There are some things on public television (PBS) that I find to be very informative, like "Antiques Roadshow". Who would know that someone's trash would be somebody else's treasure?

It can be really boring though and the History Channel can be just as informative.

Public television had its day, and in its day it provided undeniable value.  Now, driven by the marketplace rather than its true mission, public TV has degenerated into endless re-runs of Antiques Roadshow, cutesy and uninformative nature programs, concerts of long-washed up oldies groups and other insignificant crap.  From time to time there's some interesting documentaries produced, but these take up so little airtime that they hardly counterbalance the tripe.

IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION  programing is atheistic and immoral.  Christian conservatives should not support IPTV.  Public broadcasting is generally all liberal, advocating a Godless society.  Wake up America.

where would Mr. McFeely and Mr. Rogers go if there was no PBS...geesh

Thanks to this I was able to keep an edge on my fellow students and some of my teachers.

Pretty good programming throughout the day for those who can't spring for cable. Kid shows during the morning and afternoon to educate young minds, and documentaries, news, and other programs to educate the adult mind most other hours of the day.

teh best programing on television

Give me a break!

It still has its snout firmly in the public trough sucking up the tax money. When will this stop? The rationale for this entity was explained in the early 1960's that we needed diversity, etc. We have hundreds, maybe thousands of chanels now. Why do we need to subsidize this outfit?

Let them go out an earn it rather than beg it or get it from politicians who extort it from the groaning taxpayers, at gunpoint, if you don't pay!

I wrote a paper on this topic in college way back when. I can't honestly recall much about it now - except that I wrongly predicted that Public TV would eventually cave due, I naively reasoned, to the coming age of cable. Back when you only had a few sparse choices and very little of that was of much significance, PBS was a bright spot for those times when your brain was in need of something a little more challenging than say, The Munsters or The Beverly Hillbillies. By the time I wrote my paper, I felt it was only logical that the more competition the better TV would eventually become thereby filling the IQ void and eliminating the need for this particular government expense. All this time later, I guess it doesnt really surprise me that cable pretty much failed all the way around to improve the quality of television options. It also doesnt surprise me that once an organization digs in deeply, it will always find a way to justify its existence and usefulness whether it has actually become obsolete or not. Otherwise, how else can you explain the public longevity of someone like Jesse Jackson?

For all of its failings (which are numerous), it is ultimately the great socializer and a huge conduit of information to the masses.

Much needed because with West Wing going off the air, there is nothing of value on any of the commercial stations.

Public TV is great because it isn't in the thrall of corporate controll.It is often one of the few places to hear a different side to many topics.They also usually have lots of cultural and educational programs.I like watching a show without commercial interruptions.

The best TV on TV. Funny how when the programming is left to the intelligent and not to those who immmediately aim for the lowest common denominator, the quality of the programming is so much greater.
Frontline and Nova are two of the best examples and Jim Lehrer is held with almost reverential respect amongst the American media. You folks down there know how to do public TV right.
Be happy, you could have the CBC in Canada. It's public television but has all the commercials. You think PBS spends tax money? It gets a pittance of a percentage of a portion of the government money devoted to the arts. The CBC is a Crown Corporation (owned by the government) and has NEVER made a profit - believe you me advertisers would be lining up around the block if PBS sold commmercial time.

If anybody liked it, it wouldn't need to be public.

Get a graduate degree and a clue- this is the only worthwhile stuff on the box-that-lies. . .the documentaries are better than ever despite the occassional commericals. . .music, science, and social issues are presented in a far superior manner. Hate public TV? Turn the channel to your 'reality' show of the month and keep stuffing fritos in your mouth. . .

it carries some very interesting educational shows with a guideline of good morals and family oriented. i like the cooking shows on the weekend.