Getting an education about educational television

I've been critical of PBS in the past, especially the affiliate in my old home town, KTCA in Minneapolis, usually for good reason. Nonetheless, I have some fond memories of good old Channel 2; I wrote here about the infamous Action Auctions of the past, and I saw a good share of classic art house films in the day.*

*Not to mention it was where I got my introduction to Doctor Who, only one of my top ten shows of all time.

This is a program KTCA did several years ago, when they were celebrating their 50th anniversary on the air.  It was a different time; KTCA truly was dedicated to educational television, so much so that they were one of the last public stations to affiliate with PBS, which they saw as something of a betrayal of their original mission.  This half-hour show will give you a real taste of what educational television was like, once upon a time.  It was local, serving the community; it was niche programming, without regard to ratings; and it had a little something for everyone.  Now, that doesn't always mean it was good.  But if you read the program listings I post each week at Radio Discussions and Radio Insight, I dare say you'll recognize several of the titles from this show.

Note particularly. around the 13 minute mark, a program called Christmas in Tyrol; I wrote about that, too, once upon a time - it was hosted by Monsignor Richard Schuler, our old pastor at St. Agnes in St. Paul, Minnesota.  Such a grand old man.  Anyway, I think you'll find public TV has changed just a bit over the years.