The End of Free TV? Experts to Discuss The Future of Broadcast Television

For Immediate Release: March 22, 1999

Contact: Maralee Csellar, (202) 885-5952




WASHINGTON, D.C. -- American University's School of Communication (SOC) will host An American Forum panel discussion titled, "The End of Free TV? The Future of Broadcast Television," from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 30 in the Kay Spiritual Life Center.




Panelists will discuss the challenges that television networks face in a multiplexed, digital world and whether our society still need its free TV. Panelists will include:




Daniel Brenner, vice president, National Cable Television Association;




Ervin Duggan, president, Public Broadcasting Service;




David Lieberman, media reporter, USA Today;




James Popham, vice president, Association of Local Television Stations.




Patricia Aufderheide, professor in the School of Communication, will moderate the discussion. Aufderheide is a former telecommunications policy analyst who specializes in the social impact of mass media and communication policy, and author of Communications Policy and the Public Interest: The Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Guilford Press).




This is the seventh event in the 1998-99 An American Forum series, sponsored by SOC, that bring together journalists, elected officials, and public policy makers to address timely media issues. The forum is free and open to the public.




For calendar listings, please list Pauline Dawedeit at (202) 885-2074 as the contact person.




For media assistance, call Maralee Csellar at (202) 885-5952.