PBS coming to the UK

To me, the only decent thing the BBC spends money on each year is when they air the Superbowl live!! Mind you, I am not looking forward to it this year mainly because Madonna is the half-time show and I cant stand her!!! Its the only thing that is worth the TV Licence fee IMO!!!

But then, having said that, over the past 2 months they have done some excellent programmes and documentaries all about the USA!!! They really pushed the boat out for all of that!!!

I much prefer having 4+ channels that broadcast commercial free AND provide me with excellent programming.

I couldn't agree more!

Plus, the BBC website is amazing. Lots of cooking and gardening advice - I use the website even more than I do the television.

To me, the only decent thing the BBC spends money on each year is when they air the Superbowl live!!

Huh. I didn't even know they did that. Shows you how important football is in this house! 

I posted about the ads on PBSUK facebook page.  Apparently, it is illegal for them to not have ads. Only the BBC is allowed to be ad free.

I posted about the ads on PBSUK facebook page.  Apparently, it is illegal for them to not have ads. Only the BBC is allowed to be ad free.

I suppose that makes sense -- they wouldn't be supported by the license fee.  But considering that so many PBS productions are done in conjunction with BBC, you'd think they could do a deal of some kind.

But then, having said that, over the past 2 months they have done some excellent programmes and documentaries all about the USA!!! They really pushed the boat out for all of that!!!

The thing is, there's so much programming that they have thats not even been advertised! Especially on BBC4.. Friday nights is music night, showing rare top of the pops programming alongside documentaries about the theme of the night.. Or like this month is Musical season - discussing Britain's impact in the 80s on the musical theatre (and how it saved Broadway)

The iPlayer (and the software that makes it up) which is setting the footprint for other countries (including the States) on how to make TV on demand.

The Beeb encompasses everything I loved about PBS back home and more so.

America is actually one of the few countries that DOESNT push a license fee on its people... Yes there's a lot of great TV out from back home, but the majority of it holds up to the standards of the BBC.

I didn't realise the BBC aired the Superbowl either.

I really didn't post this thread to devolve into a comparison contest between the two broadcasters.  There is no comparison.  They aren't the same.  They don't have the same resources.  The programming isn't produced under the same model.  I personally would take the BBC over PBS any day just because of the quantity of quality programming offered.  However, PBS being broadcast in the UK really is a treat for those of us who missed it.

And nothing holds a candle to Frontline (as I plea for the "my commercial-free broadcaster is better than yours" to stop )

It's strange to watch PBS without the monthly fund raising drives. I was never much of a PBS watcher when I lived in Atlanta, except for Jim Lehrer and the odd cooking show on a Saturday morning. I do like watching America's Test Kitchen here.

It's strange to watch PBS without the monthly fund raising drives. I was never much of a PBS watcher when I lived in Atlanta, except for Jim Lehrer and the odd cooking show on a Saturday morning. I do like watching America's Test Kitchen here.

PBS is my go to channel when nothing is on, as more than likely there will be something on Id enjoy.

I just hopes its successful enough to get broadcast over freeview and freesat

Coming originally from an area where the local PBS station was VERY involved in program creaton (WGBH Boston), I'm looking forward with hope to seeing it  on freeview at some point.

Coming originally from an area where the local PBS station was VERY involved in program creaton (WGBH Boston), I'm looking forward with hope to seeing it  on freeview at some point.

Same here grew up with WNET, who partnered a lot with WGBH...

I can't help but laugh at all the comments that keep coming up about commercials on PBS here when BBC America has commercials.  It's the same principle reversed for the other side of the pond

I'm so happy to be able to see new Ken Burns documentaries.  We enjoyed seeing the Prohibition one when the channel started.

I can't help but laugh at all the comments that keep coming up about commercials on PBS here when BBC America has commercials. 

This is true and it's very annoying. But BBC World does not have proper commercials -- just lots of "coming attractions" between segments. Aside from the news coverage they have some odd interesting bits. All Olympics now of course.

I've gotten annoyed with BBC America -- they keep running marathons of Top Gear and Gordon Bloody Ramsay interspersed with movies (usually totally unrelated to the UK) and Star Trek Next Generation re-runs. So, except for when a new season of Dr. Who comes along, forget it!

This is true and it's very annoying. But BBC World does not have proper commercials -- just lots of "coming attractions" between segments. Aside from the news coverage they have some odd interesting bits. All Olympics now of course.

I've gotten annoyed with BBC America -- they keep running marathons of Top Gear and Gordon Bloody Ramsay interspersed with movies (usually totally unrelated to the UK) and Star Trek Next Generation re-runs. So, except for when a new season of Dr. Who comes along, forget it!

I used to almost exclusively watch BBCA. But the past couple of years, they've lost the plot! I don't get why they show non-UK programming. I don't ever watch it anymore. Of course, very soon, it won't matter anyway.

I must admit, I am getting disappointed now in PBS America!! It seems to have become Repeatville now!! How many times can you wath The Blues, Jazz, The Dust Bowl, Prohibition, The Abolitionists, The West, Rough Cut Woodworking, documentaries about The Greeks, Queen Victorias Empire(which to me doesnt belong on PBS America, but on a British doc channel), Horatios Drive, and any other documentaries that we have seen a million times before!!??

They have taken down Newshour(which I enjoyed), Americas Test Kitchen!!

They are now showing a documentary called The Hollywood Complex, which is just another reality type show portraying parents pushing their kids into showbiz!!

Actual PBS in America has some really good educational kids shows, like Sesame Street, Word Girl, Wordworld, Mr Rogers Neighborhood(Yes, its still shown despite the fact that hes dead).

http://pbskids.org/findit/index.html?campaign=fk_all

Whenever I am in the States, usually in Minnesota, I always watch Minnesota's PBS affiliate:

http://www.tpt.org/

Hmmm, think you are right, AG.  Seems like television is constant repeats no matter what channel you're on.  Used to be you only got reruns in the summer.