>>> JOHN BREDAR IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMMING AT
WGBH, OUR SISTER STAYING IN BOSTON.
DURING THE RECENT VISIT, I TALKED WITH JOHN BREDAR ABOUT
EXCITING PROGRAMS IN OUR FUTURE AND MORE.
>> WELL, I THINK THAT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN
THERE WAS A LEGITIMATE CAUSE TO BE A BIT WEARY ABOUT WHAT WAS
GOING TO HAPPEN.
IN THE EARLY DAYS OF CABLE, AND A LOT OF CABLE NETS REALLY DID,
I THINK, START TO LOOK AT THE PBS, YOU KNOW, REMIT, BUT IT
DIDN'T LAST.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THEORIES FOR WHY.
BUT, I THINK NOW, WE'RE IN KIND OF A GOLDEN AGE BECAUSE AS THE
CABLE NETS HAVE KIND OF STRAYED FROM THEIR ORIGINAL BRANDS, AND
THEIR KIND OF ORIGINAL PORTFOLIOS, THAT'S LEFT THIS
OPEN FIELD FOR US, WHICH IS REALLY FANTASTIC IN ONE SENSE.
IT'S KIND OF DISAPPOINTING IN THE BROADER MACRO SENSE OF BEING
AN AMERICAN TELEVISION CONSUMER.
YOU WOULD, YOU KNOW, WISH THAT IT WAS A BIT MORE ROBUST OUT
THERE.
HAVING SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAPPY TO BE FILLING THE
VOID, AS IT WERE.
IT'S -- I WISH THAT IT MADE IT A LITTLE EASIER TO FUND THE
PROGRAMS, BUT NEVERTHELESS, THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF STUFF
OUT THERE THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, ALMOST KIND OF -- HAVE ALMOST NO
COMPETITION TO COMPETE AGAINST.
THAT'S GOOD AND BAD, AS I SAID BEFORE, YOU KNOW.
I THINK WE HAVE THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO STORIES THAT
NOBODY ELSE WILL TOUCH.
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A BIG RESPONSIBILITY.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT YOUR STAFF HAS
TOLD ME ARE IN THE PIPELINE, THINGS WE'LL BE SEEING TWO OR
THREE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT
FOR WGBH TO PRESENT TO THE NATIONAL SYSTEM.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT A SHOW CALLED "POINT TAKEN."
>> SO POINT TAKEN IS A MODERN RIFF ON AN ORIGINAL FROM THE
1970s.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER A PROGRAM CALLED, THE ADVOCATES.
ESSENTIALLY, PUTTING A POPULAR ISSUE ON TRIAL.
IN A VERY FORMAL SENSE.
SO, WE HAVE KIND OF RETOOLED THAT IDEA FOR WHERE WE ARE THESE
DAYS.
WHAT YOU HAVE IS A MODERATOR, AND YOU HAVE A PANEL.
AND ONE IS ARGUING PRO AND ONE IS ARGUING CON.
AND WE HAVE PILOTED THIS, UP TO THIS POINT, AND WE'RE IN
NEGOTIATIONS WITH PBS FOR WHEN IT WILL ROLL OUT.
WE'RE HOPING IT WILL BE NEXT FALL.
AND WHAT'S KIND OF COOL ABOUT IT, AND THE PARTS THAT I REALLY
LIKE ABOUT IT, IS ONE, IT DOESN'T TROT OUT THE USUAL
SUSPECTS.
IT'S NEW VOICES.
DIVERSE VOICES.
TEND TO BE A BIT YOUNGER THAN WHAT WE'RE USED TO SEEING IN THE
TV KIND OF ISSUE SHOWS, AND THE MOST DIFFERENTIATING ASPECT IS
THAT WE FULLY INTEGRATE SOCIAL MEDIA INTO THE PROGRAM.
SO, WHILE YOU ARE WATCHING THE SHOW, YOU ARE BEING ENCOURAGED
TO INTERACT WITH THE PROGRAM.
WE GIVE YOU THE HASHTAG, AND THE FACEBOOK, YOU KNOW, AND YOU CAN
GO ON AND EITHER WAY, AND YOU CAN KIND OF ENGAGE, AS WELL.
SO, WHAT'S HAPPENING IS TWEETS AND FACEBOOK POSTS ARE COMING
IN, AND WE HAVE A CURATOR, WHO IS SITTING THERE, KIND OF
CURATING NOW WITH THE HELP OF SOFTWARE, AND THOSE TWEETS ARE
BEING KIND OF PUSHED RIGHT INTO THE DISCUSSION.
SO, IT'S NOT JUST THE STUDIO AUDIENCE AND THE PANEL WHO ARE
ENGAGED.
IT'S NOW THIS MUCH BIGGER YOU, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL AUDIENCE, AS
WELL.
SO, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE HOPING THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH
SOMETHING THAT STICKS, THAT GETS PEOPLE TO KIND OF TUNE IN ON A
WEEKLY BASIS TO KIND OF BE ENGAGED, NOT NECESSARILY OVERLY
ERNEST, MAY BE KIND OF RYE AND ADD THIS SOCIAL MEDIA COMPONENT
FOR A REALLY INTERESTING MIX.
>> AND SOME FOLKS MAY REMEMBER THE ORIGINAL HOST OF, THE
ADVOCATES, WAS A LAWYER FROM BOSTON, MICHAEL DUKAKIS, WHO
WENT ON TO FAME IN OTHER AREAS, SO WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAPPEN.
>> EXACTLY.
>> OK.
I HAVE GOT TO DO THIS.
YOU DO OVERSEE MASTERPIECE.
EVERYBODY IS WAITING, BATED BREATH, EARLY JANUARY, SEASON
FIVE, DOWNTON ABBEY, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SHOWS THAT PBS HAS
EVER TOUCHED.
THEY ARE PROMOTING IT NOW WITH THERE IS A WEDDING COMING.
THERE IS EVEN THE THOUGHT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN.
I DON'T KNOW IF -- YOU TELL ME YOU DON'T KNOW -- YOU KNOW
NOTHING ABOUT THIS.
>> USUALLY HOW THAT WORKS FOR ME IN MASTERPIECE IS, YOU KNOW, I
READ SCRIPTS AHEAD OF TIME.
I WATCH THE SHOWS AHEAD OF TIME.
WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE EDITORIAL FEEDBACK.
BUT, ON DOWNTON, BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A LIVE WIRE, I JUST REMAIN
INTENTIONALLY IGNORANT.
SO, I CAN'T EVEN LIE TO YOU.
HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
ALL I WOULD SUGGEST IS THAT YOU COULD, YOU KNOW, GET A TICKET TO
THE U.K., AND GO AND WATCH THE SHOW.
AND YOU CAN COME BACK AND TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS.
>> I DO BELIEVE YOU BUT I WILL TEST AND LOOK IN YOUR EYES, MY
THEORY IS, IT'S A DOWNSTAIRS' WEDDING.
IT'S THE BUTLER, MR.
CARSON, AND THE HOUSEKEEPER --
>> THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
>> YOU DID NOT REACT AT ALL.
HE REALLY DOESN'T KNOW.
>> I WISH I DID, ACTUALLY, MAYBE I DON'T.
>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> MY PLEASURE.
THANKS VERY MUCH.