WTVI(PBS-TV)...Commercials?

[Eric Calhoun]

In channel surfing tonight, I stopped on WTVI-Channel 42 to check out the UNC-C/UVA Basketball game. I was surprised to see commercials, as this is a PBS station that solicits tax-deductible viewer support. I'm sure there must be a loophole that permits WTVI to do this, but what is it? If this is okay, then why can't a non-comm college station NOT run commericials during their campus' sports broadcasts?

[Whammy1978]

> In channel surfing tonight, I stopped on WTVI-Channel 42 to
> check out the UNC-C/UVA Basketball game. I was surprised to
> see commercials, as this is a PBS station that solicits
> tax-deductible viewer support. I'm sure there must be a
> loophole that permits WTVI to do this, but what is it? If
> this is okay, then why can't a non-comm college station NOT
> run commericials during their campus' sports broadcasts?
>


I am not too sure about the logistics of it all, but I do know that the games are produced for UNCC by Time Warner Cable.  In years previous, Time Warner would air the games on one of their public access channels in the Charlotte-Metro area.

______________

Moderator of Charlotte Board

[moedog1]

> > In channel surfing tonight, I stopped on WTVI-Channel 42
> to
> > check out the UNC-C/UVA Basketball game. I was surprised
> to
> > see commercials, as this is a PBS station that solicits
> > tax-deductible viewer support. I'm sure there must be a
> > loophole that permits WTVI to do this, but what is it? If
> > this is okay, then why can't a non-comm college station
> NOT
> > run commericials during their campus' sports broadcasts?
> >
>
>
> I am not too sure about the logistics of it all, but I do
> know that the games are produced for UNCC by Time Warner
> Cable.  In years previous, Time Warner would air the games
> on one of their public access channels in the
> Charlotte-Metro area.
>
Well, commercials would certainly be much preferable to the home shopping programs WTVI has been airing recently.  I love PBS but detest their fund raisers...

[danimal]

I think it's a buyout of the timeslot.  How that works for a PBS station, I don't know, but I don't think PBS viewers are being short changed since there are two other PBS's in the market.  Though I find the practice sketchy, I think it's great that UNCC basketball is getting some airplay where people can actually find it.