Please add Kath & Kim to KTEH! It's Ab Fab meets British Office meets something else equally awesome.
I think it would be a good fit with the British Block, even though it is Australian: it's hard to find on Netflix or BitTorrent, it has a cult following and will be getting promotion in the fall (when the US version premieres on NBC).

Plus, in the long view... BBC America is eventually going to squeeze the niche audience away from the PBS locals. New hits will only be on BBC America and won't get to PBS until three years later. "Torchwood"?
It seems unlikely that the Australia Channel or the Canada Channel will be competing for high income digital cable subscribers anytime soon.
Looking for English language shows from places other than the BBC can expand KTEH's British Block (and maybe serve the ex-pats now living in the Bay Area). New viewers, new pledges?

Sample from YouTube: http://you...re=related
(Note the comments and the 5-star ratings. That's some love!)

I really support opening up our field of view to any of the foreign sources. Probably they should be English-speaking, but I even watch some of the foreign-language mysteries on KCSM. Having to deal with subtitles is a pain, but sometimes worth it.

I am not familiar with "Kath & Kim", but I know that Australia and NZ have produced some amazing actors and directors; Peter Weir was the first director that I wanted to learn about, just so I could watch more of his movies.

This leads me to ask (of the list,) what is it that distinguishes British TV from American? I believe that it is more "dense", i.e. more clues to follow, red-herrings to sniff through, or not as obvious as to outcome. What other sources fit this desciption?

I wouldn't usually sent this anonymously, but my application email still hasn't arrived, after more than 15 minutes.

SteveH

"Kath & Kim" is popular. I have had requests for it before. Unfortunately, the programmers tell me, it is not in syndication. Which means it's not available to us, right now. It is possible -this is just a guess on my part-that NBC is holding those rights.

It is interesting to read that you would be interested in other foreign television. What intrigues you about these shows?

(OP here) First, K&K is just funny. Secondly, I like the "familiar yet different" aspect of watching. I've actually learned a fair amount about Australia because I've been watching Kath & Kim and looking things up on Wikipedia.
From Canada, "This Hour Has 22 Minutes" and Rick Mercer also send me to Google things during the breaks.

Well, we now know why it isn't in syndication; I just saw an ad on NBC saying that they are "Americanizing" K&K, and will roll it out during the Fall season.

(After 30 minutes, I STILL don't have my registration email)

I also want to say that I am not happy that KTEH is turning out to be the red-headed step-child of KQED. Not only is this forum part of the KQED directory, but I notice that, as of tomorrow (I believe,) we will almost be nothing more than a satellite trasmitter for them. I support both stations, currently, but if I am getting the same feeds, why would I continue to support KQED?

I also resent the waste of resources; at LEAST time/date shift so that we do not have the same programming simulcast on our transmitter. It looks good that there are 12 PBS HD channels in the Bay Area ... until you see that four of them are duplicative.

SteveH

(Aren't you sorry that you asked me to be a part of this Forum, Becca?)

I apologize ... profusely. It got sorted in my mailing-list folder because of the [PA] on the subject line.

SteveH

Nope- I'm not sorry. I'm glad you are willing to take the time to think about KTEH. As Carl Rogers said, "The facts are friendly." I really want and need to know what viewers think - especially those of you who have taken the time to write me. Clearly, the station is as important to you as it is to me.

Fear not, KTEH is not “the red headed step-child of KQED.” We are in the process of developing new local shows- more about those later - and our own distinct identity.

Maybe I can shed some light on the theory behind the new DIGITAL (this effects those using a digital converter box to get our signal out of the air) channel line-up. KQED and KTEH both carry one another’s signals so that both channels can be seen all over Northern California. KQED carries KTEH north of San Francisco and KTEH carries KQED/HD to Watsonville and beyond.

Because you, Steve, live in the Bay Area, you are able to see both sets of digital channels. Most homes are positioned to get one set or the other – and so both signals are on both of our digital offerings.

Even so, the only actual duplication is that of KTEH. Our signal is the same on both digital channel sets.
KEQD digital channels include KQED/ HD; KTEH carries the KQED standard definition signal.

Here’s the line-up:

KTEH –Digital TV:
54.1 KTEH
54.2 KQED
54.3 PBS Life
54.4 PBS Kids
54.5 V-Me


KQED-Digital TV
9.1 KQED HD
9.2 KTEH
9.3 PBS World

Although some of you will expereience duplication, we really are trying to give viewers more, not less.
I hope this helps!

Becca

Here we go again 28k dial up is like driving with 4 flats on the information super highway the rural communities are shafted again in this digital switch the TV corporations have dreamt up. Gee I wonder who might make some money? We can't see cable for a long ways down the road and we now probably couldn't afford it like we couldn't afford satellite TV. So now these channels that we have and do get in analog will just end at least in Lake and Mendocino Counties. Some of these networks like PBS we have watched and supported for decades. Do you get the picture?

The programming at KTEH is far superior to KQED. This doesn't mean no improvements/changes. I enjoyed Sunday's KTEH presents, interviews with entrepreneurs Gates and Wozniak, but a far better program is ones hosted by a nerd (Bob something--Triumphs of the Nerds). I enjoyed the mysteries, but not Cadfael. More enjoyable one are those from Ruth Rendell. And Kingdom is wonderful--can't find the DVD's. And when are you going to show the Masterpiece Theatre's "Room with a view", which premiered 4/13/08 on KQED? Anne of Green Gable is a wonderful program--I read the book in Chinese while growing up in China during WW2. I'm in ectasy when Anne reads the Highwayman! But had a hard time to conceive Anne's red hair in China--to Chinese red is "vermillion". Can you imagine the first American I met when I got to my school in Kentuchy was a red head! I don't like "Keeping Up Appearances" or "Dr. Who"--sci-fi is still in search of good stories--it's just not human enough. So glad you are reaching out for viewer's opinion. KQED can save a lot of money by showing better films on Saturdays, and producing more worthwhile shows--ugh "checks please bay area"! Welcome to "Opinionville", Becca.

With over 100 million orphans in this world, I truly believe that the that can be done to save them is time/money well spent. So many in the bay area have caring hearts, and it would be great to give them the opportunity to play a role in saving the world a child at a time. I would have a segment on orphans in each geography around the world - the needs and processes to adopt. Maybe even orphanages that could be supported. Thanks so much for the opportunity to offer my input!

I would like to ask that a better program (or series of programs) be developed or bought about the second phase of a person's retirement.

There have been any number of programs on PBS dealing with acquiring retirement capital, however, I have found that as I am stepping over the threshold of retirement, I don't really understand how to make the transition from amassing wealth to how to take money out ... without feeling guilty.

Steve

Steve,

I think I understand your dilemma. After years of strict saving, its hard to start spending. I can see how it might make you feel guilty and even nervous as the balance of your retirement begins to decrease.

So learning how to spend with confidence :) would be of interest to you.

How about other retirement topics - would you be interested in learning about health, travel or second careers? Beyond finances, what kind of information would you like to see?

B

You and I have spoken off-line, and I think that I finally have something pro-active to suggest; how about some programming about how to turn work experience or even hobbies into a small business or income supplement?

Steve

That's an interesting idea. Would you be looking for info on how to start a business, management, marketing, or all of the above? What are you most curious about?

Personally, I would love to know how to market/advertise. I am a great technician and generally good at running an on-going business, but have a need for help getting the thing rolling. So far, I have good mouth-to-mouth advertising. but don't know how to take the next step.

However, it is not all about me. I believe that there is a pent-up demand (or will be, since I am officially 9 days to be considered a "Baby Boomer") to teach people to "go private" and start new businesses, from soup to nuts.

I watch EastEnders and only EastEnders on KTEH and have been doing so since Episode #1 sometime back in the 80's. I wish you could broadcast it more often, but I think that's the Beeb's decision as to what you can get. You might also consider putting reruns of Wednesday's episodes on during a slow period like late Sunday night, like the station used to do. But I'll be happy as long as you keep running EE and will continue pledging money to the station, as long as it's known that the pledge is only to support EE. That's why I only pledge during EE telethons.

Nick, you sound like you are an avid fan. There must be something about these British soaps, because my Mom is just as enthralled by one called Coronation Street. It is broadcast in Canada, and her Snowbird friend tapes them and mails them to her. She claims that it is similar to getting a box of chocolates; she has to stretch them out to last the whole week until another CARE package arrives.

Steve

Yes please please keep East Enders! There are also some old shows that I'd love to see again - Wish Me Luck, Poldark, old Pallisers - do you think they will ever come back!

Nancy in SF

Some may like East Enders, but certainly not all of us. Please do not over do it

John

EastEnders is the best thing on TV (public, commercial, cable, satellite, etc.) bar none! Like "NickCotton," I have only ever donated during your EastEnders begathons and, since you haven't run one in a while, I'm not currently a member. During last week's begathon, you replaced EastEnders with Victor Borge! Did you get any donations? As for your other programming, forget the local stuff and spend the money on British shows. Drop Lawrence Welk (there should be a law against him). When running a begathon, drop the infomercials, such as Suzy Orman. Do these people pay you for using their material? I can't imagine any other reason for showing it over and over again.

I too adore Eastenders and do not miss an episode. KTEH is one of the only stations nationwide to broadcast this program. Please keep it going.
There are two other shows I wish we could see more of:
Doc Martin and Kingdom. Please keep more episodes coming...You have repeated both series and now we need to see the new episodes.
Thanks for this excellent programming.

Becca,

I'm interested in the process and requirements for obtaining new programming. Is there something like a NAB convention where new programming is presented? What are the requirements, other than just viewer opinion, like number of episodes, "hour" shows vice "half-hour", etc.? This might stir up some additional brainstorm material.

Steve

Steve,
This is an excellent question. I think the answer might best be handled by our
programming manager, Ken Patterson.

Ken, could you add some insight here?

b

It really is a case by case basis. Needs in the schedule and budget constraints play a large part in our acquisitions. We work with distributors that primarily work with PBS stations, but there are conventions (NAPTE is one of them) that these distributors and other channels go to for content.

Thanks for getting back, however your answer missed my question, mostly.

Are you looking for hour shows, half hour? What about the mix of comedy, drama, mystery, sci-fi, documentaries and science shows? How many episodes are too few? Things like this are what I am looking for, to stir up the pot.

Steve

Ken, are you still reading this blog? I'm still waiting for a response to this message.

Steve

- Are you looking for hour shows, half hour?

It depends on the program. Comedies are usually half-hours (though some are 45-60 minutes) Dramas tend to be an hour long or longer. And if I have holes of a specific length, I'll need programs to fill them

- What about the mix of comedy, drama, mystery, sci-fi, documentaries and science shows?

The overall mix is decided before our new year begins, which is October. We start out by costing the dream schedule, then pairing it back to something that fits the budget we're allocated. We don't want to spend every dollar upfront - just in case something good comes along later in the year - but most of it is allocated at this point. Other parts of the schedule are then filled in with programs from services that we can pick and choose from.

- How many episodes are too few?

Zero. Seriously, there are plenty of great one-off programs that make it into the schedule.

Enjoyed your Sunday broadcast (7/6, 3-4 pm) of "Beijing Are You Ready?". The producer of this program, the 3D Productions, seems to have a long relation with KTEH. I would love to obtain some of their productions on DVD. Are they available?
Michael Stern is indeed Isaac Stern's son. He visited China with his father in 1979, then again 10 years later. A few years later, Isaac Stern passed away. The visits are presented on DVD "From Mao to Mozart", an excellent program produced by Allan Miller. Hope KTEH can air this sometimes.
By the way, growing up in China, we in elementary schools used to raise filk worms as hobby. The eggs are size of sesame seeds, and came adhered to a stiff paper. To hatch the eggs, we used the dark, closed space of a gramaphone player. In a few days, the eggs hatched into little black worms. This was followed by frantic search for mulburry leaves (from foreigner's gardens in the neighhood--the French concession in Shanghai). The worms ate voraciously. Soon they became fat, sassy white worms, and had to be place in shoe boxes, where they spun cocoons. We harvested these cocoons, immersed them in boiling water, find the loose lead of the silk, wound them on card boards (small, less than 3"x5"), cut and bind them and make ornamental dress pins, sometimes dyed with a few drops of watercolor paint from tubes. What fun!
KTEH, keep these good programs coming. Thank you.

Hi,

Glad to hear you enjoyed Sunday's broadcast. It really is interesting to see China's preparations for the Olympics....I like having that kind of background. It makes watching the actual games more interesting.

Yes, you can order DVDs of 3D productions. Here's a link: http://www...ostore.htm

What makes the shows from 3D Productions so special for you?

BTW-Your childhood in China sounds quite colorful!

Becca

I would bring back the two Ronnies from BBC

I'd love to bring them back as well, but the series does not appear to be available at this time.

The BBC has some odd rights issues from time to time that make programs unavailable - for example, A Bit of Fry & Laurie: We were only able to purchase the last two seasons, as the BBC's rights to the scripts on the first two had expired.

Hi Becca,
Not offering any ideas here, just a comment. I receive TV strictly from over-the-air broadcasts, and cannot pick up KTEH with my antenna. Not sure if the Napa cable franchise currently includes 54 -- I know they dropped the station some years ago, and I dropped them.
A long, long time ago I was a member of KTEH when the station was one of the last to show Doctor Who in the US. A couple weeks ago, I noticed that digital channel 9.2 had replaced the Life/Encore programming with KTEH. Curious, I looked up the program schedule to see what's going on at 54 these days. I was so surprised and pleased to see Doctor Who back on KTEH! Yes, I'm still a kid at heart. I know it's an expensive show, but I'll be happy to do my part and renew membership. I hope the addition of KTEH to channel 9.2 is permanent, and that Doctor Who is on 54 for many years to come.
Jim

Jim,

Yes, you can now see KTEH on KQED's digital channel 9.2. You can see KQED on KTEH 54.2. It is indeed permanent.

Doctor Who is a big favorite- so big in fact- we'll soon have a special feature on our site called "How Who are You?."

More about this later.

KTEH SHOULD FOCUS PROGRAMS MORE ON SCIENCE, EDUCATION, NATURE, ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION, HISTORY, ADVENTURE AND EXPLORATION.

LEAVE NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMS TO MAJOR NETWORKS AND OTHER PRIVATE STATIONS. WE DO NOT NEED MORE PROGRAMS LIKE THAT FOR OUR SOCIETY.

REMAIN NEUTRAL IN RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL AREAS. KTEH HAS BEEN TOO MUCH IN FAVOR OF JEWS/JEWISH, CHRISTIANITY/CATHOLICISM. KTEH SHOULD UNDERSTAND SEPARATION OF RELIGIOUS FAITH AND PUBLIC BROCASTING. I GOT SO DISGUSTED BY KTEH'S BIAS SO OFTEN. KTEH HAS BECOME CONTROLLED BY FEW RELIGIOUS AND SPECAIL INTEREST GROUPS

STOP DISPROPOIONALLY ALLOCATING TIME/PROBRAMS ON 'ABNORMAL" MATTERS/THINGS/EVENTS IN OUR SOCIETY, SUCH AS GAYS/LESBIAN, CRIMES AND ETC. THEY MAKE MANY AUADIENCE, ESPECIALLY YOUNG ONES, THINK IT IS COOL OR FASHIONAL TO BE LIKE THAT.

KEEP ASKING FOR MONEY DOES NOT WORK. I EVEN SEE MORE COMMERCIALS ON KTEH PROGRAMS. SPENDING CONTROL AND CUT ARE NECESSARY.

THE ABOVE ARE EXACTLY WHY I REFUSED TO DONATE ANY MORE.

We DO need news on PBS, because what we get on the main channels is not news. It's sound bites, it's biased, and it's incomplete.

We also need entertainment, because most folks don't want to watch "educational" stuff all the time. And PBS offers entertainment you can't get anywhere else, e.g., complete concerts with no breaks.

I don't see any religious bias at all. I watched a great program on Muslims on PBS.

There's nothing "abnormal" about gays/lesbians!

I have just finished watching the first season of this Canadian comedy. I may find this show extraordinarily funny because of my background in theatre, but I recommend it to everyone.

The basic premise is of a Shakespearian Festival (similar to Ashland, OR) in the fictional town of New Burbrage. Power struggles, weird, dead or insane directors, getting the actors to find their light all contribute to the enjoyment.

I like the multi-threaded story-line and the visual gags (carrying Yorick's skull into a room with a sign over the door, "Watch your head") and the complex interpersonal relationships.

There are three seasons, six episodes per season, 46 minutes per episode.

Steve

Thanks for recommending Slings & Arrows. I hadn't heard of it before. Just watched the first episode based on your recommendation. Probably watching the rest of the DVD during the next week. Thanks.

(Same poster) So I pretty much watched all three seasons in just one week (and no other TV). They would certainly stand on their own on KTEH and maybe could be the lead-in to showing "Hamlet," "The Scottish Play" and "King Lear."
Two or three episodes of Slings, followed by the actual play, followed by the rest of the season of Slings would be a mega-block.
Maybe a little too ambitious there, but I DO think the entertainment of Slings could hook a few young people to swallow the medicine of actually watching "Hamlet."

Where did you find Slings & Arrows on DVD? I'd like to take a look.