Picked Up By PBS!-Question at DVinfo.net

Chris Korrow · February 6th, 2007, 03:28 PM

Just got off the phone with PBS national & they said they wanted to acquire a half hour version of my hour long doc.

The question is... they say that they don't pay, yet PBS NY has committed to run it & they pay, not much but they pay. National seemed very interested in selling the hour long video.

This was completely funded by myself so it was a little disturbing to hear that after 3+ years filming on & off, that someone wants to broadcast it nationally but not pay.

As this would be my first national broadcast, that in itself would mean a lot,
I'm just looking for some input.
Thanks in advance,
Chris

Mark Bournes · February 6th, 2007, 03:36 PM

Chris, my suggestion, find a sponsor for the program. Now that you have the commitment from pbs, you could use this to sell the program to a sponsor and give them a billboard at the end of the show, and include it in the dvd for sale as well. ie, "The preceding program was brough to you by Ford Motor Company" sort of thing. Hope this helps.

Chris Korrow · February 6th, 2007, 04:01 PM

That does help, Thanks.
Never even thought about getting a sponsor after the fact, but that makes perfect sense.

Peter Wiley · February 6th, 2007, 05:07 PM

PBS should be willing to help find you a source of support, esp. as they are asking you to do new work to get an hour down to a half hour. They have established relationships with a host of funders and at least be willing to give you a few names and numbers.

May I ask what the subject of your piece is?

Peter Wiley · February 6th, 2007, 05:08 PM

PBS should be willing to help find you a source of support, esp. as they are asking you to do new work to get an hour down to a half hour. They have established relationships with a host of funders and at least be willing to give you a few names and numbers.

May I ask what the subject of your piece is? Who were you talking to at PBS?

Peter Wiley · February 6th, 2007, 05:10 PM

[The server or my internet connection was a bit funky and somehow this message got saved a couple of times . . . I meant to add this . . . sorry for he duplication]

You might give these guys a call before you sign any agreement: http://www.lehmannstrobel.com/about_us.htm

Chris Korrow · February 6th, 2007, 11:04 PM

Hey Peter,
Thanks, & thanks for the link.
It's about garden insects & gives people a comprehensive view of what is happening in a typical garden ecosystem. (I lucked into some pretty incredible shots.)
Having taught gardening classes for 14 years, I figure there are about 20 million gardeners in this country with about 1% of those that know anything about the bugs in their gardens.

I've already got quite a few people signed up for it, even though I haven't even sent off the DVD yet. Plus having been a active organic farmer for years, we have close contact to all the farming/gardening organizations either directly or indirectly, so we certainly want to market the DVD ourselves.

I originally sent it through the typical PBS submissions which is Steven Grey in Arlington, but PBS NY responded within a couple of weeks saying they wanted to pick it up & got in touch with Steven directly to encourage national to acquire it and one of his people contacted me.

NY said that they get about 2000 submissions a year & only acquire about 20, so I'm pretty stoked about that aspect of it.
Peace,
Chris

Peter Wiley · February 7th, 2007, 08:19 AM

I got close to doing a co-production with a local PBS station once, but unfortunately the project feel through because the key people needed to tell a story would not appear on camera.

In my case they made it clear that they would have little money to offer, but also made it clear they would be more than happy to help me find some money.

Given your experience as an organic gardener, I would suggest approaching the Rodale Institute, http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/, and/or Rodale itself which I am sure you know already publishes garden related materials. They would be an ideal sponsor and might even help you distribute your work. See the contact list at http://www.rodale.com/1,6597,5-107,00.html. Robin Shallow is the one I would try.

Try and get PBS in NY and the national folks to write you a letter of interest on their letterhead that you can use to show the Rodale folks. You never know what can happen.

Chris Korrow · February 7th, 2007, 09:51 AM

I was just on the Rodale site last night.
Robin was the one I figured to contact also, if she needs some confirmation of PBS's intent I know NY will give me anything I may need, They've been Great!

Do you know Rodale personally? or through their mags? You a gardener?

February 6th, 2007, 03:28 PM	#1
Chris Korrow Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Whidbey Is, WA Posts: 326	Picked Up By PBS!-Question Just got off the phone with PBS national & they said they wanted to acquire a half hour version of my hour long doc. The question is... they say that they don't pay, yet PBS NY has committed to run it & they pay, not much but they pay. National seemed very interested in selling the hour long video. This was completely funded by myself so it was a little disturbing to hear that after 3+ years filming on & off, that someone wants to broadcast it nationally but not pay. As this would be my first national broadcast, that in itself would mean a lot, I'm just looking for some input. Thanks in advance, Chris

February 6th, 2007, 03:36 PM	#2
Mark Bournes Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Jupiter, FL Posts: 565	Chris, my suggestion, find a sponsor for the program. Now that you have the commitment from pbs, you could use this to sell the program to a sponsor and give them a billboard at the end of the show, and include it in the dvd for sale as well. ie, "The preceding program was brough to you by Ford Motor Company" sort of thing. Hope this helps. __________________ Mark www.sharkvp.com

February 6th, 2007, 04:01 PM	#3
Chris Korrow Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Whidbey Is, WA Posts: 326	That does help, Thanks. Never even thought about getting a sponsor after the fact, but that makes perfect sense.

February 6th, 2007, 05:07 PM	#4
Peter Wiley Major Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lewisburg PA Posts: 752	PBS should be willing to help find you a source of support, esp. as they are asking you to do new work to get an hour down to a half hour. They have established relationships with a host of funders and at least be willing to give you a few names and numbers. May I ask what the subject of your piece is?

February 6th, 2007, 05:08 PM	#5
Peter Wiley Major Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lewisburg PA Posts: 752	PBS should be willing to help find you a source of support, esp. as they are asking you to do new work to get an hour down to a half hour. They have established relationships with a host of funders and at least be willing to give you a few names and numbers. May I ask what the subject of your piece is? Who were you talking to at PBS?

February 6th, 2007, 05:10 PM	#6
Peter Wiley Major Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lewisburg PA Posts: 752	[The server or my internet connection was a bit funky and somehow this message got saved a couple of times . . . I meant to add this . . . sorry for he duplication] You might give these guys a call before you sign any agreement: http://www.lehmannstrobel.com/about_us.htm

February 6th, 2007, 11:04 PM	#7
Chris Korrow Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Whidbey Is, WA Posts: 326	Hey Peter, Thanks, & thanks for the link. It's about garden insects & gives people a comprehensive view of what is happening in a typical garden ecosystem. (I lucked into some pretty incredible shots.) Having taught gardening classes for 14 years, I figure there are about 20 million gardeners in this country with about 1% of those that know anything about the bugs in their gardens. I've already got quite a few people signed up for it, even though I haven't even sent off the DVD yet. Plus having been a active organic farmer for years, we have close contact to all the farming/gardening organizations either directly or indirectly, so we certainly want to market the DVD ourselves. I originally sent it through the typical PBS submissions which is Steven Grey in Arlington, but PBS NY responded within a couple of weeks saying they wanted to pick it up & got in touch with Steven directly to encourage national to acquire it and one of his people contacted me. NY said that they get about 2000 submissions a year & only acquire about 20, so I'm pretty stoked about that aspect of it. Peace, Chris

February 7th, 2007, 08:19 AM	#8
Peter Wiley Major Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lewisburg PA Posts: 752	I got close to doing a co-production with a local PBS station once, but unfortunately the project feel through because the key people needed to tell a story would not appear on camera. In my case they made it clear that they would have little money to offer, but also made it clear they would be more than happy to help me find some money. Given your experience as an organic gardener, I would suggest approaching the Rodale Institute, http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/, and/or Rodale itself which I am sure you know already publishes garden related materials. They would be an ideal sponsor and might even help you distribute your work. See the contact list at http://www.rodale.com/1,6597,5-107,00.html. Robin Shallow is the one I would try. Try and get PBS in NY and the national folks to write you a letter of interest on their letterhead that you can use to show the Rodale folks. You never know what can happen.

February 7th, 2007, 09:51 AM	#9
Chris Korrow Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Whidbey Is, WA Posts: 326	I was just on the Rodale site last night. Robin was the one I figured to contact also, if she needs some confirmation of PBS's intent I know NY will give me anything I may need, They've been Great! Do you know Rodale personally? or through their mags? You a gardener?