Here comes the circus, via Milwaukee Public Television

Here's some happy news: Milwaukee Public Television reports that more than half the country's pubstations are picking up its HD feed of the city's Great Circus Parade. That means some 52 percent of Americans from Boston all the way to Hawaii have a chance to watch, according to a station release.

Glass wins CPB's Murrow Award

Ira Glass, e.p. and host of This American Life, is this year's recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award from CPB. Board member Lori Gilbert presented Glass with the honor today at the Public Radio Development and Marketing Conference in San Diego, saying the show "has created a new aesthetic for public radio, now emulated by a new generation of producers and reporters." TAL debuted in 1995 and is currently broadcast on more than 500 pubradio stations to a weekly audience of 1.8 million listeners. CPB has given the Murrow Award since 1977 to "individuals who foster public radio’s quality and service and shape its direction."

Free "Roadshow" Wisconsin tix show up online for $200

Free tickets to enter the Antiques Roadshow episode in Madison, Wisc., are selling for $200 online, local WKOW-TV is warning viewers. The producers track such sales and will cancel those tickets if it identifies sellers.

San Mateo's KCSM drops out of PBS

One of the San Francisco Bay Area's numerous pubTV stations has dropped PBS membership in hopes of averting its sale. Hit by budget cuts like everything else in California's public sector, San Mateo County Community College District gave KCSM-TV/FM a chance to cut costs, the San Mateo County Times reported yesterday. It is cutting six positions, five in TV and one in radio. Dropping PBS will save $400,000 a year, almost half of the $825,000 reduction planned. KCSM also plans to lease some spectrum to make money.

MPR websites now come in flavors

Minnesota Public Radio today is the latest pubcaster to unveil a new website look and structure. While it retains some news on its home page, MPR refers news junkies to NewsQ, “Minnesota’s online source for news that matters,” with links to five blogs and its Public Insight Network at top center. Sections related to MPR’s two music services get distinct coloring and emotional tones. The calm green-accented classical section has a heading asserting "it's alive" and is decorated with minty sprigs up top (beech leaves?). There's a lively red-and-yellow look for 89.3 The Current, MPR’s contemporary music channel.