# PBS: Why No Ads? No Profit from Toys? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 5, 2002, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592 "2002-12-05T01:28:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592/1 "2002-12-05T01:28:30Z")
Why does PBS annoy us with those pledge weeks (or months?) when they might as well have ads. Especially nowadays, the breaks between shows might as well be TV commercials! And, why not? I’d enjoy TV better without the begs for pledge… Also on this note, why doesn’t a protion of the profits from Sesame Street toys, Barney toys, etc. feed back into PBS? These shows could really fund PBS on their own! And yet, PBS begs us for pledges when there’s water, water everywhere for them to tap in to! Why? - Jinx 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Netbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71e660/32.png) [@Netbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Netbrian)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592/2 "2002-12-05T03:00:06Z")
I believe that the company that creates Seasame Street (which is not PBS) is the one that profits from the merchandising, not PBS itself. Same goes for Barney, etc, this PBS would not see a cent. They simply buy the episodes for the show itself. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592/3 "2002-12-05T03:03:57Z")
I suspect if they went in for the kind of responsible, intelligent fundraising you suggest, they’d lose out on those fat NEA grants the government gives to `non-profit’ organizations. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592/4 "2002-12-05T03:28:52Z")
For most PBS stations, pledge time works out to 2-3% of their total time on the air. For the major networks, advertisements come to about 25% of total airtime. I get 15 channels, and I can often circle the entire dial and see nothing but ads and PBS programming. Personally, I can barely stand to sit through ads, so I’m constantly surfing away. But they can only be escaped by putting on the public station. I once read an article about making kids less susceptible to advertising. They explained that public television sells its programming to viewers through pledge drives, while the commercial stations sell the audience to their advertisers. I’d rather be a consumer than a product, most days. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592/5 "2002-12-05T06:47:25Z")
> [@](#): > > PBS, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, is a private, non-profit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation’s 349 public television stations. A trusted community resource, PBS uses the power of noncommercial television, the Internet and other media to enrich the lives of all Americans through quality programs and education services that inform, inspire and delight. Available to 99 percent of American homes with televisions and to an increasing number of digital multimedia households, PBS serves nearly 100 million people each week. Source: [http://www.pbs.org/insidepbs/](http://www.pbs.org/insidepbs/) Even more interesting is the [PBS Red Book](http://www.pbs.org/insidepbs/redbook/index.html), an online version of the packaging, deliverable, promotion, and legal guidelines for PBS broadcast programs. Facinating information. I seriously doubt the commercial networks, let alone commercial stations, lay bare their policies and inner workings for everyone to see. Do you really think commercial stations could ever do this … > [@](#): > > No underwriting credit pod may be more than 60 seconds in length. No single underwriter may receive more than a 15- second credit. > > … > > If you believe there are too many underwriters to be acknowledged on the program, Program Underwriting will help determine what a reasonable cut-off point will be (provide electronically and in writing, a complete list of names and amounts in decreasing order of contribution). > > … > > **The underwriting credit pod must mirror the production values of the program and flow smoothly with program content and other packaging elements.** (Emphasis mine.) > > … > > Top of Program - Must start by three minutes into the program. Source: [http://www.pbs.org/insidepbs/redbook/3underwriting2000.htm](http://www.pbs.org/insidepbs/redbook/3underwriting2000.htm) With commercial stations now having something like 17 minutes of non-content per hour, PBS requires their sponsorship messages to the first _three minutes max_ per hour and a brief teaser at the end. I can endure the pledge weeks knowing I’m getting at least 54 minutes of _uninterrupted quality content_ per hour when pledge weeks are not operating! ---
**Author:** ![Bob55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bob55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob55)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592/6 "2002-12-05T07:05:04Z")
If PBS and NPR are funded by our tax dollars, why are their commentators allowed to be politically biased? ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592/7 "2002-12-05T08:21:27Z")
Because the politicians who approve such funding are also politically biased? ---
**Author:** ![muttrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@muttrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muttrox)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592/8 "2002-12-05T12:26:43Z")
Bob, you make the assumption that they are politically biased, which is a question that belongs in great debates. I think the more general answer is, the 1st ammendment. What makes you think that they have an obligation to be politically neutral? Certainly most official political communications (which are funded by our tax dollars) are biased towards whatever the current administration policy is, no? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592/9 "2002-12-05T12:43:47Z")
A slight, off-topic reminder: If you have a [TiVo](http://www.tivo.com) then the amount of commercials and pledge-drives is meaningless. The only disadvantage is that you may miss some new movie trailers (on commercial television), but you can always use [Sherlock 3](http://www.apple.com/sherlock) to see most of them. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592/10 "2002-12-05T13:30:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bob55 \* > \*\*If PBS and NPR are funded by our tax dollars, why are their commentators allowed to be politically biased? \*\* Because commentators make _comments_. Most comments have a political bias. The claim of bias, of course, is usually made to complain about commentators who aren’t biased according to your own personal prejudices, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Lagged2Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lagged2Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lagged2Death)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592/11 "2002-12-05T14:52:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bob55 \* > \*\*If PBS and NPR are funded by our tax dollars, why are their commentators allowed to be politically biased? \*\* Leaving aside the question of whether PBS is biased or not, it’s clear that being a beneficiary of tax monies or tax policies doesn’t disqualify an entity from taking a specific political stance. A private, for-profit corporation that’s granted a tax abatement, for example, isn’t prohibited from making political contributions, is it? A person who receives welfare is still allowed to vote. Besides, tax dollars make up only a small part of [public broadcasting’s budget.](http://www.pbs.org/insidepbs/annualreport/fiscal.html) They’re not kidding when they say support comes from “viewers like you.” ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592/12 "2002-12-05T18:28:46Z")
Back to the question of PBS being biased… Does public money go to PBS? I always thought the pledge drives paid the bills over there. I know my tax dollars are going towards NPR, which has a clear liberal bias. Even if there wasn’t a bias, they still shouldn’t be on the air if the cannot generate enough revenue to pay their operating expenses without government assistance. But, using my tax dollars to pay for a political agenda that I disagree with is even more disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![muttrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@muttrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muttrox)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592/13 "2002-12-05T18:39:44Z")
If they are on air, then they cannot help but have some kind of spin on things. There is no such thing as non-biased media, only media biased towards or against your own belief system. Debaser, my tax dollars are paying for the Bush political agenda that I disagree with. What do you think I should do? ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592/14 "2002-12-05T18:49:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Netbrian \* > \*\*I believe that the company that creates Seasame Street (which is not PBS) is the one that profits from the merchandising, not PBS itself. Same goes for Barney, etc, this PBS would not see a cent. They simply buy the episodes for the show itself. \*\* Sadly, only Sesame Workshop does this. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592/15 "2002-12-05T19:01:48Z")
Is anyone interested in seeing how PBS spends their money? I think when I get a chance, I’ll head over to the local PBS station and ask for a copy of their 990. If anyone else wants to do so, I’d be interested to compare notes. E-mail me if you get a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592/16 "2002-12-05T19:02:53Z")
_…using my tax dollars to pay for a political agenda that I disagree with is even more disturbing._ Considering the very small percentage of our tax dollars that go to public TV and radio, and the very small percentage of their programming that lends itself to political bias, this strikes me as a rather niggardly complaint. _…they still shouldn’t be on the air if the cannot generate enough revenue to pay their operating expenses without government assistance._ Why not? Is it not in the nation’s interest to invest in the type of programming that public TV offers? I daresay there are any number of far less justifiable ventures that receive government help. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592/17 "2002-12-06T00:32:01Z")
I’m always amazed at how much nudity there is on PBS sometimes. I don’t give them money cause they never caption or have a sign language interpreter during pledges. Ironic. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-why-no-ads-no-profit-from-toys/140592/18 "2002-12-06T00:43:25Z")
You know what? This was really more of a rant to begin with. It could have turned into a General Question, but some folks apparently would rather argue than actually look up facts. This thread is closed.