…and this is a 
Tomorrow is 5 May, and I mentioned in my review of A Brief History of Disbelief that this excellent documentary on atheism/agnosticism was supposed to be aired on PBS stations all across the country around this time. It's been hard to track down, though; I've looked in my local TV listings, and there's no mention. Readers have contacted their stations directly, and some have reported back that they will be seeing it, while others have found that their stations are not carrying it. It's very confusing.
Well, a reader found a grid listing all of the airdates and stations that will be showing A Brief History of Disbelief. If you're in San Diego or Philadelphia, it's well covered; otherwise, it's scattered very sparsely on the map. It is not being shown in Minnesota.
Comments
Posted by: valhar2000 | May 4, 2007 11:19 AM
How very Americo-centric of you, PZ! I'll have to see it over the internet.
Posted by: AustinAtheist | May 4, 2007 11:20 AM
KLRU is off the grid?
:(
Posted by: NickM | May 4, 2007 11:31 AM
I watched it all on Youtube - just plug in Atheism Rough History Disbelief and you'll find a listing of all the programs. It is in little 10 minute segments, but far from posing a problem, I found that to be a good way to watch it, 20 or 30 minutes here or there when I had time.
Posted by: AndySocial | May 4, 2007 11:33 AM
Guess I'm stuck with the bootleg I downloaded last year, since there's no chance they'll play anything anti-religion in the Great State of Texas. *sigh*
Posted by: rrt | May 4, 2007 11:33 AM
In the previous post's comments, a person associated with the documentary explained that it would not run on all stations simultaneously, and that other stations and airdates will be added to the grid as they become official. No idea how optimistic that was, though.
Posted by: daenku32 | May 4, 2007 11:40 AM
Well, they play it in Muncie, IN at 3-6 AM. Yeah, I'm not getting up that early or staying up that late. And I'm not driving to Muncie.
Posted by: MG | May 4, 2007 11:43 AM
Don't be to sure, they are airing it in Roanoke VA which is the PBS channel we have in Lynchburg VA most infamous as the home of "THE" Jerry Falwell. There is hope for all!
Posted by: vfr800guy | May 4, 2007 11:47 AM
If you have a bit torrent client it's available here.
http://thepiratebay.org/search/brief%20history%20of%20disbelief/0/0/0
Posted by: Curt Cameron | May 4, 2007 11:49 AM
If you'd like to watch the three programs in single chunks, here is the site:
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v290167nBNFCMmq
I'd sure like to see it aired here in Dallas, but the program director replied: "Thank you for contacting KERA. This program isn't currently scheduled to air on KERA. I'll notify you when I see it listed in the future."
Posted by: LCR | May 4, 2007 12:04 PM
Everyone send an email off to your local PBS affliliate! If they are showing it, let them know that you approve and will be watching it. If they are not, ask them why and then give them good reasons why it is a poor decision on their part NOT to offer this program in your area. If they discover there is a market for it, who knows? They may reconsider.
Make sure you send it to the president of the station as well, not just to "viewer services". The email address should be under the contact information... at least it was at KCET in Los Angeles.
Posted by: Deedle | May 4, 2007 12:15 PM
The program isn't showing on any of the three PBS stations in the DC metropolitan area. I contacted WETA, WUT, and WMPT to remind them that they lavish plenty of programming time on such things as "Walking the Holy Land," "The Mormons," even a documentary on Jim Jones, and Christ-this and Christ-that during Easter. Plus during pledge time they run pseudo-relious, pseudo-wise, Deepak Chopra programs all the time. You'd think that a history of non-believers would be at least as interesting as this religious programming, and vastly more so than Deepshock Oprah.
Posted by: Randy | May 4, 2007 12:22 PM
Sigh. In Calgary we get our PBS from Spokane on KSPS. I thought they were a little more progressive in the Northwest.
And don't get me started on Deepak Chopra. You won't get me to shut up.
Posted by: MK | May 4, 2007 12:32 PM
I thought the NorthEAST was more progressive than that! Philly and DE. That's it! Bummer.
Posted by: Cameron | May 4, 2007 12:36 PM
It surprises me that Seattle is not carrying it.
Posted by: craig | May 4, 2007 12:49 PM
I'm surprised it's being shown in Tampa. Not surprised they're doing it from 2 am to 5 am. Cowards.
Oh well, I have the video anyway.
Posted by: Pablo | May 4, 2007 12:53 PM
Gee, I wonder why I don't see it in the schedule for the progresive state of Georgia...
Posted by: RedMolly | May 4, 2007 1:12 PM
Not showing in beautiful Western Colorado--quelle surprise!--but I'm a little startled to see it's not playing in Portland, either.
If anybody discovers a way to get a copy on DVD, I'd be delighted to hear from you. Bittorrent doesn't work well with our often-iffy DSL connection, and I'd really rather watch it on the TV screen so my kids can see it too without peering irritatingly over my shoulder. (Never too early to indoctrinate the young.)
Posted by: jonboy | May 4, 2007 1:16 PM
The whole three part documentary can be viewed plus extended interviews at http://www,veoh.com/videos/v290167nBNFCMmg
I called all the local PBS stations here in Florida,but
no one would give me a honest answer to when it would be
aired
Posted by: Steve_C (Secular Elitist) FCD | May 4, 2007 1:18 PM
I've watched the History series and the 6 segment Atheist Tapes that followed, which showed much longer interviews.
Hitch was on Dobbs last night. He did well. Dobbs thought people should read the book.
http://onegoodmovemedia.org/movies/0705/ld050307hitchens.mov
Posted by: jonboy | May 4, 2007 1:20 PM
The whole three part documentary can be viewed plus extended interviews at http://www,veoh.com/videos/v290167nBNFCMmg
I called all the local PBS stations here in Florida,but
no one would give me a honest answer to when it would be
aired
Posted by: Deepsix | May 4, 2007 2:04 PM
Not here in Tennessee either *GASP*. Watching it on Veoh.com now. Great site since I can't view youtube here at work.
Posted by: Frank Anderson | May 4, 2007 2:23 PM
I was informed (at least a week after I initially e-mailed them) that our local PBS station would not be showing it and had no plans to do so. However, the producer of the series (Jonathan Miller) would be on Bill Moyers' Journal tonight (Friday, May 4).
Pretty crummy consolation price, but I'll probably record it anyway. Might be something worthwhile for others who are similarly benighted to check out.
Posted by: CalGeorge | May 4, 2007 2:48 PM
That is a great series.
Too bad so many PBS affiliates have decided to pretend it does not exist.
Cowards.
Posted by: ordinarygirl | May 4, 2007 2:49 PM
Darnit, I thought we'd have KPTS here in KC, but we have KCPT instead. I'll look at the broadcast jonboy suggested this weekend.
Posted by: emkay | May 4, 2007 3:19 PM
I emailed the local affiliate in Tucson, KUAT, a week ago or so, and haven't heard back, nor is it on the linked grid. Like several others above, I wrote a very polite letter pointing out the great (and annoying) amount of time they have given to xtianity and other forms of woo like the Mormons and Jim Jones, and pointed out I thought the series would add balance.
I'm glad it's available on The Internets (thanx all for the links!) since it seems that's the only way I'll see it.
Posted by: emkay | May 4, 2007 3:22 PM
jonboy, your link above (twice) is incorrect, substitute a period for the comma after 'www'.
Posted by: Steve_C (Secular Elitist) FCD | May 4, 2007 5:05 PM
I don't get it. Does the toolbox ever have a point that's relevant?
Go back to your freak buddy and continue to congratulate each other on your brilliance.
Posted by: DeafScribe | May 4, 2007 6:39 PM
Does anyone know of an online source that includes captioning or subtitles? I contacted the Orlando PBS station, and they have no plans to broadcast. I'd love to see it and share it, but it's useless to me without captioning/subtitles. Will happily pay postage for a copy on DVD if possible.
Posted by: lori | May 4, 2007 8:04 PM
As of yesterday, it wasn't on the Boston PBS schedule. Major bummer.
But there may be hope: Yesterday, I also looked at the PDF schedule you linked to. At the time, only a handful of stations were listed. Many more have been added in the past day.
Posted by: Glen | May 4, 2007 9:08 PM
At first I thought somebody missed something. Then I checked my local listings. Unless I really need new glasses, New York's two PBS stations are not on the list.
New York? New York???
Posted by: Anthony | May 5, 2007 1:41 AM
I got this response from TPT (Twin Cities Public Television, Minnesota):
We will air the series A Brief History of Disbelief this summer, but do not have a broadcast date at this time. We will let you know when it is scheduled. Thank you for your interest.
Posted by: bad Jim | May 5, 2007 4:23 AM
Jonathan Miller was on Bill Moyers Journal Friday night. The segment, worth watching for itself, was practically a promotional ad for the show, but there's no sign that KCET will be broadcasting it in L.A. anytime soon.
Miller noted that he was uncomfortable labeling himself as an atheist, since there aren't special words for people not suffering from other delusions.
Posted by: Daniel Martin | May 5, 2007 11:28 PM
You know, WHYY is currently in the middle of a pledge drive, if anyone reading here wanted to show their support for the multiple Philadelphia showings in a financial manner...
Posted by: dynaboy | May 6, 2007 10:11 AM
My local PBS station (WTVS in Detroit) sucks. It seems like every time I turn it on, they're showing yet another Dr. Wayne Dyer special. Of course, they won't be showing A Brief History of Disbelief according to the program schedule...
Posted by: antaresrichard | May 7, 2007 10:02 PM
When alarmed, I went off half-cocked at our local PBS affiliate in San Francisco for the conspicuous absence of 'A Brief History of Disbelief' from its schedule, this is what KQED wrote me in reply.
"Checking for the facts before launching into a complaint is always a wise thing to do... The British producers of the program were not going to pay the additional costs to distribute it in the US until KQED called last year to express interest in the show. We have recorded the program for future use, but we don't have any airdates for it on KQED, KTEH or KCAH between now and the end of June, which is as far as our schedules have been planned.
Red Dana
Manager, KQED/KTEH/KCAH Audience Services"
I hope this clarification will be of some use to those of us living in and around San Francisco, San Jose, Watsonville, Salinas, and Monterey.
Unfortunately, for someone at the low end of the economic ladder (I only have dial-up, a donated PC, and get my programming via "rabbit ears") I can't take useful advantage of the links. That is what saddens me about PBS: when an accessible public service such as theirs simply isn't there.
Well, there's always the library.
Sincerely,
antaresrichard