PBS should bypass stations and go straight to cable or satellite, writer says

"Most public television stations will merge or go broke in the next five years ... and PBS in its current configuration can't be far behind," predicts Jack Shakely, president emeritus of the California Community Foundation, in the Aug. 22 Los Angeles Times. And why is pubTV "awash in red ink" while networks including the History Channel, A&E, National Geographic and Animal Planet make money? "PBS should market itself as a network to cable and satellite providers rather than having each individual affiliated station across the country offer itself for free," Shakely says.