Public Television
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INSCAPE Public Television The controversy former F.C.C, PresidentNew- •Educational* programs are included among the ton Minnow caused years ago is still blowing WMHT offerings, but by no means form the bulk steadily across television airwaves. Commercial of the Channel 17 viewing schedule. THE UNIVER television still carries tlie stigma of «the vast SITY OF THE AIR is one program that is strictly wasteland,* and network presidents who cry *Let educational, featuring televised college-level tb$in watch HEE HAWI” have yet to provide an courses for credit or for self-study. Under the o ^ is . direction of the State University of New York ■ ' According to critic Marya Mannes, the situation and City CoUege of New York, UNIVERSITY OF Of' television broadcasting today is critical. In THE AIR courses are Itee and carry no pre test year's keynote address to the National Associa- requisites. Course offerings for the current semes tton of Educational Broadcasters, she said, *On ter include Astronomy, American History n, and th6 premise that the public wants trivia, violence, Beginning German. escape, and pap,* commercial television stations A popular genre of Public Television is the *)g^ve the consumer wliat the consumer wants. ■how-to-do-it* show. WMHT offers cooking lessons Arid to keep their licenses they give it what it with JuUa Child, ‘The French Chef," and oriental Meds—news and information—for barely ten per cuisine with Joyce Chen. There are two guitar shows, cbht of each programming day.* classical and folk, as well as programs dealing Public broadcasters are convinced that this is with the fine arts of bridge and chess. YOUR bot the ideal viewing diet. John Macy, president of DOLLAR'S WORTH deals with consum er infor the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, believes mation. the public interest is what makes public The much-talked about *talk shows* are not bVoadcasting ■different and special.* He states that confined to the commercial networks. WMHT ptdlc broadcasters, dedicated to the principle of provides FIRING LINE with William F. Buckley, non-commercial, high-quality television, are the THE DAVID SUSSKIND SHOW, and BOCK BEAT, only broadcasters *who spend full tim e in pursuit with R obert Cromle, book reviewer for the Di*&e public in te re st* CHICAGO TRIBUNE. MR. AND MRS. JO FORSYTE enjoy a p ie as ant moment In the NET version of THE FORSYTE SAGA Vital issues of the day are put on “trial* in a new format for the talk show, THE ADVO CATES. Top trial lawyers from Boston and Los Unique was NET'S production, ONLY BEING Children see and learn letters of the Angeles defend and prosecute such national issues BLACK, the only series of Black dramas on alpnabet in the form of commercials by The as “Should Indian reservations continue to exist?* television. According to a nationwide review, Muppets. Animated or “Laugh-In* type black and “Can, or should, a soldier refuse an order “The series, ON BEING BLACK, explores the outs help children learn their numbers. Some he considers contrary to the International laws frustration, the sorrow, and the joy of being adult viewers have been surprised to tune into of war?* THE ADVOCATES is produced live Black in White America, 1969.* The ten video SESAMii STREET and watch Burt Lancaster or through support from the Fprd foundation and dramas were written, performed, and produced Dean M artin counting from one to ten. SESAME the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Tele exclusively by Black Americans. STREET was awaited the Clu:istopher Prize for vision review er Cecil Smith says of ADVOCATES 1970. Jam es Day of NET says that “SESAME “As the successor to the ill-fated Public Broad Another significant dramatic production on NET STREET may well prove to be the show that casting Laboratory, It is an attempt to find a is the FORSYTE SAGA, a serialization of the John sweeps away that public indifference towards new and more viable way for television to deal Galsworthy novels. Starring Kenneth More and P-TV and shakes Congress by the lapels and says with the pressing problems of this nation than 00 Eric Porter, THE FORSYTE SAGE includes more ‘Look at u s!' " in the tired and out-moded form of the film than 120 speaking ro les. THE FORSYTE SAGA, documentary.* originally produced by the BBC, upset church schedules in Great Britain, and it is well on its CD way to becoming “a national obsession* here in The major source of production for all educa the United States. A second run-through of the tional television stations is National Educational twenty-six episodes was begun April 4 on Channel Television (NET). The network provides a basic 17. weekly schedule of programs, ranging from poli 0 9 tics and issues to the arts and drama. Although NET provides “anchor polnte* for CD educational TV viewing schedules, the local sta For its outstanding programming in the field O of music, the NET FESTIVAL has been highly tion is the hub of all activity. According to James acclaimed. Adventures in the ballet, symphony, CD Day, president of NET, public television, “begins and jazz are equally covered in the series. and ends with the local station... What is inten ded is not cautionary but creative—the creation of local programming that in its very LOCAL THE NET PLAYHOUSE offers a great diver NESS has particular relevance and meaning to sity of dramatic productions. As part of the the local station's constituency.* Mr. Day believes HUCK FINN of Hannibal, M issouri Theatre America series last fall, NET PLAY that here is where the record of public tele c ries 'WHAT’S NEW’ on the NET HOUSE b r o u g h t a new television te c h n iq u e , vision leaves much to be desired “both in bold DOCUMENTARY FOR CHI1X)REN. “Videospace*, to the living room. Videospace was ness and imagination.” employed by author Paul Foster in his HEIMS- WMHT offers several locally-based program s KRINGLAl or THE STONED ANGEIS, performed of special interest. CAPITAL REPORT, broad DR. BENJAMIN SPOCK sparks a But the fact that public television is non by Ellen Stewart's La Mama repertory group and cast statewide by the New York Network, uses a commercial makes for difficulties in finances. lively discussion with teenagers on directed by Toin 0*Horgan of HAIR fame. Another MEET THE PRESS type of format to bring state THE SHOW. Channel 17 (WMHT), the public television station significant broadcast was the NET PLAYHOUSE legislators and state department heads to their serving the Ci4 >ital D istrict, is no exception. rendering of Maxwell Andersoii’s THE STAR constituents. Robert Flchenberg, executive editor Owned by tiie Mohawk-Hudson Council on Educa- WAGON, f e a t u r i n g Orson Bean and the p re - of the Albany KNICKERBOCKER NEWS, serves tlonal Television, WMHT form erly received direct GRADUATE Dustin Hoffman. Currentty the NET as moderator, and the interviewers, all members Another area P-TV is exploring is the world financial support from the Ford Foundation. Channel PLAYHOUSE is r u n n i n g A GENERATION OF of the Legislative Correspondents Association, of youtlu Marya Mannes believes that youth- J.7 also benefited by a $10,000 grant from the LEAVES, a series of outstanding video plays represent nine New York Stete dallies and three orientated shows “would give a sorely needed Gorporatlon for Public Broadcasting. dealing with the younger generation. wire services. boost” to the institutions of culture. Miss Mannes -s- According to Donald Scbein, General Manager feels that youth have been alienated because *we for WMHT, Channel 17 cannot subsist on a "bread put the human spirit lowest in our list of national water diet nor can It bend to ibe will of state priorities.” Youth is the greatest potential audience OT lederal controL Reasonable amounts of unre- for public television “not to be catered to—there sblcted funds a n needed for each local station so is far too much of that—but to enlist in common tiiat the stations can reflect the needs and interests hopes.” of tiieir communities and choose the kinds of Some pioneer shows have just been launched national program service that fit these needs.* by NET and Channel 17. THE SHOW, a weekly A five per cent cut in the New York State talk-variety program geared to teenagers, is, in a .budget for 1969 affected three sources of funds sense, an audience-partlclpation show. Young for Channel 17. $100,000 from the State Education I^ople in the audience are given the opportunity Department, Uie State University of New York, to discuss issues relevant to them. A recent offering and from public school membership were cutback. of THE SHOW presented a popular rock group, Donald E. Schein reported the budget cut M artha and the Vandellas, an Improvisatlonal *Not in a critical sense, for we understand the comedy team. The Ace Trucking Company, and a reason for the Governor's acUon. But the loss has young author-teacher, Ellen Peck, whose new book caused much belt-tightening as we face the on dating was the topic of discussion. immediate future.* WMHT recently initiated another forum program Along with the *belt-tightening*, Channel 17 with youth in mind. STUDENT DISSENT IN PER undertook a fund-raising campaign last year. Four SPECTIVE, broadcast throughout New York State, nfembershlp Weeks” were conducted duringwhich brings together a panel of four high school stu interested viewers called tiie station, pledging dents, administrators, and educators for discussion cmtributions in exchange for m em bership in of the rights and responsibilities of the contem WMHT.