The Case for Public Broadcasting Services
Hey Cassettes! We’re back with another episode of The Black Case Diaries! After our five-week long discussion about the Disney Princesses, we switched gears to talk about PBS Children’s shows! This channel has taught, comforted, and amused us for so many years, we felt we should talk about it! Come on and ZOOM on over to 123 Sesame Street. We’re not quite sure how to get there, but we think it’s somewhere between Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood and Elwood City. If we hurry, we can catch a train at Shining Time Station! As always, Thanks for listening!
PBS: A short history
Early years of public TV in the US were dominated by Nation Educational Television (NET) which was founded in 1952
This relied on funding from the Ford Foundation (founded by Henry Ford)
In 1967 the Public Broadcasting Act was founded, creating the Government funding for Public Broadcasting
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting was established around the same time
In 1969, the Public Broadcasting service was established, which is a successor to NET
On May 1st, 1969 Fred Rogers appeared before a senate sub-committee to defend the 20 million dollars in federal funding that was proposed for Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Sesame Street
On November 10th, 1969 Sesame Street aired on PBS stations
Joan Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett conceived the show in 1966; their goal was to create a children’s show that uses the addictive nature of TV in a positive way
Jim Henson, although reluctant at first, agreed to do the show with his muppet characters after seeing the goals of the goals of the Children’s TV Workshop
After two years of research the Children’s Television Workshop received a grant of 8 million dollars from the Carnegie Corporation and Ford Foundation
This was the first television show of its kind to base its content and production values on educational research and the first to include a curriculum
Initially, the show received high ratings
By 2009, it was broadcast in over 120 countries and 20 independent international versions
Mr. Rogers
After being ordained a Presbyterian Minister in 1963 with a charge to continue work with children through the mass media, he was invited to create a show the CBC in Canada
This was later made available in 1968 as Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood
Mr. Rogers Neighborhood began airing in 1968
In 1971 he founded family communications inc which is the production company behind the show
He made sure his staff included people who had expertise in child development as well as media
The show ran for nearly 33 years
The Children’s Corner was another one of his shows. It included characters that would later appear on Mr. Roger’s neighborhood
Shining Time Station
Created by Britt Allcroft and Rick Sigglekow
The show aired from 1989-1993
It incorporated footage from Thomas and Friends, a British TV show; This show is considered the American version of the British show that was based on a series of books
Arthur
Premiered in 1996 based on the Children’s books by Marc Brown
Since premier, the series has been accessible to viewers who are deaf
Made history in 1997 as the first daily program to be described for people who were blind or visually impaired
In 2002, TV Guide ranked it 26th on its list of the 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time
It’s won the Peabody award and three Daytime Emmy’s for outstanding children’s animated program
Wishbone
Produced between 1995-1997
It starred a Jack Russell Terrier who daydreams about being the lead characters in various pieces of literature
Only the viewers and characters in daydreams can hear him speak
The show won four daytime Emmys and a Peabody Award
Exterior shots were filmed in Alan, TX
Zoom
A remake of the 1972 show of the same name, Zoom aired from 1999-2005
It featured pre-teens that performed skits and activities while teaching kids to “Turn off the TV and do it!”
Arts and crafts, cooking, science and technology, and games sent in by viewers.
Zoboomafoo
An American/Canadian children’s TV series 1999-2001
It had a total of 65 episodes
It was the creation of the Kratt brothers Chris and Martin and featured a talking lemur
It taught children about respecting animals and natural environments
The three of us had many shows that were influential in our young lives. We briefly mention a few of these in the episode as well.
Barney
Bob Ross
Reading Rainbow
Between the Lions
Clifford
The Berenstain Bears (Which so many people really thought was spelled Berenstein)
Cyberchase
The Puzzle Place