Mixing Ads and PBS

In “Networking, ‘90s Style” (Calendar, April 9), ABC Entertainment executive Ted Harbert discusses the fact that advertisers are demanding that networks deliver the profitable 18-to-49 demographic group. The result is programming skewed toward that age group, with children and seniors essentially set adrift. Yet, the very next day, Calendar ran the article “Would Ads Hurt Focus of PBS?” Given the power wielded by advertisers at the other networks, not to mention their vulnerability to boycotts, is there really any question that accepting advertising on PBS would impact programming decisions?

BRIAN SIEGEL

Burbank