:45 AM | Link to this

Continued from below...

As a former KLRU employee, I can testify that the people who work at KLRU do it because they love KLRU / PBS and find value in enhancing their community. KLRU employees passionately dedicate themselves to their jobs and often have to make many sacrifices in effort to add value to the Central Texas community. Not only have people lost their jobs, but we (the community) have lost people committed to making our lives more meaningful and enjoyable. If we let KLRU fail, we will all suffer the consequences, not just the people employed at the station.

By Anastasia

May 6, 2009 10:28 PM | Link to this

Turn off the damn television and read a book (download one if you don't have any real ones around and are afraid of public libraries). There was nothing before this happened that was worth wasting your life watching, and there won't be anything after this happens that is worth wasting your life watching.

By David

May 6, 2009 10:16 PM | Link to this

First of all, I am what many would call conservative, generally vote Republican and am a retired US Army Colonel and civil engineer. I do not work or have ever worked for KLRU or any other PBS affiliate. I have been a member of PBS for over 30 years, 20 yrs in Austin and over 10 yrs in Houston. I regret that KLRU, our local PBS affiliate, has to lay off staff and cut programming. I agree that the primary reason is economic and also agree that the pledge drives can be monotonous at times and alternative methods of funding are needed. KLRU I believe receives over 80% of it's funding from viewers and local businesses with the remainder from PBS. I disagree that PBS is liberally biased despite shows like Bill Meyers, Charlie Rose and Travis Smiley. They are a small part of PBS programming. C. Rose is on late night once a week and T. Smiley is on daily at 1 am (Tue thru Sat). Bill Meyers' show is on Friday evenings weekly and he interviews guests that have various perspectives. His and Charlie Rose's shows are very thought provoking, although I do disagree with some of their opinions. Didn't the French philosopher Voltaire who Thomas Jefferson followed say "I totally disagree with what you say, but will defend to my death your right to say it?" PBS was established I think in 1967 among the many Federal programs including civil rights, medicare and welfare in the LBJ Presidency. I did not vote for LBJ but have grown to respect his Presidency over the years (I was a Goldwater fan). PBS was initially advocated for educational programming, which at the time was in short supply on commercial TV. I cannot think of any one station that has the depth and diversity of programming that PBS and KLRU offer. Consider these outstanding programs which are only a few of those offered: Masterpiece Classic and Mystery; Nova, Frontline and American Experience; special series which have included The Civil War, Baseball, Lewis and Clark, NYC, Jazz, the Presidents series (from FDR to Clinton), Fighter Pilots of WWII fame and other WWII series; The Fall of Eagles (European Monarchs) and the Rise of Communism in Eastern Europe made in the 1980’s; British Comedies; travel shows such as Dave Eckert's Culinary Travels, Rick Steeves Europe and Globe Trekker among many; and, the many children’s programs. The Jim Lehrer Newshour is among the best news programs on TV in my opinion and offers detailed and thoughtful discussion and perspective from both Republicans and Democrats, conservative and liberal (syndicated columnist David Brooks and Mark Shields) and various think tanks including CATO to more liberal views. As for BBC news, it offers more of a world view which my travels to Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe and North Africa have shown me is valuable. PBS can give the same perspective without leaving your home. Cable channels offer some of this programming, but not to the extent that PBS does, not on one station and not on free over the air TV. People without resources can go to one station and be inspired without spending much money and none if they don't donate. In England, you have to pay a TV tax for example.

By David

May 6, 2009 8:20 PM | Link to this

I regret that KLRU is having to cut back and lay off staff, but agree it has more to do with the economy. I also agree that the long pledge drives get monatonous over time and other fund raising methods need to be considered. I am what many would call a conservative that has frequently voted Republican, am a retired Army officer and engineer (UT grad), live in "Republican" Williamson County, but have been a member of PBS for over 30 years, including over 20 years in Austin and over 10 years in Houston. I also am not an elitist by any measure, although world travel in the military and my civilian occupation has led me to see things differently than others. I totally disagree that PBS is liberally biased. Bill Moyers is a Texan (from Marshall) who worked for LBJ and is probably considered a liberal by many, but both he and Charlie Rose are very thought provoking even if you diasgree with them. I believe it was Voltaire, the French philosopher who said "I totally disagree with what you say, but will defend to my death your right to say it" Voltaire's ideas were adopted by Thomas Jefferson. C. Rose who is on late night once a week, Tavis Smiley who is on at 1 am and Bill Moyers are a small part of PBS programming. Correct me if needed, but wasn't Bill Buckley the conservative commentator on PBS at one time? I think that PBS was initially established in 1966 or 1967 as an educational medium, although it has expanded its' programming since then to include drama and other entertainment. No one TV station has the depth and diversity of programming in my opinion. Consider this programming: Masterpiece Theatre, Mystery and American Experiece; Frontline and Nova; British Comedies; specials such a Baseball, The Civil War series and Lewis and Clark; the series on Jazz, WWII, NYC and the Presidents; and, travel shows such as Rick Steeves, Dave Eckert's Culinary Travels and Globe Trekker, gardening shows and home improvement not to mention kids programming. PBS also offers other music besides ACL including classical, Opera and pop, i.e., Soundstage. Some of these shows are available on cable channels but not on free TV and not on one channel. I believe that the Jim Lehrer Newshour is one of the best and balanced news programs on TV as it presents all political views, i.e., Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals, David Brooks and Mark Shields for example. KLRU has great local programming to include Downtown, Texas Monthly Talks, CTG besides ACL. The biggest issue is who pays for this. I think viewer and corporate funding make up over 80% of the KLRU budget with government funding shrinking with time. I'm also positive that our President has more pressing economic and global issues at this time than to be concerned with such a small part of the Federal budget.

By John Gillnitz

May 6, 2009 7:39 PM | Link to this

Goodness the wing nuts are buzzing today! Someone must have mixed some caffeine into their Cheetos. Bush and his toadies took aim a public broadcasting and right wingers have been gunning for it for decades. It seems that good non-partisan journalism is an affront to their attempts to turn all media in to Rush-like ditto head scream feasts and reality TV. It is a shame America does not support public media more. Britain does and some of the stuff the BBC turns out is great. Their news is much much better. Luckily MI-5 and Dr. Who will still be on NetFlix.

By broadway

May 6, 2009 7:18 PM | Link to this

bigrob said, ''Foxnews has doubled their viewership in 1 year!'' Actually Fox News Channel's parent company News Corp. reported double EARNINGS over the year before. Much of that came from additional revenue squeezed from cable viewers by Fox News and Fox TV stations.

By Sista

May 6, 2009 7:16 PM | Link to this

Who cares! PBS sucks anyway. Boring crap on there.

By rmique

May 6, 2009 7:07 PM | Link to this

....and PBS station thrives in san antonio....Hello????

By Ron

May 6, 2009 7:04 PM | Link to this

Just don't cut my Britcoms!

By ben

May 6, 2009 6:37 PM | Link to this

and yes, I love Rush LImbaugh, but it's not his fault he was addicted to painkillers, that was because of the liberal drug addicts out there who spread lazy marxist propaganda. and I didnt need to go to a "university" to get my education, I learned everything I neede dto know by listening to good radio and watching FOX.

By Mike Ramsey

May 6, 2009 6:33 PM | Link to this

Free Minds. Free Markets. Adapt or disappear.

By marcus

May 6, 2009 6:32 PM | Link to this

KLRU gets very little if any money from the festival because of the deal with C3 which was an emergency contract needed to keep the TV version of ACL going.
About 10% of their money comes from the gov.
They have to pay for the right to run many of the programs which they boadcast.

They've survived by doing as much as they can with as little as they can for years now, and I imagine that's how it will have to be in the future as what has happened to the music business... now papers and teleivison... next radio books and film... plays out. Media will change to fit the business model within it's community.

Does Austin want to be a community who can't afford a PBS station? If so, what will take it's place?
The web is free except that you have to buy a $4000 Mac and $2000 screen to watch the same PBS shows KLRU broadcasts at the same quality with no downlaod times.

My toughts and prayers are with the folks who lost their jobs and here's to KLRU finding it's way and finding itself stronger.

By ben

May 6, 2009 6:24 PM | Link to this

paul,
1) So you believe that "democracy is tyranny of the majority" is OK? Let's bring back slavery then.
2) My post very clearly did not say FOX was biased for Obama. Your short attention span in not reading the whole sentence and stopping at point 2 shows you do not watch PBS. You need a commerical every 10 minutes to refill your Coors.

By CHESSMASTER

May 6, 2009 5:57 PM | Link to this

WHY REMOVE A SHOW THAT HAS WON Emmy-winning PRODUCERS. I DON'T SEE ANY OF THESE UNCUT SHOWS WITH ANY AWARDS, WHOS RUNNING THAT SHIP ANYWAY. PUT “Docubloggers" BACK ON THE AIR ONE OF THE BEST PROGRAMS SHOWN. ME AND MY FAMILY ENJOY THE SHOW AND DON'T MISS IT...

By robert

May 6, 2009 5:53 PM | Link to this

Hi all, especially "Bob"

I have worked at KLRU since it was KLRN (in Austin)... the station is not owned by UT (unlike KUT)... it is owned and managed by the Capital of Texas Public Broadcasting Council. Try looking it up moron.

By Phil

May 6, 2009 5:43 PM | Link to this

I don't see how any rabid KLRU supporter could deny that uber-liberal Bill Moyers' continued presence on PBS is a serious turnoff to conservative viewers out in the sea of red that surrounds the tiny island of warm blue fuzzies that is Austin. Another turnoff is the ad nauseam re-broadcasting of the same tired "special" music and psychobable programs during fund raising campaigns.

By Paul

May 6, 2009 5:14 PM | Link to this

Funding a new 2,200-seat, state-of-the-art theater and music venue does not seem to be a normal use of public television funds. One wonders if management is risking the station's survival.

By Festival

May 6, 2009 5:08 PM | Link to this

KLRU barely gets any profit from the festival. C3 pays them a little but has managed to ween them out over the years. It is a shame.

By rick

May 6, 2009 5:03 PM | Link to this

having worked for KLRU, [quit last August] I only wished you all knew how the Bush appointed CPB management up in Washington, D.C. "trickled-down" to very progressive PBS television markets like Austin.

KLRU used to have it's core values intact until they FIRED the old guy in charge of my dept. and hired/promoted 2 individuals with questionable experience or understanding of Public Television and how it works.

Many good people had quit before I did last summer and they had all worked there for many more years than myself and it was helped by a small workers union that was only supported by KLRU out of all TV stations in Cen. Texas.

As a Right-to-work state, unions are not too strong in Texas and it dissolved away recently, so some of you union haters should be happy about that one.

I love KLRU and it's programming and I'd have to tell all the "crazies" out there who believe it has a left-wing slant, that they must not watch PBS very often. They usually give both sides of a story if not 2 or 3 different views on one. At least PBS is civilized enough to have these discussions w/o screaming at one another for no reason and most importantly, w/o tv commercial interruption inside those debates.

PBS and the CPB are NOT based on selling advertising so that's one huge obstacle that is in it's journalistic favor.

We can't let go of our public broadcasting station here in Austin, TX, in fact there should be more PBS stations in our country considering some rural areas cannot even receive it, over the-air anyways.

Btw, I suppose the people behind Sesame St., Nature, Nova, Newshour and Charlie Rose are all Marxists. And Terry Lickona, ACL staff, all of them are just commies, right?

and what is this, 1952? why do people still accuse other groups/parties of being socialist, or Marxist in the year 2009?

By bigrob

May 6, 2009 4:41 PM | Link to this

Foxnews has doubled their viewership in 1 year! Nice! Bottom line is Austin City Limits alone should save the PBS stations in Austin. Bill Moyers is a 2 bit liberal.

By WHAT-Evs

May 6, 2009 4:31 PM | Link to this

Ben, oh PLEASE. All you guys saying it's because of the liberal bias... how do explain all the years it was running just fine?

It's the economy, stupid. But keep on beating that drum if you have nothing else to do.

By Matt

May 6, 2009 4:30 PM | Link to this

Ben,

You spelled hypocrisy wrong...maybe you should watch more PBS.

By jack

May 6, 2009 4:27 PM | Link to this

Most people who don't enjoy public broadcasting are largely illiterate and don't enjoy intellectual pursuits or higher thinking. It doesn't make them bad people, just ill-informed. People who don't enjoy intelligence also are largely unemployed or poor and don't contribute regularly. Since truth largely has a liberal bias and most intellectuals are highly paid professionals, this may bother people who are not.

By Mike

May 6, 2009 4:25 PM | Link to this

Dennis,
Is the reference to Obama's middle name by chance an attempt to link him to terrorists, Muslims or whatever bogeyman you and your dead-end soul-mate Rush Limbaugh are passing off as the latest threat to the Land of the Free?

Ben,
Do you know anything about Marxism?

By Stephen

May 6, 2009 4:20 PM | Link to this

liberalism will fail!!!!

By Wildcard

May 6, 2009 4:03 PM | Link to this

You know... some of these comments on here are just plain disgraceful. The article was about how 12 folks at a great station got laid off yesterday, not the liberal bias of PBS. As one of those 12 that had to say goodbye yesterday, I have to say that it was an honor and those are some of the best people I have ever worked for and with. Non-profits are always hit hard when the economy is down the drain. I love you KLRU, no hard feelings!

By Paul

May 6, 2009 3:58 PM | Link to this

ben,

What a nasty and gratutiously stupid response to Mr. Hazelton! Sarcasm and insult are the last refuge of the ignorant. But I'll be happy to speak your language so you can understand.

He's right, of course, you're trying to insinuate politics into a problem that is primarily financial. He probably has better things to do than waste time responding to your points. But I don't.

1) In a democracy, there's another word for that 47%. They're called losers. Welcome to the club.

2) Funny you don't mention FOX in the mainstream media. You apparently don't consider them to have "obvious bias", which leads me to conclude you cannot be reasoned with, so I'll stop here.

By Bob

May 6, 2009 3:57 PM | Link to this

I wish the Statesman would someday explain who really owns or controls KLRU and KUT.

My guess is that it is officially the omnipotent UT Regents, with their power having been delegated from time immemorial down through the chancellor and president and then ??? to whom?

I'm pretty sure that one's KLRU contributions do not get you voting power on some KLRU board. But I sure don't know.

Perhaps it would be best for KLRU to fail and be reconstituted as a
private nonprofit, such as I image KMFA to be.

It can be hard to raise money for X if no one knows who X is.

By Blue

May 6, 2009 3:55 PM | Link to this

While I agree that pledge drives "featuring" Orman and that Power of Intention fraud don't help much, I strongly suspect that the budget cuts are mainly due to a sharp reduction in corporate support, not viewer contributions.

By getagrip

May 6, 2009 3:47 PM | Link to this

wow... a lot of sore losers out there... it's all Obama's fault eh... never mind the wars and recession brought on by Bush... GET OVER IT!!!

By keith

May 6, 2009 3:36 PM | Link to this

There for a minute I thought it said KLBJ and I was gonna be happy that Dale Dudley and Charlie Hodge would have been laid off, but no such luck

By Mike

May 6, 2009 3:29 PM | Link to this

Ben,

If Obama is Marxist, then you're probably about as educated as you sound. What you probably meant is that he's not as ideologically rabid as such soul-mates of yours as Rush Limbaugh, a real dead-ender.

By Supporter

May 6, 2009 3:22 PM | Link to this

I can't believe that KLRU allowed this to happen and that it cut one of its local productions, Docubloggers. This city needs more local programming that focuses on the entire viewing area and not just the same ol' Austin haunts over and over. Plus, Docubloggers allowed community contributions! Isn't that what PBS is supposed to be about? It's a shame that it was axed. Go to Facebook and search "Save Docubloggers"! Leave a message of support for the producers of the show. Even if it doesn't bring the show back, at least they'll know the community supports local programming.

By Austin Hippie Punk

May 6, 2009 3:19 PM | Link to this

It's a shame that local production is being cut. I agree with some of the other comments that programming choices at KLRU have not been very reflective of a large part of the community.

It's a hard balance to achieve, because traditional contributors have skewed a lot older than the general population, and if you continue to go after that audience, well, eventually they start dying off. KUT has done a much better job matching their programming and fundraising to a growing part of their audience.

It must be pointed out that television production is MUCH more expensive than radio production, both to make and to buy. It's much cheaper and less risky for KUT to experiment with new types of programming. Let's hope KLRU uses this opportunity to formulate a bold strategy to reinvent itself in this new media landscape.

Condolences to those who have been laid off.

By ben

May 6, 2009 2:22 PM | Link to this

Tommy Hazleton, I know liberals don't think logically, so I'll type slowly for you. Try to follow along.
1) 47% of voters did not vote for the most liberal, marxist leaning president the USA has ever had.
2) The mainstream media (ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, most newspapers) had obvious bias for Obama. The Washington Post even admitted it, after the election.
3) PBS specifically had Gwen Ifill not disclose until days before the debate she moderated that she wrote a book about Obama. No bias there.
4) Those 47% of people are not going to send money to an organization that unabashedly has unfair and biased against their views in their reporting of the news.
5) The internet is just as free as PBS, and we can get all the news, not just the liberal filtered version.
6) Your "pay to play" implication that I have to send PBS money before I can complain to them about their bias is exactly what you liberals complain about when a republican or conservative organization gets a job, or money. More liberal hypocracy.

By Paul Silver

May 6, 2009 2:19 PM | Link to this

I consider myself a politically moderate independent and I watch at least 15 pbs shows a week including Newshour and Charlie Rose. This is one of the few places I find what I consider fair and balanced reporting and extended discussions. I am sorry to hear of the funding shortage but most consumer funded organizations are hurting right now.

By axma

May 6, 2009 1:57 PM | Link to this

This is absolutely pathetic! One of the most intellectual and forward-thinking cities in the United States can't support its PBS station!? Need we be reminded that KLRU is the station who brought us Austin City Limits and helped make Austin the "Live Music Capitol of the World"!? Quit making Time Warner richer and give some of that money to an organization that actually cares about your community!!!

By Test

May 6, 2009 1:50 PM | Link to this

Test!!

By Hank

May 6, 2009 1:39 PM | Link to this

Yeah. I was just thinking how Stotesbery sold out the community by supporting AMD with its generous contributions and lets not forget Stratus. Maybe PBS could cut some additional cost by subleasing the AMD building on Southwest parkway and eliminating the partnership with Stratus for the new W Hotel. If you combine those two events and terminate Stotesbery, we would have the type of PBS that Austin enjoyed for many years. Remember the wonderful speaker series at U.T. and then AMD took it over and named it SPARK.... that lasted a season. Mr. Stotesbery, maybe there is a radar station on one of the poles you could relocate too or maybe Marfa.

By dennisl59

May 6, 2009 1:28 PM | Link to this

I think they should change their programming(since they are government funded) and just play all known B.Hussein Obama speeches in a continuous loop, 24/7. Insert new videos of President Zero daily to keep content "fresh" If there is no video, just sound, then just put a slide up on the screen with his face, smiling down at us Citizens of the State. We The Taxpayers demand more of BHO!

By smarv

May 6, 2009 1:25 PM | Link to this

I'm a huge pbs fan - I watch a lot of their programming through NetFlix since KRLU tends to pick the crappy pbs programming, not the good stuff. KRLU is out of touch with the average Austinite. I do like Central Texas Gardener and Texas Monthly talks, but that's it. Charlie Rose makes me want to gauge my own eyes out. It's not a surprise that they are short on funds. I would open my checkbook to KUT, but not KLRU.

By Diana

May 6, 2009 1:22 PM | Link to this

I'm not surprised. I tuned in last week and they were broadcasting the BBC news. I don't understand the nature of that programming.

By Arthur

May 6, 2009 1:14 PM | Link to this

Why do conservatives have to be so verbally snide??? (Ahem, Ben and Willie)

By Jeff

May 6, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this

Can't help but wonder if there is any connection between the lack of support and the abysmal fund raising technique of taking all the regular shows, that viewers presumably tune in to see off the air, and replacing them with weeks of absolute dreck (the Power of Intention, Susie Ormond, etc.).

By Matt Staller

May 6, 2009 12:50 PM | Link to this

Yeah you tell 'em Tommy!

By Lloyd

May 6, 2009 12:37 PM | Link to this

Get some conservatives?

LMAO!!!!!!!

Why not just fart into the mic, same effect.

By Tommy Hazleton

May 6, 2009 12:28 PM | Link to this

Ben and Willie, you take on KLRU like it is PBS, when in essence it's the other way around. KLRU is a PBS Affiliate. The article is about KLRU cutting jobs and lacking funds, and is more a result of the recession rather than it's political stance. In addition to it's traditional PBS broadcasting that you take issue with yet apparently still "like", shows tons of great local programing, and shows absolutely the best children's programs, all of which are commercial free. You know Ben, everything in life doesn't have to Political. Perhaps if you looked outside of the political box you would see that KLRU, while a PBS affiliate, is a great all around station. Compared to what you are most likely throwing away over at Time Warner to have 200 channels of which you probably only watch 5, the bang for the buck at KLRU is unsurpassed. And even if you don't send them a dime, you can still tune in, for free. How can you take issue with this and turn their problems into a political one? Tell you what, start throwing some money their way and THEN you can take issue with the content and perhaps someone would listen.

By Ross

May 6, 2009 12:21 PM | Link to this

I thought KLRU went off the air 10 years ago!

By ben

May 6, 2009 12:14 PM | Link to this

Maybe if PBS didn't have such a liberal political bias, the 47% of the country that didn't vote for liberals would contribute more. I like PBS, but their social agenda is wrong, so i don't send them money. PBS should move a little to the center and more people would support them. It really doesn;t matter in the long run; Obama will give PBS a big chunk of bailout/stimulus money, just like ACORN, UAW, and other politically active (liberal) groups.

By Willie

May 6, 2009 12:13 PM | Link to this

Get some conservatives and axe Bill Moyers - Tavis Smiley and Charlie Rose. Charlie rose once said he would never interview a conservative. But hell you would replace them with Dan Rather and other left wing hacks..

By Sweet John

May 6, 2009 12:07 PM | Link to this

What I do not understand is with all the money that Austin City Limits Festival brings in why is KLRU in this position. I understand that it is a C3 production but without the Austin City Limits tie in I do not see this festival as successful without it. My question now is do the people of Austin believe the money spent at ACL festival goes to KLRU? I believe the answer was yes until today.