Right-wing myth: Sesame Street would thrive if forced to survive in the free-market

[Hugabear]

Ever since Romney said he would eliminate federal funding for PBS, many rethugs I know have been doubling down on this. They claim that Sesame Street, in particular, would have no problem surviving - in fact, they claim that the show would actually thrive.

To that, I say "Really?"

Show me ONE other children's educational show on a privately-owned network that has been anywhere near as successful as Sesame Street. Sure, there are very popular children's shows - Spongebob, Dora, etc. But these aren't primarily educational shows.

Sure, some other network would probably pick up Sesame Street. And then they would undoubtedly begin to tinker with the show itself, trying to turn it into something more "modern" and "entertaining". And in doing so, they would ruin what makes the show special. And as soon as the ratings started to falter - which eventually would happen, as happens to every show at some point - the pressure would mount to cancel the show and replace it with something new.

So in other words, yes - the show might "thrive" on a privately owned network - at least until the novelty wore off, and network execs became bored with the show.

What makes the show so special is that the producers do not have to worry about appeasing network executives, shareholders, etc. They only have to worry about keeping kids happy. That's something that has proved to be VERY difficult for corporate executives to do - as evidenced by my original question, how many other children's educational shows are thriving on private networks.

[Posteritatis]

1. Sesame Street would become Walmart Avenue in hours in such an environment. (nt)

[reformist2]

2. The free market always caters to the lowest common denominator... and for kids, that's pretty low.

I need not describe the kinds of slapstick violence and gross-out humor that kids would be attracted to if it weren't for the decent programming that PBS produces.

[Hydra]

3. This worship of the Private sector is getting rediculous

I'm not ok with the Army getting privatized, my library getting privatized, schools or frankly, anything else.

The fabled "efficiency" is offset by the drive for profit. Beyond that, there's nothing wrong with something that doesn't generate fiscal revenue. You can't measure everything in dollars.

[Angry Dragon]

5. Dollars are the republican benchmark

[Hydra]

7. Of course- it's hard to measure without them

If you don't have a soul

[surrealAmerican]

4. Even if the commercial network made no changes ...

... the show would be interrupted by advertising. The target audience for this show can't tell the difference between the show's content and the advertising! Children would be "learning" as much about what to ask their parents to buy as they would about their letters and numbers. Many parents don't want their children "branded" by advertising and will have no choice but to avoid the show entirely.

[KurtNYC]

6. So would the Armed Forces

conquer and plunder...but this is civilization after all and Sesame Street is a bargain. The best use of minimal tax dollars I can think of.

[EC]

8. And parents would have to put up with kids

begging for whatever new product the commercials would push. There is a reason parents prefer PBS to Disney Channel. There is a whole lifestyle and moral difference in what the children learn to value.