James Herriot’s adventures as a veterinarian in 1930s Yorkshire get a glorious new adaptation in All Creatures Great and Small, a seven-part series based on his beloved books. See the highly-anticipated new series Sundays, January 10 – February 21, 2021 on MASTERPIECE on WPSU. Also, All Creatures Great and Small has been renewed for a second season! Exciting newcomer Nicholas Ralph will make his television debut as the iconic vet who became renowned for his inspiring humor, compassion and love of life.
Birthdays
1/1 - Anne Danahy
1/14 - James Espy
WPSU Radio Highlights
BookMark 1/07 & 1/10 – “Lamb” by Christopher Moore
On BookMark, the community book review show, WPSU listeners talk about the books they’ve recently enjoyed. This week — a satirical take on a classic story. The book is about the "lost" years of Jesus' life. Reviewer David Bross lives in Williamsport. He’s a retired elementary school teacher. Airs Thursday afternoon during All Things Considered and repeats Sunday evening.
In Case You Missed It . . .
How One Rural Pa. Healthcare Provider Is Coping With COVID-19 As They Receive Moderna Vaccines
The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna was the second vaccine to be cleared by the FDA. Keystone Rural Health Consortia, a community health center with locations in Elk, Cameron, McKean and Centre Counties, received a initial total of 1,475 doses of the Moderna vaccine. WPSU’s Min Xian talked with Kristie Bennardi, CEO of the consortia, about dealing with COVID-19 and beginning to vaccinate staff.
State College Looking Into Creating Health Department
WPSU’s Anne Danahy filed a report on plans by State College into creating a health department, which would give the borough more control when responding to future pandemics and other public health issues.
Democracy Works: Did Democracy Work In 2020?
This episode was recorded on December 15, 2020, the day after the Electoral College voted to confirm Joe Biden as the next United States President. However, some Republicans refuse to accept the result and vow to continue fighting the result until Inauguration Day. Michael Berkman, Chris Beem, and Candis Watts Smith discuss what these challenges mean for the long-term health and legitimacy of American elections and American democracy. Listen here.
WPSU Television Highlights
Great Performances “From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2021” - Friday, January 1 at 9:00 pm
Ring in 2021 with host Hugh Bonneville joined by guest conductor Riccardo Muti and the Vienna Philharmonic performing a festive selection of Strauss Family waltzes.
Elizabeth is Missing on Masterpiece - Sunday, January 3 at 9:00 pm
Two-time Academy Award–winner Glenda Jackson stars as a woman desperately trying to solve two mysteries as she declines ever deeper into dementia, in an adaptation of Emma Healey’s acclaimed novel,
Independent Lens “A Woman’s Work: The NFL’s Cheerleader Problem” - Monday, January 4 at 10:00 pm
NFL cheerleaders revolve their lives around their sport, but most earn less than minimum wage. Three of them decide they deserve more. In high-stakes lawsuits, these courageous women take a stand against the massive, male-dominated sports league.
PBS American Portrait “I Dream” - Tuesday, January 5 at 9:00 pm
Self-shot stories explore the meaning and state of the American dream. From the desire for homeownership to ambitions for higher ed or career success, they show the hard work, opportunities and barriers that come with pursuing this ideal today.
Frontline “A Thousand Cuts” - Friday, January 8 at 9:00 pm
Philippine President Duterte's crackdown on the press, and his prime target, Maria Ressa. From filmmaker, Ramona Diaz, the cautionary tale of Duterte's escalating war on the press, his pursuit of Ressa and her colleagues, and the threat to democracy.
All Creatures Great and Small on Masterpiece (Series Premiere) - Sunday, January 10 at 9:00 pm
James Herriot’s adventures as a veterinarian in 1930s Yorkshire get a glorious new adaptation in All Creatures Great and Small, a seven-part series based on his beloved books.
Nature “The Alps: The High Life” - Wednesday, January 13 at 8:00 pm
Enjoy the Alps in spring and summertime as newborn animals grow up to face the coming brutal winter.
NOVA “Secrets in our DNA” - Wednesday, January 13 at 9:00 pm
NOVA explores the power of genetic data to reveal family connections, ancestry, and health risks—and even solve criminal cold cases. But alongside the benefits of these rapidly growing genetic databases are serious unintended consequences.
Governmental Relations
FEDERAL
Congress passed a Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 omnibus that included COVID-19 funding and the President signed this package into law. The omnibus spending package provides increased federal funding for public media, including:
• $475 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for FY 2023 – an increase of $10 million • $20 million for Interconnection • $29.5 million for Ready To Learn – an increase of $500,000
Unfortunately, the FY 2021 spending package did not provide funding for the new Next Generation Warning System. However, we have paved a path for future funding, as it is notable progress that the House Appropriations Homeland Security bill included $20 million for the program.
These funding levels for public media are a culmination of "Protect My Public Media's" effectiveness and your hard work and support over the last year. In 2020, more than 400,000 messages have been delivered to Congress, nearly double the number from last year.
COVID-19 Funding
The COVID-19 relief package did not provide additional dedicated funding for public media stations. APTS plans to revisit their outreach strategy to advocate for further emergency assistance for stations in the new Congress next year.
Industry News
Robert Costa Leaving ‘Washington Week’
Robert Costa is leaving his position as moderator and managing editor of Washington Week, produced by WETA in Washington, D.C., to co-write a book about President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden with investigative journalist Bob Woodward. “While stepping away to co-author a book isn’t easy, I do it with a deep sense of appreciation for WETA and Washington Week,” Costa said in a statement. “This experience, from working with the wonderful crew on Friday night to engaging with the devoted audience, has lifted me as a reporter and been a joy.” His last day with the program will be Jan. 1. “WETA has begun the process of finding Bob’s permanent replacement as moderator. Until that new moderator is named, Washington Week will draw from its deep pool of talent, featuring a number of excellent journalists as guest moderators,” said a spokesperson in a statement to Current.
Public TV Advocates Hail FCC Ruling On ATSC 3.0
In one of its final acts under outgoing chairman Ajit Pai, the FCC is giving noncommercial TV stations a break on several rules and fees, a move that public broadcasting advocates hope will lead to increased datacasting opportunities. The FCC’s Report and Order was designed to update the commission’s rules to reflect the shift to ATSC 3.0, the “Next Gen TV” broadcast standard meant to transition TV from a one-way linear service to a more interactive, IP-based architecture. That means more use of what the FCC calls “ancillary and supplemental services” — using broadcast TV spectrum to transmit data instead of the linear video streams that have long been the primary focus of FCC TV regulation. Several advocacy groups, including PBS, the Public Media Venture Group and America’s Public Television Stations, pushed for the FCC to expand the definitions it created in its last rule revision in 2001, when it first tried to account for datacasting as part of the transition from analog to ATSC 1.0. In its new revision of the rules, the FCC now includes datacasting along with broadcasting among the “primary” uses to which noncommercial stations must devote a “substantial majority” of their spectrum. “It allows us to breathe a big sigh of relief and say now we can go forward and really strategize on services,” said APTS COO Lonna Thompson.
Well, They Were Polite . . .
Only in Canada - Police in Sarnia, Ontario, arrested two suspects after they allegedly broke into the wrong house on Dec. 11 and offered to pay damages after they realized their mistake. CTV reported that residents of the home were watching television when two unnamed 27-year-old men broke through a door, one holding a hammer, and demanded money they claimed was owed to them. They apologized and left the home after discovering their error, according to police, who quickly apprehended them. [CTV, 12/15/2020]
And Finally ....
2021
We don't want any trouble from you.
Just come in, sit down, don't touch anything,
and keep your mouth shut!
Let's try this again shall we?
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