by Karen Rogers

Created on: September 11, 2008

From the brilliant BBC series, The Six Wives of Henry the VIII first aired in January 1970, to Sesame Street and Wall Street Week, the Public Broadcasting System provides awarding-winning television programs to the general public. Long running shows, including the Dr. Who series, the comedy of Monty Python, the Boston Pops concerts, and the Lawrence Welk Show continue to delight and entertain a new generation of viewers.

Although PBS receives some funding from the Federal Government and private grants, the amount received is woefully inadequate to meet operating costs. To make up for the shortage, PBS runs telethons 3 to 4 times a year.

Now there's nothing wrong with telethons. Telethons are an excellent way to raise money for a cause, as demonstrated by the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. Held on Labor Day each year, the small and large donations raised by this telethon have been combined to provided million of dollars for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The problem then is not with the telethon itself but the way PBS structures their fund-raising. The viewing audience is treated to staring at pseudo-celebrities hosts while bored volunteers sit waiting for the telephones to ring. Favorite programs are removed from their usual line-up or interrupted with seemingly endless rounds of pleas for money.

Fortunately, there are several solutions to the PBS torture-thons that will increase donations with minimal expense. First, stop the four times a year annual begging routine. Hold the telethon twice a year and use themes to liven it up, such as a spring telethon in March and a fall telethon on October, or hold one of the telethons on a non-major holiday, such as Valentine's Day in February, or Arbor Day in April. Anything over two telethons a year is abusive to the audience, and three or more should be deemed illegal!

Second, revamp the format. Feature real celebrities as the hosts, preferably those with telethon experience and willing to donate their fee to the telethon cause. Having John or Jane Nobody ramble on about how their second cousin had a bit part in a movie twenty years ago in an effort to raise money just doesn't work. Next, update the show's appearance. The bare stage, bored volunteers, pledge board that never seems to move and defeatist begging must go! Choose a Medieval, Arabian Nights, or springtime theme and design the stage and props accordingly. Use local professional performers to keep the show entertaining and ask them to donate their performance

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