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137:" originates from the promise that a contributor makes to send in funding at regular intervals for a certain amount of time. During a pledge drive, regular and special programming is followed by on-air appeals for pledges by station employees, who ask the audience to make their contributions, usually by phone or the Internet, during this break.
279:. As the proportions of government funding in stations' budgets continued to decline over time, such programs became more elaborate in order to sway people who would otherwise watch public television only sporadically (or not at all) to tune in, and possibly donate money in response to appeals during program breaks.
317:, which have the highest ratings of all public broadcasting in the U.S. This is in contrast to PBS member stations sometimes holding their drives during prime time daily and on weekend afternoons, and not during the daytime on weekdays or weekend mornings, when children's programming is typically scheduled.
254:"), as well as entries into drawings for larger awards such as trips and vehicles donated by local businesses, are also offered by many stations in return for pledging certain amounts of money. The pledges can be done by either paying per month or a one-time contribution, e.g. $ 15 a month or $ 180.
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Originally, such programming consisted of arts presentations such as classical music, drama, and documentaries. However, the audience for supposedly "high-brow" fare began declining steadily during the 1980s and 1990s, due to the attrition of the generations to whom such programming mainly appealed.
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Generally speaking, the phenomenon is less pronounced on
American public radio stations, primarily because of the high popularity of the news and talk programs on that medium and the routine-based patterns of radio listeners that are much more easily disrupted than those of television, along with
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However, in light of intense competition public broadcasting faces from a greatly expanded media environment, other stations, especially radio, have aimed to eliminate pledge drives altogether, or significantly reduce their length, by asking for contributions throughout the year during regular
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activities. Another service which has cut down pledge drives is the introduction of PBS's
Passport streaming service, which provides a tangible and continuing item (full streaming access to several years of PBS's programs) with a monthly or yearly contribution, rather than a one-time premium.
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In a more recent trend, some stations also advertise that pledge drives will be shortened by one day for every day's worth of contributions donated in the weeks leading up to a drive. Additionally, some radio stations have started using prospect screening during their pledge drive to identify
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individuals answer ringing telephones in the background, though in some cases, it may actually be a fictionalized part of the program (noticeable if the pledge room is drastically different from program to program and is neutralized, featuring none of the member station's logos within the set
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children's programming, as due to their very nature, the disruption of a routine, for a matter children are unable to understand or contribute to, could drive or push those young viewers towards commercial children's programming on other networks or
Internet streaming.
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Younger people were less interested in the higher arts, for a variety of reasons having to do with the eclipse of "high culture" in
American society. In order to appeal to such a largely Euro-American, middle-aged and affluent demographic (the so-called "
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Pledge drives have been controversial for most of their existence. While pledge drives are an effective method of raising money for stations, they usually annoy viewers and listeners, who find the regular interruption of what is ordinarily
267:-free content and the station's regular programming being suspended for lifestyle and music specials to be a nuisance. Audience numbers often decline during pledge drives; to compensate, most television stations air special
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writers or lecturers not usually a part of any regular PBS member station's schedule, or if the presented program is targeted to appeal only to a wealthy and/or older demographic (as seen with
164:. American public broadcasting services hold pledge drives about two to three times each year, each one usually lasting one to two weeks. Some religious broadcasting organizations, including
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periods. This practice began in earnest in the mid-1970s due to CPB funding cutbacks that were the result of political pressures and the recessions of the time, as well as increasing
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concert series, produced specifically for pledge drive airings), and special versions of PBS' traditionally popular "how-to" programs. This approach was largely pioneered by the
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Pledge drives are typically held two to four times annually, at calendar periods which vary depending on the scheduling designated by the local public broadcasting station.
156:(PBS) are largely dependent on program fees paid by their member stations. The federal government of the United States provides some money for them, primarily through the
292:) while completely ignoring the viewing needs of other audiences. Stations also have had to reckon with balancing out or dispensing with pledge drives entirely during
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radio networks), also rely heavily on such program fees. These stations require funding in turn from listeners and viewers (as well as, if necessary, local corporate
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dressing), with the volunteers actually paid actors feigning telephone calls and the hosts having been filmed months before. Small prizes such as mugs,
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guidelines and less tolerance for the television formats and hosts on radio. Much of the focus is placed upon the "drive time" NPR news programs
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may have one of their planned stories deleted simply to extend the length of the fund-raising "pitches".
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was originally introduced as pledge drive material in 1987; its popularity prompted the OETA to acquire
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Pledge drives are especially common among U.S. stations. Public broadcasting organizations like
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A hallmark of pledge breaks is the "pledge room", where the speakers deliver their message as
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There has also been criticism of the format depending on controversial
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station identification breaks. On radio, such programs as
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also featuring a WNET pledge drive and guest-starring
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rights to the series and distribute it through PBS.
600:"I want my PBS, but can we skip the pledge drives?"
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632:"High-end infomercials taint PBS pledge drive"
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133:stations to increase contributions. The term "
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458:"In Tight Times, PBS Leans on Pledge Drives"
226:Oklahoma Educational Television Authority
204:"), PBS has resorted to specials such as
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
16:Extended period of fundraising activities
574:"Can PBS survive the fundraising trap?"
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486:"OETA offering best for Festival '87"
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47:adding citations to reliable sources
456:Elizabeth Jensen (March 13, 2011).
407:Corporation for Public Broadcasting
403:"Who Pays for Public Broadcasting?"
158:Corporation for Public Broadcasting
512:"PBS pops cork on champagne music"
435:Michael Gelter (August 21, 2014).
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539:"Let's Get Those Phones Ringing!"
329:potential major donors for later
537:June Thomas (October 15, 2009).
437:"August Escape? Not from Pledge"
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630:Steve Bornfeld (June 4, 2009).
598:Jeff Libman (January 2, 2004).
484:Tony Frazier (March 15, 1987).
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372:The One Where Phoebe Hates PBS
188:their audiences to contribute
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572:Gary L. Day (June 23, 2015).
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516:The Daily Oklahoman
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413:on October 28, 2006
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41:Please help
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683:16 February
417:October 21,
331:fundraising
273:fundraising
258:Controversy
127:fundraising
714:Categories
672:Studio 360
389:References
289:Doo Wop 50
265:commercial
210:Suze Orman
144:Background
69:newspapers
730:Telethons
301:stricter
284:self-help
277:inflation
248:tote bags
206:self-help
190:donations
99:June 2017
693:cite web
647:June 22,
615:June 22,
583:June 22,
554:June 22,
469:June 22,
363:about a
360:Seinfeld
344:Telethon
338:See also
294:PBS Kids
252:premiums
222:My Music
186:persuade
178:sponsors
522:July 3,
496:July 3,
377:Friends
200:" and "
83:scholar
170:K-Love
135:pledge
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419:2006
365:WNET
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