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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How are public television and public radio funded in New
York State?
I’ve been hearing the term USNY. Is it the same as SUNY?
What is the difference between PBS and
commercial television?
Why do I see auctions on my PBS channel?
What’s the difference between
“underwriting” and commercial sponsorship?
What channel is PBS on?
Why can’t I see a program in Buffalo at
the same time it’s on in Albany?
Is PBS really educational?
Can I show PBS programs in my daycare
setting?
What does Video on Demand really mean?
What is high definition TV?
Do I have to buy a new TV or radio to
take advantage of digital broadcasting?
What is “podcasting”?
What is “RSS”?
How can I get a DVD of a program I
enjoyed?
Are there any jobs or internships
available in public television or radio?
I have a program idea – how can I get it
produced?
How can I support my public television
or radio station?
How can I volunteer for public
television or radio?
How are public television and public radio funded in New
York State?
New York’s public television and public radio stations
receive roughly half their funding from contributions and
memberships. Additional funding comes from grants from the
Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the New York State
Department of Education, and other grantors. Program and
production underwriting and sales of books and videos
account for additional support.
The New York State Office of Educational Television and
Public Broadcasting oversees the distribution of $16.8
million (FY07) in State funding to nine New York public
television stations and 17 public radio stations. The
non-profit corporations owning these stations' licenses are
chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, making the
New York State public broadcasting stations partners in the
University of the State of NY (USNY). Each corporation is
governed by a locally elected Board of Trustees.
Detailed information on support and revenues for individual
stations is available on the web sites of each television
and radio station. You can
find your local public television
station, or
find your local
public radio station on this
site.
I’ve
been hearing the term USNY. Is it the same as SUNY?
USNY is the University of the State of New York. USNY is the
most complete interconnected system of educational services
in the United States. USNY includes:
• More than 7,000 public and private elementary and
secondary schools;
• 248 public and private colleges and universities;
• 251 proprietary (for-profit) schools;
• Nearly 7,000 libraries;
• 750 museums;
• The State Archives;
• Vocational rehabilitation and other services for adults
with disabilities;
• Special education services for pre-school and school-age
children and teenagers;
• A special School for the Blind;
• A special School for the Deaf;
• 25 public broadcasting facilities, including seven public
television stations;
• More than half a million professionals practicing in 38
licensed professions, including pharmacy, architecture,
accounting, and nursing; and
• 200,000 certified public school teachers, counselors, and
administrators.
SUNY is the State University of New York. It is the State's
system of public colleges and universities. While the SUNY
system is part of the 248 colleges and universities included
in The University of the State of New York, SUNY is a
separate and distinct organization with its own
administration.
What is the difference between PBS and commercial
television?
PBS is a non–profit media enterprise owned and operated by
the nation's 348 public television stations. PBS operates in
the public interest by serving the needs of its member
stations and is 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.
Why do I
see auctions on my PBS channel?
From April through June, numerous public television stations
across the country present live, televised auctions. These
provide a means for local businesses and station viewers to
offer and bid on items and services as a way of lending
support to their local public television station.
What’s the difference between “underwriting” and commercial
sponsorship?
Underwriting provides a means for corporations and other
third parties to contribute to the financing and support of
Public Broadcasting programming. Federal law requires that
those who help pay for a broadcast be disclosed on the air
at the time of the broadcast. Therefore all program
underwriters are identified at the time of programming.
Underwriting credits must adhere to strict guidelines, and
companies that underwrite public broadcasting programming
must accept limitations placed by the Federal Communications
Commission and PBS on what they can and can’t say in their
credits – far less than what they can say on commercial
television. Underwriting credits may never interrupt a
program, and must be in keeping with the noncommercial
nature of public television. Underwriters are precluded from
having any editorial control or participation in the
production of programs.
Commercial sponsorship on commercial television, or
advertising, is under none of these restrictions. Commercial
advertising may promote products and may use promotional
conventions such as direct comparison with other companies,
price information, superlative description or qualitative
claims, calls to action, inducements to buy and
demonstrations of consumer satisfaction and credits.
Commercial advertisements may interrupt programs.
The following web sites may provide more information on
underwriting of public broadcasting programming:
http://www.pbs.org/ombudsman/
http://www.pbs.org/
What channel is PBS on?
PBS is broadcast via local member stations.
Click here to
find your local PBS television station.
Why can’t I see a program in Buffalo at the same time it’s
on in Albany?
Each member station schedules programming independently.
Viewers need to contact their
local station directly for
information on program schedules.
Is PBS really
educational?
PBS provides the highest-quality documentaries, arts,
children's and news and public affairs programming. In
primetime, PBS presents signature series like
Frontline,
American Experience,
NOVA,
Nature and
American Masters, as
well as a wide range of high-profile miniseries and
specials. PBS Ready To Learn provides hours of award-winning
children's programming every day.
PBS is a non–profit media enterprise owned and operated by
the nation's 348 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.
In addition to broadcasting quality educational programs,
New York State public broadcasting stations each have an
education services department that works with the schools,
community organizations and families in its region through
workshops, professional development and interactive websites
to educate and enrich the lives of the residents in the
region.
Can
I show PBS programs in my daycare setting?
Yes! PBS provides the highest-quality children's
programming. The PBS Ready To Learn Service, provides hours
of award-winning children's programming every day. New York
State’s public broadcasting stations offer a variety of
interactive programming designed to help children learn from
pre-K through grade 12. For programs and schedules, consult
your local member station (link here to “Find Your Local
Public Television Station”).
What does
Video on Demand really mean?
Video on demand means that people can see the movies,
television programs, and other video products they want to
see when they want to see them. And they can download them
on a multitude of devices at convenient moments in
convenient places.
New York State public broadcasting provides a free video on
demand service to schools in New York State called EdVideo
Online. EdVideo Online is a digital video library featuring
3200 full length videos and nearly 20,000 video clips, all
aligned to New York State learning standards. Contact your
public broadcasting station for information on accessing
this free service or to find out about EdVideo Online
training workshops for teachers.
What is high definition TV?
High definition television, or HDTV, allows stations to
broadcast programs in much higher resolution or clarity than
standard television. Viewers at home will be able to receive
high-quality, crystal-clear pictures. These visually
stunning pictures, with more than twice the resolution and
clarity of standard television, will be displayed in a wide
screen format with a 16 by 9 width–to-height ratio compared
to today's 4-by-3, or basically square format. And because
HDTV is digital, audiences will have the benefit of
six-channel CD-quality "surround sound." In other words,
viewers will be able to enjoy a true home theater
experience.
Do I have to buy a new TV or radio to take advantage of
digital broadcasting?
You will be able to take advantage of digital broadcasting
on your analog television only if you obtain a digital
converter box. Converter boxes that allow viewers to receive
programs broadcast on DTV channels on their analog TV sets
are available from many manufacturers. However, in order to
experience the full benefits of digital television,
including HDTV, viewers will need new digital television
sets.
What is “podcasting”?
Podcasting is the method of distributing multimedia files,
such as audio programs or music videos, over the Internet
using either the RSS or Atom syndication formats, for
playback on mobile devices and personal computers. The term
podcast, like 'radio', can mean both the content and the
method of delivery. The host or author of a podcast is often
called a podcaster. Podcasters' web sites may also offer
direct download or
streaming of their files; a podcast
however is distinguished by its ability to be downloaded
automatically using software capable of reading RSS or Atom
feeds.
Usually a podcast features one type of 'show', with new
episodes released either sporadically or at planned
intervals such as daily or weekly. In addition, there are
podcast networks that feature multiple shows on the same
feed.
To get audio feeds, users simply connect their MP3 player to
their computer, go online, and subscribe to feeds they want
the podcasting service to provide. To some, podcasting is
one of the most exciting innovations to come along in quite
awhile, opening up an endlessly varied universe of audio
content to anyone who wants it at any time.
What is “RSS”?
RSS is a family of
web feed formats. RSS is used by (among
other things) news
Web sites,
weblogs and
podcasting. Web
feeds provide web content or summaries of web content
together with links to the full versions of the content, and
other metadata.
RSS, in particular, delivers this information as an
XML file
called an RSS feed, webfeed, RSS stream, or RSS channel. In
addition to facilitating syndication, web feeds allow a
website's frequent readers to track updates on the site and
download to a computer or other device.
How can I get a DVD of a program I enjoyed?
Local member stations offer DVD’s and other formats of many
favorite PBS programs. To find out what’s available and how
to order, consult your local
Public Television Station.
Are there any jobs or internships available in public
television or radio?
Consult your local Public Television Station or Public Radio
Station for information on jobs or internships.
You may also wish to contact PBS at
www.pbs.org or the
Corporation for Public Broadcasting at
www.cpb.org/
I have a program idea – how can I get it produced?
Program proposals may be submitted to PBS Programming
Services. Submissions should be addressed to PBS Program
Scheduling & Editorial Management, 2100 Crystal Drive,
Arlington, VA 22202. Information for producers of
independent films is available online at
Producing for PBS.
Note that PBS is a membership organization that provides
national programming, distribution and technical services to
member stations. PBS does not produce programs, but will
work with experienced producers who are capable of managing
all aspects of a project's development and production.
You may also wish to contact the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting (CPB), a private, non-profit corporation
located at 901 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004,
202/879-9600 or via the Internet at
www.cpb.org. CPB also
funds television and radio programs produced by public
broadcasters and independent producers.
You may also wish to contact your local
PBS member station for information on its production resources.
How can I support my public television or radio station?
You can support your local public television or radio
station by becoming a contributing member or by
volunteering. For details, contact your
local public
television station or
local public radio station.
How can I volunteer for public television or radio?
To find out how you can volunteer, contact your local public
television station or local public radio station.
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