video2zero

“Check out PBS’ new video portal, launched today…The site is built on new technology that will also allow users to upload video, make comments and otherwise interact with the site and one another. For example, in conjunction with the Ken Burns documentary series “The National Parks,” which will be introduced this fall, users will be invited to upload videos of parks.” cinematech

There’s a lot of programming on the new site, including several years’ worth of episodes of many PBS programs, including “Frontline,” “Nova,” “The American Experience,” the “Newshour With Jim Lehrer” and “Antiques Roadshow,” the highest-rated show on the network. Cooking fans may enjoy a library of the Julia Child shows.

But there are lots of PBS programs that won’t be online at all or will be available for only a short period. As with the commercial networks, some shows have many owners with various agendas. In most cases, PBS pays only 20 to 33 percent of the cost of producing each show, and so independent production companies and foreign networks have a controlling interest.

For example, much of the programming on “Masterpiece Theater” is owned by the BBC, which will allow shows to be available on PBS.com for only a few weeks. Similarly, Mr. Burns is being particularly stingy with rights to “The National Parks.” Each two-hour episode will be available online for only about a week after broadcast. Joe DePlasco, a spokesman for Mr. Burns, declined to say why his for-profit production company is limiting the streaming rights.” nytimes

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