Bye Bye PBS

Come January 1, 2011, PBS on KCET (Channel 10 in Santa Barbara) will no longer be available. In Santa Barbara most of us are totally dependent on KCET for PBS programming. The reason given by KCET is that it can no longer afford the dues charged by PBS—in spite of the endless pledge drives and dollars pledged.

Surely, there must be many more people in Santa Barbara than myself and several friends who are concerned, if not despondent, about this development. No more PBS News Hour, Frontline, American Experience, Masterpiece Classics, Masterpiece Mystery, Great Performances, or Tavis Smiley, not even Sesame Street!!

What can we do? Does anyone have any suggestions? Can Cox Communications solve the problem? What about satellite TV? Is that the answer?

At least, those concerned should contact Anne Bentley at PBS (awbentley@pbs.org) and explain that Santa Barbara County and presumably Ventura County are dependent on KCET for PBS programming, and should be included when plans for a consortium of Southern California PBS stations are under discussion. (See the October 8, 2010 “statement from PBS on KCET”.)

KCET supporters also might write to Mr. Al Jerome, Chief Executive at KCET (4401 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027) reminding him that Santa Barbara is going to be “left out in the cold” without KCET broadcasting PBS programming and that KCET may run the risk of losing our pledged contributions.