WPT Be more Tuned In Podcast -- Filmmaker Ken Burns...

We spoke with Ken Burns via telephone at the offices of his New Hampshire-based Florentine Films production company. Since the public television debut of his film, Brooklyn Bridge, in 1981, Ken Burns has been PBS' most revered documentary film maker. The mp3 podcast conversation can be downloaded here and can be enjoyed on your personal computer or loaded onto your personal mp3 player for on-the-go listening.

With a passion for history, Burns has used archival photographs, rare footage and readings of historic documents to create more than a dozen stirring films about America's past. Of those films, three have been epic masterpieces, immersing viewers into the stories of The Civil War, Baseball and Jazz.

This September, Burns' next multi-part film, The War, will premiere on WPT. Through the eyes of the citizens of four American cities, the film will delve into World War II in a way that no previous film has. In addition to his own film, Burns is pushing other public television stations around the country to tell their own local stories of the war, using WPT's award-winning Wisconsin World War II Stories as a model.

In our conversation, Burns talked about how he became interested in documentary films, why public broadcasting is so important and how he is answering some early criticisms that are already being raised about The War.

Burns will be visiting Stevens Point on the evening of April 19 to present a special lecture about his films and The War. For more information about the event, visit wpt.org. Tickets are available at the UW-Stevens Point box office by calling 1-800-838-3378.

Happy Birthday Teletubbies...

Today marks the tenth anniversary of Teletubbies. While it hasn't appeared on American public television for that full run, the children's show did debut on March 30, 1997 on the BBC in its originating country of Great Britain and has since helped in youth development with it's collection of interesting characters, a bright green landscape, lots of rabbits and of course a sun with a baby's face.

You can help Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po celebrate their birthday by tuning in to their show every weekday at noon on WPT.

To get your Teletubbies fix online, visit their official PBS site. Or, for a more original experience visit the BBC's Teletubbies page.

An aquatic journey...

At 8 p.m. Tuesday night WPT presents the second and concluding episode of Waters Journey: Everglades. If you have been caught up in the stunning imagery of the delicate ecosystem and the inspirational work that is being done to protect the fragile wetlands, the program's producers have an online opportunity for you to experience even more.

By pointing your browser to this Web site, you will find three behind-the-scenes segments on the making of the film. This includes footage of a bear that was the focus of a camera perched in a tree stand, until the bear decided to focus on the tree stand instead.

This site features stunning animation cycles of the effects of various natural and man-made occurrences upon the region. By clicking here, you will find an interactive map that allows Web surfers to manipulate how water has passed through the Florida peninsula during different eras of history and how those changes have affected the Everglades today.

A time for support...

There are still a few short days left in WPT's spring membership drive. That means there is still time for you to call-in your pledge of support for public television. You can also pledge online by heading here.

The last four evenings of the station's most important annual fund raising drive also means that there is a chance to catch some of the unique programming that you might have missed.

At 11:30 p.m. Friday, WPT presents Los Lonely Boys: Live at the Fillmore. Anyone who has seen this trio of brothers in concert knows that they put on a blistering live show that has to be seen to be believed. This program captures that energy in a performance from San Francisco.

At 11:15 p.m. Saturday night, don't miss a chance to relive the excitement of Elvis Presley with Elvis Lives: The 25th Anniversary Concert. This program features a rare 2002 concert that blended archival footage of Presley in concert with current live performances from his TCB band.

Sunday night is a chance to catch the newest special from Celtic Woman, A New Journey. Airing at 8:30, the show features much of the same impressive music that the vocal group has become famous for, with an impressive addition of Hayley Westenra. Westenra is a talented New Zealand vocalist that Wisconsin music fans might remember from her appearance with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra's Concerts on the Square series at the Capitol in Wisconsin two years ago.

Nancy Zieman blogs about Quilt Expo 2007...

With just a little more than six months until this year's Quilt Expo in Madison, Be more Tuned In is joined by Nancy Zieman, host of the long-running Sewing With Nancy public television program, to learn about an exciting opportunity for quilters to be involved in this year's quilt contest.

I'm delighted to be a guest on this blog. Many of you may recognize me, Nancy Zieman, as the host of the public television series Sewing With Nancy, airing at 9 Saturday mornings on WPT.

Several years ago, Sewing With Nancy and WPT formed a partnership to present the first Quilt Expo in Madison, Wis. This September 13 through 15 will mark the third year for the event. I look forward to meeting and talking with the expo's attendees.

The 2007 Quilt Expo will provide outstanding educational opportunities for quilters, and a 10-category juried and judged quilt contest that offers cash prizes for the awards-winning quilts.

The quilt contest is truly the keystone of Quilt Expo and attracts ardent quilters as well as many non-quilters whose sole purpose for attending the event is to view the spectacular quilt contest exhibit. It is invariably the most popular component of Quilt Expo.

In 2006, the quilt contest exhibit was comprised of 246 extraordinary quilts that showcased the work of quilters from all across the country. Last year's winning quilts may be viewed at this site.

I encourage all quilters, amateur and professional, to take part in the 2007 Quilt Expo quilt contest by submitting up to four quilts. The submission deadline is June 22.

Young quilters up to 15 years old, also can enter their quilts to win prizes in the youth quilt contest sponsored by Nancy's Notions. The submission deadline is Sept. 1.

View rules for both quilt contests and download entry forms here.

-Nancy Zieman

The changing television landscape...

Television everywhere is on the verge of big changes during the next two years. The federally mandated change-over from analog to digital transmission is set for 2009. This new frontier of broadcasting offers great opportunities and new resources for television viewers. But, as with any new technology, there are a number of misconceptions about the emerging digital revolution. Be more Tuned In is happy to turn this blog posting over to WPT's Interim Director of Television James Steinbach to help folks better understand the upcoming changes and how they will improve the already robust services they have come to expect from WPT.

If you buy a new television set in time for March Madness there will be something new inside, a digital tuner. What does that mean for you?

As of March 1, Uncle Sam has said all sets sold must include a digital tuner. The tuner is necessary to continue receiving free, over-the-air TV after Feb. 17, 2009. That's the federally mandated cutoff date for analog broadcasting -- television as we know it.

Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) and most other stations have already begun broadcasting in a non-analog format known as digital, which is the way of the future.

In that future, if you subscribe to cable or use a satellite service there should be no changes. If you are among the 20 percent in the Wisconsin audience receiving TV over the air, though, you will have to take some action. You will either need to purchase a new television set that includes the digital tuner or outfit your current set with a converter box. Government officials plan to give discount coupons to people selecting the converter box route, so price shouldn't be a barrier.

Ultimately, the digital transition will be a good thing, giving you more channels as well as an array of educational services. WPT now offers four channels during daytime hours and an eye-popping high-definition service in the evenings. And, we're datacasting -- transmitting huge amounts of text and video to classrooms and other educational settings at rates much faster than the Internet thanks to digital capabilities.

The analog shutoff is likely to be a confusing time. You can expect a lot of pitches regarding your options. What we at WPT hope you understand is that you will still be able to watch free TV just as you always have, providing the right hardware is in place. WPT will be a resource for you with information about technology, service and choices. For updates, check wpt.org/ditigaltv or call (800) 422-9707.

James Steinbach
WPT Interim Director of Television