What if I had my own public broadcasting network?

This is the only sort of creativity that I got.

Roly Ortega
Jul 24, 2017 · 7 min read

As a curious kid (and still am at 21) always wondering about the broadcasting industry and what’s happening inside every week, I couldn’t bring up to myself and think about what would it be like if I had the chance to run my own public broadcasting network. And so I did. Unfortunately, its the only creativity that I’ve got but its better than nothing.

In my mind, I created a PBS/NPR network that would serve public television and radio for all of Florida. It would be called the Florida Public Broadcasting Network (FPBN). It would serve the state with 10 public TV stations airing PBS programming and 26 public radio stations (two in each radio market) airing NPR programming. Now no, I didn’t make up a schedule of PBS programming since it would be different every week. But I did make one up for the NPR side and when you see it, it may think that its just like another other service. Except, my service would include state-wide newscasts all day long and that would go into the weekend.

Oh and my radio service would transmit two different signals with the same all-news/talk formats. One is called FPBN1 and the other is called FPBN2 and both would offer HD1 and HD2 services. You’ll see what I mean once you see the schedules and they are long. Programs come from all public radio providers including NPR, PRI, APM, PRX and the BBC. The only music program available on either service is A Prairie Home Companion and the music services would be on HD2. The service would even offer state-wide radio newscasts called The Florida Report (news department is known as FPBN News) and yes, even twice-daily weather-related programs called Florida Weather Check which would be produced in association with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s state-wide National Weather Service (NWS) offices. Mostly in the same way NOAA co-produced A.M. Weather with Maryland Public Television (MPT) or NWS Alaska co-producing Alaska Weather for Alaska Public Media.

For HD2, it would be home to music services. HD2 on FPBN1 would be Jazz and HD2 on FPBN2 would be Classical. It would offer two different services from each category to the schedule under 12-hour blocks.

Anyways, here is that schedule and I did this back in May. This all came from my imagination.


FPBN1 (HD1)

  • Weekdays:
    5:00–7:00 AM: Morning Edition (NPR)
    7:00–10:00 AM: The Florida Morning Report (FPBN News)
    10:00–11:00 AM: The Takeaway (PRI / AM 820 and 93.9 FM — WNYC in N.Y.C. / The New York Times / 89.7 WGBH-FM in Boston)
    11:00 AM-12:00 PM: BBC Newshour (APM / BBC)
    12:00–1:00 PM: Florida Weather Check at Noon (FPBN News / NWS)
    1:00–3:00 PM: Here and NOW (NPR / 90.9 WBUR in Boston)
    3:00–4:00 PM: PRI’s The World (PRI / BBC / 89.7 WGBH-FM in Boston)
    4:00–6:00 PM: All Things Considered (NPR)
    6:00–7:00 PM: The Florida Report at 6:00 (FPBN News)
    7:00–8:00 PM: PBS Newshour (PBS / WETA-TV 26 in Washington, D.C.)
    8:00–8:30 PM: The Nightly Business Report (APT / CNBC)
    8:30–9:00 PM: Marketplace (APM / Univ. of Southern California in L.A.)
    9:00–10:00 PM: Fresh Air (NPR / 90.9 WHYY-FM in Philadelphia)
    10:00–11:00 PM: The Florida Report at 10:00 (FPBN News)
    11:00 PM-12:00 AM: Florida Weather Check at 11:00 (FPBN News / NWS)
    12:00–1:00 AM: Charlie Rose (PBS / WNET 13 in N.Y.C.)
    1:00–5:00 AM: BBC World Service (APM / BBC)
  • Saturdays:
    5:00–6:00 AM: Only a Game (NPR / 90.9 WBUR in Boston)
    6:00–8:00 AM: The Florida Morning Report (FPBN News)
    8:00–10:00 AM: Weekend Edition Saturday (NPR)
    10:00–11:00 AM: On The Media (NPR / AM 820 and 93.9 FM — WNYC in N.Y.C.)
    11:00 AM-12:00 PM: Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! (NPR / 91.5 WBEZ in Chicago)
    12:00–1:00 PM: Florida Weather Check at Noon (FPBN News / NWS)
    1:00–2:00 PM: Latino USA (NPR)
    2:00–3:00 PM: TED Radio Hour (NPR / TED)
    3:00–4:00 PM: Reveal (PRX / CIR Center for Investigative Reporting)
    4:00–5:00 PM: BBC Newshour (APM / BBC)
    5:00–6:00 PM: All Things Considered (NPR)
    6:00–7:00 PM: The Florida Report at 6:00 (FPBN News)
    7:00–7:30 PM: PBS Newshour Weekend (PBS / WNET 13 in N.Y.C.)
    7:30–8:00 PM: Charlie Rose — The Week (PBS / WNET 13 in N.Y.C.)
    8:00–8:30 PM: Washington Week (PBS / WETA-TV 26 in Washington, D.C.)
    8:30–9:00 PM: Washington Week Extra (PBS / WETA-TV 26 in Washington, D.C.)
    9:00–10:00 PM: Fresh Air Weekend (NPR / 90.9 WHYY-FM in Philadelphia)
    10:00–11:00 PM: The Florida Report at 10:00 (FPBN News)
    11:00 PM-12:00 AM: Florida Weather Check at 11:00 (FPBN News / NWS)
    12:00–5:00 AM: BBC World Service (APM / BBC)
  • Sundays:
    5:00–6:00 AM: TED Radio Hour (NPR / TED; repeat)
    6:00–8:00 AM: The Florida Morning Report (FPBN News)
    8:00–10:00 AM: Weekend Edition Sunday (NPR)
    10:00–11:00 AM: Latino USA (NPR; repeat)
    11:00 AM-12:00 PM: This American Life (PRX / 91.5 WBEZ in Chicago)
    12:00–1:00 PM: Florida Weather Check at Noon (FPBN News / NWS)
    1:00–2:00 PM: Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! (NPR / 91.5 WBEZ in Chicago; repeat)
    2:00–3:00 PM: Only a Game (NPR / 90.9 WBUR in Boston; repeat)
    3:00–4:00 PM: Travel with Rick Steves
    4:00–5:00 PM: BBC Newshour (APM / BBC)
    5:00–6:00 PM: All Things Considered (NPR)
    6:00–7:00 PM: The Florida Report at 6:00 (FPBN News)
    7:00–7:30 PM: PBS Newshour Weekend (PBS / WNET 13 in N.Y.C.)
    7:30–8:00 PM: Washington Week (PBS / WETA 26 in Washington, D.C.; repeat)
    8:00–9:00 PM: Marketplace Weekend (APM / Univ. of Southern California in L.A.)
    9:00–10:00 PM: On The Media (NPR / AM 820 and 93.3 FM — WNYC in N.Y.C.; repeat)
    10:00–11:00 PM: The Florida Report at 10:00 (FPBN News)
    11:00 PM-12:00 AM: Florida Weather Check at 11:00 (FPBN News / NWS)
    12:00–5:00 AM: BBC World Service (APM / BBC)

FPBN1 (HD2; this would be our network’s Jazz service)

  • Every Day:
    5:00 AM-5:00 PM: Jazz 24 (88.5 KNKX-FM in Tacoma — Seattle)
    5:00 PM-5:00 AM: Jazz Network (PRX / 98.7 WFMT in Chicago)

FPBN2 (HD1)

  • Weekdays:
    5:00–7:00 AM: BBC World Service (APM / BBC)
    7:00–9:00 AM: Morning Edition (NPR)
    9:00–10:00 AM: BBC Newshour (APM / BBC)
    10:00 AM-12:00 PM: 1A (NPR / 88.5 WAMU-FM in Washington, D.C.)
    12:00–1:00 PM: The Florida Report at Noon (FPBN News)
    1:00–3:00 PM: On Point (NPR / 90.9 WBUR in Boston)
    3:00–4:00 PM: The Takeaway (PRI / AM 820 and 93.9 FM — WNYC in N.Y.C. / The New York Times / 89.7 WGBH-FM in Boston; Mondays-Thursdays) / Science Friday (PRI; first hour / Fridays)
    4:00–5:00 PM: BBC Newshour (APM / BBC; Mondays-Thursdays) / Science Friday (PRI; second hour / Fridays)
  • 5:00–6:00 PM: The Florida Report at 5:00 (FPBN News)
    6:00–8:00 PM: All Things Considered (NPR)
    8:00–9:00 PM: To The Point (PRI / 89.9 KCRW in Santa Monica)
    9:00–10:00 PM: q (PRI / CBC)
    10:00–11:00 PM: PBS Newshour (PBS / WETA-TV 26 in Washington, D.C.; repeat)
    11:00 PM-12:00 AM: The Florida Report at 11:00 (FPBN News)
    12:00–1:00 AM: As It Happens (PRI / CBC)
    1:00–5:00 AM: PRX Remix (PRX)
  • Saturdays:
    5:00–8:00 AM: BBC World Service (APM / BBC)
    8:00–9:00 AM: BBC Newshour (APM / BBC)
    9:00–10:00 AM: Bullseye with Jesse Thorn (NPR)
    10:00 AM-12:00 PM: Weekend Edition Saturday (NPR)
    12:00–1:00 PM: The Florida Report at Noon (FPBN News)
    1:00–2:00 PM: Sound Opinions (PRX / 91.5 WBEZ in Chicago)
    2:00–3:00 PM: Living on Earth (PRI)
    3:00–4:00 PM: Ask Me Another (NPR / AM 820 and 93.9 FM — WNYC in N.Y.C.)
    4:00–5:00 PM: Snap Judgement (NPR / AM 820 and 93.9 FM — WNYC in N.Y.C.)
    5:00–6:00 PM: The Florida Report at 5:00 (FPBN News)
    6:00–7:00 PM: All Things Considered (NPR)
    7:00–8:00 PM: Studio 360 (PRI / AM 820 and 93.9 FM — WNYC in N.Y.C.)
    8:00–10:00 PM: A Prairie Home Companion (APM / MPR in Minnesota)
    10:00–10:30 PM: PBS Newshour Weekend (PBS / WNET 13 in N.Y.C.; repeat)
    10:30–11:00 PM: Washington Week (PBS / WETA-TV 26 in Washington, D.C.; repeat)
    11:00 PM-12:00 AM: The Florida Report at 11:00 (FPBN News)
    12:00–5:00 AM: PRX Remix (PRX)
  • Sundays:
    5:00–8:00 AM: BBC World Service (APM / BBC)
    8:00–9:00 AM: BBC Newshour (APM / BBC)
    9:00–10:00 AM: On Being (PRX)
    10:00 AM-12:00 PM: Weekend Edition Sunday (NPR)
    12:00–1:00 PM: The Florida Report at Noon (FPBN News)
    1:00–2:00 PM: Radiolab (AM 820 and 93.9 FM — WNYC in N.Y.C.)
    2:00–3:00 PM: BackStory with the American History Guys (VFHVirginia Foundation for the Humanities)
    3:00–4:00 PM: The Moth Radio Hour (PRX)
    4:00–5:00 PM: Innovation Hub (PRI / 89.7 WGBH-FM in Boston)
    5:00–6:00 PM: The Florida Report at 5:00 (FPBN News)
    6:00–7:00 PM: All Things Considered (NPR)
    7:00–8:00 PM: The BIG Listen (NPR / 88.5 WAMU-FM in Washington, D.C.)
    8:00–9:00 PM: The People’s Pharmacy (NPR / 91.5 WUNC in Chapel Hill)
    9:00–10:00 PM: Ken Rudin’s Political Junkie (PRX / WPR in Wisconsin)
    10:00–10:30 PM: PBS Newshour Weekend (PBS / WNET 13 in N.Y.C.; repeat)
    10:30–11:00 PM: Charlie Rose — The Week (PBS / WNET 13 in N.Y.C.; repeat)
    11:00 PM-12:00 AM: The Florida Report at 11:00 (FPBN News)
    12:00–5:00 AM: PRX Remix (PRX)

FPBN2 (HD2; this would be our network’s Classical service)

  • Every Day:
    5:00 AM-5:00 PM: Beethoven Network (PRX / 98.7 WFMT in Chicago)
    5:00 PM-5:00 AM: Classical 24 (APM and PRI)

So as you can see, a mix of everything. Literary everything. At least that’s how my FPBN Radio service would be. News on HD1 and Music on HD2.

If you think that’s impressive, then your looking at a guy who never watched or listened to public media until last year. Yep. Just last year and already, I have and own “Public Media Fans,” in which anyone who has Medium can catch it online:

I’m just a weird boy I guess who can have this much creativity, even if its just about broadcasting. But after all, its something that I want to do for a living and I’ll get there, whether it will be an easy journey or a hard one.

Roly Ortega

Written by

Television news junkie who likes to talk about local media as well as sports, Family Guy and other stuff.

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