Video: The Wisdom of Ms. Solomon

PBS's first programming czar is shaking up public TV

Ever since its creation in 1969, the Public Broadcasting Service has been an unwieldy, multiheaded beast. Most PBS series are initiated and produced under the auspices of individual stations, funded by a patchwork of public and corporate sources and scheduled (in many cases) according to the whims of local program directors. That worked well enough in the days when PBS was essentially the only alternative to the three commercial networks. But cable has made life more complicated. Such channels as the Arts & Entertainment Network and Superstation TBS have appropriated the kind of programming that was once unique to PBS, from...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!