PBS or not to PBS

A

airforceguy

Active member
I am currently in production for a new show I created (my first since retiring from the Air Force), and I am thinking about going the PBS route. The guidelines look like a pain in the butt. Has anyone had any experience with getting shows aired on PBS? Can you tell me about your experiences, i.e. pros anc cons?
 
Hi:

The technical aspects are what they are. PBS Redbook is known as the most stringent delivery requirements in the business. Just don't make any production decisions about format, frame rate, interlaced vs. progressive, etc. that will screw yourself down the road.

I would be much more concerned about financing and getting paid. There is generally very little to no money in producing programming for PBS unless you are commissioned with CPB money or private funding. With the current economy, PBS has even less money than usual, which is very little.

Are you making a show and hoping to sell it to PBS or do you already have an agreement and contract to air from PBS? Big difference. If you are producing, hoping to air on PBS, good luck, its not the easiest road to travel.

Dan
 
pros- if you can find an underwriter or two to pay for production, you can essentially buy your way on air.

cons- you can essentially buy your way on air.

(if you give an idea of the kind of show you are producing, we can be more helpful)
 
Depending on where you live you can get in with the local affiliate. Rocky Mountain PBS tended to take stuff we did easier than any other PBS group. Even knowing a top dog at national!!

They took what we gave them and fixed it to what they wanted anyway. Though we were close and had the timing down. Also, give them what they want. If you want an hour show, make it 52 minutes but then if you don't NEED an hour... talk to them about that 8 minute slot!!! We got a lot of those... plus a full hour.

CaptM
 
Pros: exposure
Cons: no moola is a bummer

If you look at it as practice for selling a show, you'd gain a lot from it.
 
PBS is public, meaning, you can put a show on how to screw in a lightbulb (subtext) and they'll put it on the air, probably late at night. They NEED programming, so if you can do something yourself, you might be able to get yourself on several PBS stations across America. It's a stone many leave unturned. My directorial debut was on a PBS plug for our fencing club.

My yelled out, hey, that's my mom's work.

Who knows how many people saw it, but my first work was on TV. It did run for a bit as well.

Chuck
 
The whole idea behind a show is to build sponsors though. Sposnors being a no no on PBS and access channels, it's always seemed like spinning of the wheels to me.
It comes back to exposure. If it's the only way you can gain it, do it. truth is, you can gain it from the web now, sell small sponsorships on your own and skip the working for free thing as you make headway.
 
Sometimes I forget they air narrative work as well. I remember the bloodhound gang and Dr. Who. Great stuff. I am way too into Antique Road Show as well.
 
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