Enough with the fundraising, already!

The BBQ Pit
1

So, it’s Saturday. The only stuff on is a) sports, b) informercials, c) pointless kiddie shows, and d) do-it-yourself shows on public television.

The first three are out, unless it’s a basketball game. (Aaron is partial to basketball, and I can leave him in front of the TV so I can get my work done, which is why programming matters so much. Otherwise, I’d leave the damn box off and be done with it.)

Now, I like the DIY programming on my local PBS station. They show classics like Bob Ross (he of the happy trees), Julia Child, and fifteen shows that show you how to build a house, from cutting the trees down to mining your own cement. These are good, worthwhile programs.

Now, keep in mind that WITF’s pledge drive just ended maybe a month or so ago. And keep in mind that they showed the same few programs over and over and over again. Suze Orman’s money shit, some cooking show devoted to casseroles, and some Lawrence Welk Live Salute to Something. (Note to the LW production staff: Research your historical facts a little more carefully next time. Most of the audience was there, for chrissake, and it would be nice if you got the history right.)

Three solid weeks of fucking pledge drive.

So I turned the TV on this morning, happy that normal programming has resumed, and I’d be able to get my fancy-foods-and-wall-insulation fix. And what’s on?

Some fucking fundraising art auction. Yes, more fundraising, this time with actual ART. Now, I’m not against art (I think he’s a nice guy), but I have to wonder about their fundraising tactics if they’re showing two fundraisers so close together. Maybe have one in the spring and one in the summer or something.

Or, try this out: Instead of having fundraising on television, interrupting every show and annoying the viewership, why not try doing it online? And if the online drive isn’t successful, THEN broadcast a pledge campaign. Minnesota Public Radio does this, and it’s wildly successful. I can’t remember MPR breaking into programming to beg for money.

I apologize for the whininess of my OP. It’s just annoying enough for a thread, but not so annoying that I feel the need to mount a phone-call campaign or anything like that.

Besides, I can just shut the damn box off.

Robin

2

Preach it, sista! I would love my local PBS station, if they weren’t shilling for bucks nearly every friggen week. I want to watch “My Hero”, “Keeping Up With Appearances” and “Father Ted”. What do I get more often than not? Fundraising. I do donate (and have the PBS wineglass to prove it), but it grants me no immunity against the dreaded fundraising.

Blast and Drat it all! (I hope that wasn’t too harsh language, I don’t want to offend Aaron’s young ears)

3

Are the non-local pledge broadcasts even live? It seems to me that they tape the whole proceeding and then show it at the appropriate time, as I saw the same pledge-proceeding that I did when I watched both showings of Red Green’s Duct Tape Forever.

It would certainly be nice if they got off their asses and didn’t misuse videotape in this way. It’s like busking by sitting on a corner with a boombox playing.

I don’t think we need to worry about television pledge-a-thons much longer if MPR is having success with their system.

[sub]I hope, anyway…though, I do find them entertaining in a sarcastic way.[/sub]

4

At least the art auction was a one-day deal. So, quality programming is now available again.

And I am happy.

Robin

5

I listen to NPR a lot on WVXU here in Cincinnati. Decided to call in and make a pledge since I listen a lot.

I kid you not, not 6 weeks after I signed up, they sent me a RENEWAL letter. The first paragraph read, “I bet you’re surprised to be getting a renewal letter so soon.”

Guess what? I was also tres ANNOYED. FWIW, they won’t be getting my ten bucks a month once the year is up.

6

This board is interrupted for a brief pitch for the Zotti Foundation.
Please donate as much as you can, or you’ll never get this board back!

Thank you.

7

See, that’s something I’d be willing to donate money to!

Robin