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Q: Why do national newspapers and magazines say a program is going to be on PBS one day, but it airs on Channel 8 weeks later or sometimes not at all?
| A: PBS is not a network such as the commercial broadcasters who pay their affiliates to carry the program as directed by the network, though we are treated essentially the same by the press. Instead, PBS is a television service providing programming and related services to independent stations. Each station is charged with the responsibility of programming that service for their individual market's needs and interests. There are almost as many reasons why we might move, or fail to carry some particular programs from the announced PBS schedule as there are programs. For example, HoustonPBS has a long history of local production which often causes us to shift something PBS has in their schedule in favor of our own production. We also aggressively acquire programs of particular interest to the Houston area, also causing some displacement.
PBS provides an abundance of material to stations, few, if any, of which carry all the programs PBS offers. Likewise, most all PBS stations time-shift some programs offered by PBS in order to build the strongest schedule they can for their markets.
HoustonPBS has voluntarily agreed to carry certain programs on the same night on which they are fed. The programs are designated "Common Carriage" programs by PBS because they meet certain important criteria, and KUHT has scrupulously upheld that agreement. |
Q: Can you make a copy of a program for me?
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A: We cannot legally make copies of programs we acquire for our schedule. Whether from PBS or other distributors, we are only offered the rights to broadcast, and sometimes cablecast a program. Similarly, if the program is produced by HoustonPBS, we may not have the budget to secure all the rights necessary to reproduce our own productions for the home video market. Most often those rights are music or visual arts rights to original works included in our productions. |
Q: Why do you make last minute changes in the programs you are scheduled to show?
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A: We receive our programs from a wide range of sources -- from satellite delivery to local production in our own facility, to the usual means of delivering any product: U.S. Mail, and overnight services such as Federal Express. On occasion, any of those services may fail to deliver a needed program in time for its broadcast. Likewise, equipment failure and human error may also play a part in last minute changes.
Sometimes we intentionally change our schedule, called a "pre-emption." The decision to pre-empt a previously scheduled program is rarely easy. However, one of broadcasting's strengths is its ability to be flexible in its scheduling, and responsive to late-breaking and timely events, program opportunities and extraordinary events. We recognize that whenever one program is substituted for another, the decision will favor some viewers and upset others. Therefore, we have developed the following checklist to help the decision-making process. The list is by no means definitive, and in the end, management must make a subjective decision.
1. Has the program to be pre-empted been promoted heavily?
2. Is there time to change listings?
3. Does the program to be pre-empted have a demonstrated (through ratings and/or viewer letters and calls) regular viewing audience?
4. Can/will the program to be pre-empted be taped for air at a later time?
5. Is the program to be pre-empted part of a sequential series? i.e., Does one episode depend on the episode before?
6. Is the program to be pre-empted of a timely nature? i.e., The NewsHour?
7. Is the proposed substitute program of a timely nature?
8. If the subject is also being treated by the commercial broadcasters is there reason to believe that the proposed substitute program will be substantially different than the commercial coverage of the same subject matter? Or, will the airing of the proposed substitute program at this time provide a viewing opportunity significantly different from the service provided by commercial stations?
9. Are there significant reasons why the proposed substitute programs should be aired only at this time? i.e., a live or simulcast program?
Whenever broadcasts of special programs necessitate the pre-emption of regularly scheduled programs, we make every effort to alert viewers and advise them regarding the return or rescheduling of the pre-empted program -- through on-air promotion, special announcements and via our website.
It is one of the objectives of this station to provide the community with accurate information regarding the station's program schedule. When a change is made to the program schedule, we always try to announce that change in writing to all station personnel, listings services and newspapers in possession of the previously announced schedule. |
Q: Why do you pre-empt my shows?
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A: We recognize that pre-empting or changing our regular schedule can be frustrating for our viewers. It is not a decision we take lightly (see above), and we hope viewers will continue to recognize the significance of the full range of services we offer for our entire community. We are sensitive to the needs of our viewers and try to not interrupt the schedule any more than absolutely necessary. We frequently revisit the success or failure of various scheduling strategies, so viewer comments are very helpful. |
Q: Are you getting money through my taxes, and, if so, why is it important that I donate money to become a member?
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A: The amount of money collected by the federal government and distributed to public television stations through the Corporation of Public Broadcasting does not nearly cover the cost of providing the service enjoyed by millions nationally. It is, for the most part, seed money that allows PBS and the individual stations to leverage additional funds from foundations, corporations, and, most importantly, the individuals who use the service. Local support is important for more than just the dollars needed to run the station; it provides a critical relationship between the station and the communities it serves.
Unlike some stations in the PBS system, HoustonPBS receives no monetary support for our operation from the state or from the university to which we are licensed. Only about 15% of our annual budget comes to us from the federal government through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. |
Q: Why is it if I am watching a program I sometimes hear the news instead of the audio that should go with the program?
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A: KUHT is one of the few broadcast television outlets in the Houston market that takes advantages of the Second Audio Program (SAP) technology available to any station that broadcasts in stereo. This technology makes it possible for stations to carry additional audio material that is not noticed on a properly set up television or VCR. Because none of the other major broadcast outlets in Houston use this technology, most people would not be aware of an improperly set up receiver until they tune in to Channel 8.
The SAP availability allows us to broadcast some programs that contain Descriptions for the Blind, such as Nature and on occasion Mystery or ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre. Additionally, it allows us to run some programs with a different language on the SAP, usually Spanish, though we have had other languages available from time to time.
When the SAP channel is otherwise unused, HoustonPBS broadcasts the radio signal for Houston Taping for the Blind, which is ordinarily available only on special radio receivers. Through HoustonPBS, that service is now available to just about anyone with a stereo television or VCR. Typically, there is either a button on the unit's remote control or a function in the on-screen audio set up for stereo televisions and VCRs that indicates a SAP or MTS or other additional audio channel set up. Users unaware of what the function is sometimes access these accidentally, and we've also noticed that on occasion power outages cause changes in receiver set up. Your owner's manual should provide all necessary details on how to switch from the SAP signal to the regular program audio. |
Q: Where can I find merchandise related to your children's programming?
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A: Merchandise (videos, toys, books, etc.) pertaining to many of our children's programs is available at local retail stores. Some videos and merchandise are available through PBS at http://www.pbs.org/. Locally produced videos are available for purchase at our HoustonPBS online store. |
Q: Why do some local PBS stations air more BBC programs than HoustonPBS?
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A: By far, most of the programs from the BBC we air are acquisitions, meaning they are not supplied to us by PBS. We have to purchase them separately. Budget is a limiting factor in how many acquisitions we can make. Also, every market has its own personality -- people in one market respond better to certain types of programs than in other markets. That is not to say that everyone in Houston loves our programs, but as far as our British programming goes, we run the programs that have proven themselves to be the most popular in this market and season the mix with programs that have not aired here before to see if they connect. For example, a Canadian audience has a much broader appetite for British programs of all types than does Houston, so some markets along the Canadian border may have a much heavier schedule of British programs. Also, unlike Houston some markets are "overlaps" meaning more than one public television station is available in those markets. Often the stations use acquisitions to distinguish themselves and their services from the other public television stations. |
Q: Why do you re-air the same episodes of certain BBC programs?
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A: We purchase new episodes of popular existing series whenever we can, but typically only six new episodes are available per year, so we buy episodes we've run before to go with the new ones. As long as the series remains popular, we'll keep it in our schedule, along with the new episodes and new series we roll into the schedule throughout the year. |
Q: Are there internship opportunities at HoustonPBS?
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A: Yes. All of our departments utilize interns throughout the year. Contact the department you are interested in for intern opportunities. |
Q: I have Time Warner Digital Cable. Where can I find your DTV schedule?
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A: To see what digital programming PBS is offering each month, click here. |
Q: How do I go about getting a story idea for consideration on air?
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A: Fax your story idea including all the pertinent information to 713-743-8867. Be sure to include a daytime phone number. |
Q: Why is HoustonPBS not available on my satellite system?
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A: Most satellite providers now carry major market PBS stations. HoustonPBS is available over DBS. Call your satellite provider to request your local channels. |
Q: How do I get my PSA on the air?
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A: HoustonPBS does not air Public Service Announcements. Public broadcasting considers most of its programming to be in the public service, and is not obligated in the same way as commercial broadcast outlets to air PSAs. |
Q: How can I get video copies of the college courses you air?
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A: We air college courses provided by the University of Houston and the Gulf Coast Consortium of Community Colleges (GCCCC). Videos are not are available for purchase. |
Q: Why do you repeat prime time shows after midnight sometimes during the year but not others?
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A: Due to commitments we have to air distance education college courses, we do not have the airtime overnight to repeat our prime time programs during the whole year. However, when the college courses are between semesters, we do repeat many of our prime time shows overnight. |
Q: Why is the background music so loud in some of your programs? The music is louder than the narration.
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A: The core of the problem is that human voice tends to be in the mid-audio range and most home receivers have notoriously low fidelity speakers which accentuate the upper mid-ranges and highs -- the rest of the sound spectrum that helps keep these two components separate and distinct is lost, and the result sometimes is hearing only the music and a smattering of conversation. This can be exacerbated by the fact that producers and editors sit in edit bays outfitted with the very best sound systems, and they balance voice and music on their programs based on that highest of fidelity experience.
In sets with better audio systems there do appear to be things that can help, not just with public television audio but with audio in general. The simplest solutions with stereo and digital sets with "surround sound" is to switch from stereo to mono whenever there is such a problem or switch off the "surround sound" (sometimes known as "enhanced") feature. Most of these tend to enhance the low and high range tones. Since voice is in the lower to mid range, the effect is to boost the music and dampen the voice. |
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