KRCB

Hello everyone,

My name is Stan Marvin and I have been the Program Director at KRCB for the past ten or so years. I was recently told by my IT guys that with the launch of our new website we would also have the opportunity to create blogs. At first I thought, "A blog, why?" But then thinking more about it I realized this would be a great opportunity to answer some of our viewer's questions that I often get as KRCB Program Director. I will try to update my blog as often as possible with your questions and my responses to those questions. Hopefully this in turn will help some of you out there learn more about KRCB and how and why we do what we do. Thank you for your time and support,

Stan Marvin

Director of Broadcast Operations
Underwriting Sales Manager
KRCB, Public Television
Connecting Our Communities -Telling Our Stories

 

The first question is one I receive on a regular basis: "Why is there a pledge drive on and why does it have to interrupt my favorite show?"


Well, I wish there was another way to support a public television station without having to interrupt your favorite shows, and take time away from some of the extraordinary programming that airs on KRCB. Unfortunately, pledge drives and resulting membership donations make up about 1/3 of our operating budget and without them there would be no KRCB. Thus, 4-5 times a year (depending on how much money we raise) we must interrupt normal programming to ask viewers to become members of KRCB and help keep the station alive with your favorite programs the rest of the year. In the past we have tried to do it other ways, including working around normal programming hours, but no other way has been as successful as the pledge drives.

Another question I receive frequently is: "Why are KRCB show times and even program titles sometimes wrong in newspaper TV guides or on the web guides?"


This is a great question, and one that reveals something most people do not know. We at KRCB, as do most TV stations, utilize companies to distribute our programming information to the public. Currently there are a handful of companies that do this work for most newspapers, magazines, and websites in the U.S. Even the web module on this web site is provided from these companies. We produce program listings about 45 days prior to broadcast and electronically send them to be published/distributed by these companies. At that point it is no longer in our control and we cannot determine what gets published and, unfortunately, what does not. When there are last minute program changes due to problems with availability or with the broadcast rights for the program, we inform these distributing companies as quickly as possible. Sometimes they get it right, and sometimes not. In general, our most accurate program listing is in our own program guide, Open Air which you can receive as a member of KRCB.


Another question I receive often and one that I find interesting is: "Why are some shows delayed on KRCB compared to other PBS stations?"


This can be a very complicated answer, but let me try to keep it simple for now. KRCB programming comes from many different sources. In addition to PBS, we also receive programming from American Public Television, NETA, and other independent sources (we will go more into this on a later entry). KRCB is an overlapped, independently-owned and -programmed affiliate of PBS in the San Francisco Bay market (our coverage area overlaps three other PBS stations, hence overlapped). Our agreement with PBS requires that we delay certain programs by a minimum of eight days. Those specific programs are from their National Program Service, which include prime time shows like Nova, Nature, Frontline, and Masterpiece. Many other PBS programs are not subject to this delay. While it may seem a disadvantage for KRCB to have to delay some programs from PBS, we have found that many viewers appreciate the ability to watch a program on KRCB at a later, more convenient date than the original PBS airing. It should also be noted that KRCB does not purchase the entire National Programming Service. In fact, we purchase about 30% of their offerings. This allows us to fill our schedule with many other independent series and specials that a full network affiliate would not have time for.

Keep those questions and comments coming. And keep watching this space!

 

If you have any questions or comment feel free to contact us by email at viewer@krcb.org, or our mailing address:

KRCB Radio and Television
5850 Labath Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928