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CPB seeks to make public broadcasting more accessible to the public it serves. To do so CPB maintains a toll-free, 24-hour telephone line (1-800-272-2190), an online contact form, and accepts letters sent directly to CPB.

All comments are available on this website to be viewed by the general public. Each year, by statute, CPB transmits this public link to the White House for its report to Congress. Additionally, comments pertaining to programming are shared with the CPB Board of Directors and relevant public media staff.

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Trump supporters attacked

Connecticut
Feedback:

Guess CPB will not report on the attack of supporters of President Trump after the Minnesota ralley?

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). By law, CPB is prohibited from producing or broadcasting programming. Please contact PBS or your local station with your suggestion at http://www.pbs.org/about/faq/contact-us/.

evening programming

New York
Feedback:

I don 't understand how you can solicit donations and then serve up reruns of very mediocre British mysteries! What happened to the excellent series such as Chief Inspector Morse or Branaugh's Swedish detective, Wallander? Does it all have to be so lightweight along with already broadcast?! I'm one who would love to watch an hour or two of an excellent, adult drama every night of the week. Is it too much to ask? What gives?

The classic Sherlock Holmes was excellent (I don't like the new postmodernist version --ugh) So was that female police duo: Scott and Bailey Prime Suspect was excellent Vera is generally good Unforgotten was good Foyle's War was worth watching Even Ms Marple had a lot going for it.

But Father Brown, Miss Fischer, Midsummer Night Murders, Bletchley Circle, are all very lightweight.

I thought you wanted to be the channel for college graduates with intellectually substantial programming. This ain't it!

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). By law CPB is prohibited from producing or broadcasting programming. Please contact PBS or your local station with your suggestion at http://www.pbs.org/about/faq/contact-us/.

election debates

Oregon
Feedback:

I used to be able to watch each entire election debate on Newshour, but now the debates are exclusive to CNN, which isn't included in DISH. I search online to get the debate coverage that I think every US citizen should be able to watch for free. Isn't there some way that you could cover the debates so that those of us who don't get all the cable channels could familiarize ourselves w/the candidates? I think debates are important. I am not good w/the computer, but if you show the entire debate online, please let me know how to find it. Thanks.

Note from CPB: PBS NewsHour is partnering with POLITICO to host the sixth Democratic presidential primary debate, set to take place at the University of California, Los Angeles, on Dec. 19. The December debate will air live on PBS and will be streamed online on POLITICO’s and PBS NewsHour’s digital platforms.

I am looking to start my own TV station and am looking for guidance.

New Mexico
Feedback:

I am in Southeastern New Mexico. More precisely in Lea county New Mexico. I would like to seek any guidance in this area. I have read all about the syndicated TV stations. This is something I do not want to do. I am looking at doing all original programing. This in the means that I produce everything locally. What I am trying to do is make a TV station for my general location. That being I believe from all of the populus that I have talked to think the same way. They are looking for a local station that has their interest and not someone elses from over 80 miles away. I have started looking into the cable TV system deliveries here. I think my best bet is to do my own thing on that area. Just like the old time broadcasting but with digital programing instead of the old time way of doing things. I am looking in to waiting for the repack to finish to be able to put my name in the hat for a FCC broadcasting license, Any guidance or help would be a big help for me. Before you ask I will let you know about myself. I am a current student at the LA Film School. Working on my BA for Digital Filmmaking. I know that TV is a much different monster than producing film. But with the out cry of support from everyone I have talked to. I believe that I should ask to see what can I do to start.

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). CPB provides funding to public broadcasting stations who meet the following requirements: the substantial majority of each station’s daily total programming hours broadcast on all of its channels, including its primary and additional multicast channels, must be devoted to CPB-Qualified Programming. The station must broadcast on a schedule of seven (7) days per week, fifty-two (52) weeks per year, for a total of at least 3,000 hours or fifty-eight (58) hours per week. The following types of stations are not Eligible Grantees: (a) stations that are closed-circuit; (b) stations that are managed and operated by and for students; (c) stations that primarily provide training programming to licensee employees, clients, and/or representatives; and/or (d) stations licensed to political organizations. To learn more about CPB’s station requirements please visit https://www.cpb.org/sites/default/files/stations/tv/generalprovisions/FY-2019-TV-General-Provisions.pdf To learn more about CPB’s grant making process go to www.cpb.org/grants.

Failure to Rescan

Tennessee
Feedback:

On Oct 23, 2019 viewers were advised to rescan as the channels were changing. I rescanned as I have done many times for various reasons. This time PBS was gone. I am about 30 miles from Sneedville, TN and have been receiving PBS very well in several location in the Tri-Cities area. I have been at my current location about three years and have always had good reception especially for PBS on channel 2. Webantenna.com lists PBS antenna requirement for my area as a multi directional antenna with amplifier. I recanned several time still no PBS. However, in my efforts I did get channel 10 out of Knoxville which is 100 miles away. I have all my other channels with no issues. Where is PBS? I have been enjoying PBS for many years. I was watching Poldark every Sunday but today no PBS. I do have a PBS app on my phone that would allow me to stream various shows. However the PBS app requires signing up with a donation. I am retired and have nothing to donate. I don't have pay tv which is why I depend on OTA tv. I am sorely disappointed that I can no longer receive PBS. I suppose we all live in a Trump world were only the people with money are served. One more reason not to vote for Trump.

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). CPB does not broadcast programming. Please contact your local station with your broadcast technical concerns. Public media is a public-private partnership relying on multiple sources of funding in addition to the federal investment. PBS stations have always relied on donations from individuals to provide content to local communities and contributions from members to local stations are the largest single source of support for public television. In 2011, Congress asked CPB to produce a report on alternatives to federal funding for public media (PUBLIC LAW 112–74—DEC. 23, 2011). A link to that report can be found below. PBS Passport, which offers extended access to national and local content, is an added benefit of station membership. It cannot be purchased separately and is not a subscription service. This member benefit is a complement to the fundamental service PBS and PBS stations provide -- access to outstanding programming via over-the-air broadcast and through free streaming for a significant time. Every program available via Passport was previously available for streaming to non-Passport Members after the broadcast. Public media continues to offer the broadest access to freely available TV content – over-the-air on local member stations, through digital platforms and in communities across the U.S. Both local and national content is available without charge from stations around the country through a variety of platforms. https://www.cpb.org/files/aboutcpb/Alternative_Sources_of_Funding_for_Public_Broadcasting_Stations.pdf

Mark Shields

California
Feedback:

Lately, some news people have admitted that they spent too much time and placed too much significance on Hillary Clinton's email. Near the election, Mark Shields was very, very, very critical of her. He was not that extreme to Trump. It was infuriating and sexist. I wrote several emails at the time. He really needs to apologize. He said after the election, that he was just so surprised not taking any responsibility for the terrible things he said.

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB is prohibited from interfering with editorial decisions related to programming on PBS or local public television and radio stations. Your comments will have more weight if you contact PBS directly: http://www.pbs.org/about/contact/viewer-services/

hoax

Georgia
Feedback:

have fun covering this impeachment because its boring already

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB is prohibited from interfering with editorial decisions related to programming on PBS or local public television and radio stations. Your comments will have more weight if you contact PBS directly: http://www.pbs.org/about/contact/viewer-services/

House of Rep

South Carolina
Feedback:

will CPB report that Adam Schiff is a witness in his own hearing?

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB is prohibited from interfering with editorial decisions related to programming on PBS, NPR, or local public television and radio stations. Your comments will have more weight if you contact your local station directly.

election medling

Hawaii
Feedback:

The Newshour and Democrats are complicit in trying to slander President Trump and change the outcome of the upcoming election

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB is prohibited from interfering with editorial decisions related to programming on PBS or local public television and radio stations. Your comments will have more weight if you contact PBS directly: http://www.pbs.org/about/contact/viewer-services/

WNYC Morning Brief

New York
Feedback:

WNYC refuses to email me their Morning Brief after doing so for quite a while. I don't think a public entity should be doing this. Do you?

Note from CPB: CPB promotes the growth and development of public media in communities throughout the country by providing funding to NPR, PBS, local public broadcasting stations (both TV and radio). CPB, PBS, and NPR are independent of each other and of the local public television and radio stations across the country. CPB neither owns, operates, nor controls broadcast stations. To learn more about the Corporation for Public Broadcasting please visit: http://cpb.org/aboutcpb/ . You may visit https://www.wnyc.org/daily/ for WNYC's Morning Brief.

Call The Midwife

Kentucky
Feedback:

Please stop censoring Call The Midwife.

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). By law CPB is prohibited from producing or broadcasting programming. Please contact PBS with your suggestion at http://www.pbs.org/about/faq/contact-us/.

Considerations for possible membership renewal

California
Feedback:

This is a copy of an email I just sent to KQED, San Francisco, in response to a membership solicitation:

I am receiving solicitations to renew my KQED membership and before I do, I have some comments:

For most of my adult life, I have been an avid advocate for public TV and radio. I have been a basic member, on and off, in several metro areas. My most recent membership renewal for KQED was for the specific purpose of getting access to the vast PBS programming library with a "Passport." However, I found that benefit to be less than satisfying. PBS is rather stingy with what it makes available, and I feel that, as a publicly-funded entity, ALL programming should be available. Frankly, I believe it should be available without subscription, since it is tax supported.

With the growth of streaming media, I find myself willing to pay monthly or annual, auto-renewed fees to several providers. Yet I am reluctant to support public broadcasting, particularly public television because PBS sits on its library of programming like a bird protecting a hatchling. Even with a "Passport" it seemed that I could not watch everything I wanted to watch.

I am tired of supporting infrastructure and administration for an organization that spends 75% of its time fund-raising with programming that looks and feels like the home shopping network or a non-stop infomercial. I just don't watch anymore; I don't even have cable TV. And, for the first time in my life, I would consider urging congress to end funding for public broadcasting.

The entire PBS content delivery model needs to be rethought. What the public that funds public broadcasting deserves is a PBS service that streams its entire catalog. That, I would subscribe to, auto renew and all, because I do understand that our tax dollars may not have covered all production costs, but subscription fees would need to be in line with HBO Now, Hulu. Netflix, etc.

If I have missed something, and a KQED renewal at some level does provide access to all the intellectual and entertainment resources developed by PBS since Congress passed the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, then it's only your marketing communications that need to be addressed. As it stands, your messaging is just not getting through to me.

Thanks you,

Barbara Brady Lapsed KQED Member

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting us with your concern about funding public media and its content. Public media is a public-private partnership relying on multiple sources of funding in addition to the federal investment. PBS stations have always relied on donations from individuals to provide content to local communities and contributions from members to local stations are the largest single source of support for public television. PBS Passport, which offers extended access to national and local content, is an added benefit of station membership. It cannot be purchased separately and is not a subscription service. This member benefit is a complement to the fundamental service PBS and PBS stations provide -- access to outstanding programming via over-the-air broadcast and through free streaming for a significant time. Every program available via Passport was previously available for streaming to non-Passport Members after the broadcast. However, PBS and local stations must work with outside producers, who own content rights to programming, in determining the availability of content for online and streaming services. Public media continues to offer the broadest access to freely available TV content – over-the-air on local member stations, through digital platforms and in communities across the U.S.

NOVA -The Pyramid Code

Minnesota
Feedback:

I really enjoyed the information in this series about Ancient Egypt but the music so often is louder than the person speaking or the music continues with a loud rhythmic distracting beat making it hard to hear the person speaking and stay connected to the progression of thought expressed. It seems that the music is more important than the message. I tried for three chapters to continue viewing but finally grew frustrated and quit. I am disappointed because the travels and information is great. Tone down the music considerably.

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). CPB does not broadcast programming. Please contact your local station or PBS with your concerns at http://www.pbs.org/about/faq/contact-us/.

Behind the Scenes with Laurence Fishburne

Minnesota
Feedback:

Hello,

I'm contacting CPB to ascertain whether you have ever heard of or aired educational programming entitled "Behind the Scenes with Laurence Fishburne," https://behindthesceneslf.com. I'm asking because we're a small business designing innovative public infrastructure, and we've been contacted by this company (BSLF) and asked to film a segment about our products. They tell us that Public Television airs these segments from time to time. It all sounds legitimate, but they want a lot of money from us up front for production costs, and we want to ensure that they are a legitimate entity before we engage with them -- or send them money.

Can you please tell me if you've heard of this company and if CPB has aired any of their programming?

Thank you, Susan Altenbach President DezignLine Susan@DezignLine.com 612-850-0760

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). CPB, PBS, and NPR are independent of each other and of the local public television and radio stations across the country. CPB does not produce or distribute programming and each local public broadcasting station makes its own programming choices, as CPB is prohibited from interfering with editorial decisions related to programming on local public television and radio stations. After contacting PBS and NETA, it was determined that Behind the Scenes with Laurence Fishburne is not distributed by or associated with either national public media distributer. Further, public media stations do not engage in commercial advertising for private entities and the Federal Communications Commission regulates the nature and scope of underwriting for noncommercial educational licensees.

General

Feedback:

GPB has always been thought of as a good source for education, however a lot of the show has gotten so political and of course no doubt GPB is very liberal. Why do you have to push so many interviews with people like Irene Monroe. I don't think its good to display a person with her views. There is so many good pastors in America but you have interview someone who tries to change the Bible to fit their lifestyle. Sick and tired of GPB's trying to shove these type of shows on our youth. I will never donate to this corrupt type of views.

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB is prohibited from interfering with editorial decisions related to programming on PBS or local public television and radio stations. Your comments will have more weight if you contact your local station directly: http://www.gpb.org/about/contact

poor quality sound

Massachusetts
Feedback:

For the past two evenings the audio on my Newshour livestream has cut in and out as the program progresses. I have tried rebooting my computer and viewing directly from YouTube to no avail. I love your news program and don't want to miss any of it. Are other viewers reporting a similar problem? (I live in the greater Boston area; my local station is WGBH)

Thank you, Sara Jacobson

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). CPB does not broadcast programming. Please contact your local station or PBS with your concerns at http://www.pbs.org/about/faq/contact-us/.

PBS

North Carolina
Feedback:

Sent to PBS: CPB is a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. PBS I understand you are independent of the CPB,however I am shocked that you have someone so one sided in their comments and opinions as Mark Shields that appears on the PBS NEWS HOUR.I am independent and try diligently to find “just news”.This guy has so much hate for Trump that it seems to spew out of him.My gosh give someone else a chance and let him join MSNBC or CNN where you at least know what you are getting.Please-get him off of there so I can have some real news and do justice with your CPB dollars. Thank You, Bobby Brown 336 201 2009 877 Brookleigh Ct Winston-Salem,N.C.27104

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB is prohibited from interfering with editorial decisions related to programming on PBS or local public television and radio stations. Your comments will have more weight if you contact PBS directly: http://www.pbs.org/about/contact/viewer-services/

PBS NewsHour online audio problem

Vermont
Feedback:

September 22 2019. Hello, over a number of days now I have noticed the audio cutting in and out frequently on online playback of PBS NewsHour episodes. Both on YouTube and on the PBS website. Help! I am missing my favorite program. Thanks, Lauren

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). CPB does not broadcast programming. Please contact your local station or PBS with your concerns at http://www.pbs.org/about/faq/contact-us/.

Stuck record

Utah
Feedback:

You guys are better than this! It should not take 30 minutes to fix a stuck record.

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). CPB does not broadcast programming. Please contact your local station or PBS with your concerns at http://www.pbs.org/about/faq/contact-us/.

Newshour

Florida
Feedback:

Newshour has become un-watchable due to its bias and the slurs of our President.

Note from CPB: Thank you for contacting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We welcome all comments about public media’s content and services. However, CPB is prohibited from interfering with editorial decisions related to programming on PBS or local public television and radio stations. Your comments will have more weight if you contact PBS directly: http://www.pbs.org/about/contact/viewer-services/