When are they put more hours of e/i Programming on local stations?

[Mario500]

If you're airing more E/I programming than is required by law, to the best of my knowledge you don't have to run the E/I logo on the additional material.

It is not mentioned on the FCC page about the educational and informative programming rules.

http://www.fcc.gov/guides/childrens-educational-television

[TexasTom]

Call me crazy, but maybe a network like The CW or My Network TV could air EI programming in primetime. I recommend Saturday nights 'cause it's usually for the most part repeats...

Okay, I'll call you crazy.

Seriously, what makes you think that CW and MNTV stations would particularly care to give up two hours of prime time in order to carry national programming that contains advertising inventory that's of pretty much no value to those stations?  The thing that has killed childrens' programming on broadcast TV -- period -- is that there is no market at the station level for advertising within childrens' shows.  So the only way this stuff is viable is if it attracts adult viewers in significant numbers, which I don't see happening with much of any of the EI programming that's been produced so far.

[Iowan]

OK, maybe not primetime, but maybe MyNet could air some 'classic' EI programs-- an idea given to me by the fact that all it airs is repeats in primetime...

[Dave]

The irony is that childrens' programming is massively profitable for cable -- Nickelodeon has the highest profit margin (over 60%) of any cable network.  Unfortunately, that profitability just doesn't seem to translate over to the broadcast side.

That would depend on what time each individual program is on. Most stations (usually affiliated with Fox, MyNet, or The CW if not independent) air EI programming weekday morning.

Call me crazy, but maybe a network like The CW or My Network TV could air EI programming in primetime. I recommend Saturday nights 'cause it's usually for the most part repeats...

CW has already turned over Saturdays & Sundays back to the affiliates, because their network cut back their programming.   That would be up to the affiliates if hey want to try E/I programming (most won't do it).  A station like WGN-TV is glad that on weekend nights, that any sportscasts running, don't have to be farmed out to WCIU (unless 2 games are on at the same time, then 1 gets farmed out).  So I know WGN-TV won't give up any sportscasts that might be on that night for E/I programming.  My Network TV is a syndicator service, & since they only air 2 hours a night, they're not going to give up those hours for E/I programming.  The affiliates have those other 22 hours in the program day to program as they please.

[imhomerjay]

What's up with the odd obsession with E/I, anyway?

[M.J.]

I'd like to see E/I eliminated for commercial stations. In this day and age, it's not needed - almost everyone can get PBS, and those who have cable or satellite have many other options. Commercial stations need to remain competitive in the 1000-channel universe. Providing childrens' programming is not their core business.

Arguably, I think stations could put together a case that the requirements violate their First Amendment rights. I know that if I were a powerful station owner, I'd be lobbying for the elimination of E/I requirements. I'd gladly tell my opponents that I'm not against E/I in principle, just that it belongs on PBS and not my network affiliates.

[Mario500]

I would rather have no E/I programming requirement for any TV station, including stations supported through public funding and donations. Even though most of PBS' programs are educational and informative, stations affiliated with PBS should have no requirements set by the federal government in regards to such content.

[Dave]

I would rather have no E/I programming requirement for any TV station, including stations supported through public funding and donations. Even though most of PBS' programs are educational and informative, stations affiliated with PBS should have no requirements set by the federal government in regards to such content.

In the case of WYCC in Chicago, they probably would like to see E/I eliminated for them, just so they could go back to their core programming, college instructional programming during daytime hours.  I don't remember if they ever aired children's programming on weekends before E/I, but I know they didn't during the week.  They have since increased their children's programming to include weekdays from 8am - 1pm.  I believe it's off the bird during the week, because most times, they leave the station ID on the screen during children's programming.  Since increasing their children's programming, they now air their instructional programming during the overnight hours during the week. 

Unless WYCC is using the SD simulcast for cable companies to add the channel in the basic package, then they should use the simulcast subchannel (20.2) for the instructional programming during the week, so people who watch that programming, don't have to DVR it (for those who are home during daytime hours).  Or they could use that channel for the children's programming during daytime hours.  How many children care able HD programming anyway?  That's like WTTW devotes all the chilcren's programming during the week to half the day on the HD channel, & all the best programs are on 11.2 WTTW Prime in SD (usually windowboxed for those with widescreen TV's, meaning black bars all around the picture).