Sales | Management » Forum

Who: WNET, MetroFocus

What: WNET to broadcast half hour news program online

When: March 20, 2011

Where: New York

MetroFocus will focus on NY metro area happenings.

New York metro area public broadcaster WNET, one of PBS’ flagship entities, has announced that it will begin airing a new online news program called “MetroFocus”that will cover news events in the New York metropolitan area.

The move comes at a critical time for WNET, its primary station Thirteen, and for PBS national which all face calls for defunding both on the state and local levels due to what is perceived by many as a lack of relevance in a new digital age.

The half-hour program, which will also be accessible via mobile app, is due to launch some time around Memorial Day according to The New York Times. The show fills a news gap that’s been strangely absent from most public broadcasters’ schedules. 

According to WNET President Neal Shapiro, MetroFocus will connect WNET more to New York viewers.

“One of the futures of public television is making local connections [...] We’ve done a great job of being a national producer; we can do a much better job of being a local producer,” Shapiro said.

The show will be produced by former network news producer and current online consultant Laura van Straaten. Straaten

indicated that MetroFocus will partner with other New York area public broadcasters to enhance news coverage;

further indication that local news on pbs member stations could become a growing trend and a possible venue for renewed public interest in PBS.

Read More: http://nyti.ms/h0bxMm

It is a terrific question, probably worthy of a thesis paper, What, exactly, should publicly-funded broadcasters be focusing on for the populace they serve. I think trying to localize a national network like PBS despite having regional points of origin is a step in the wrong direction, though. If anyone can attest to the strain of local coverage, slow news days, gathering stories primarily from AP/Reuters/the wires it would be your local news affiliate that is struggling to maintain enough advertising revenue in a diluted market. Sadly the bust of the economy has substantially hurt local teams and layoffs have been on the national and local levels.

So, presumably if they can provide fantastic localized coverage then they could conceivably build a stronger connection with local donors to bring more money into the organization. Realistically I think giving is down in general and it is probably still too early to be expanding into a new venture hoping for donations.

We must remember that PBS isn’t exactly a “national network” but rather a loose federation of independent stations. Kind of like the European Union, if you like. In this vein, WGBH and WNET would be like Germany and France, respectively, which is to say leading members but very much singular states with independent objectives.

PBS “national” (like Brussels) holds a certain amount of sway via purse strings and syndicated content, but, local member stations (WNET included) need to justify their place with donors on a local level – now more than ever. Plus, if PBS national ceases to exist – WNET, WGBH, and the rest are going to be independent stations that will really need to tap their regional significance for all its worth. 

One way to do that is to provide insightful coverage to local news – local political coverage in particular. There is a near total absence in meaningful coverage on important issues in the Eyewitness news model provided by local network affiliates.