On Saturday evening, March 30, I enjoyed a remarkable celebration honoring Iowa Public Television’s 50th anniversary as a network at the corporate headquarters in Johnston.
Even before 1969, as a child and teenager, I enjoyed such quality programming not offered anywhere else. So this milestone was important to me. Besides reconnecting with old friends Darla Hassebroek of Friends of Iowa Public Television; Rob Hilbert, vice president of IPTV’s Foundation; and Susan (Moritz) Scharnberg, president of same, I had the opportunity to meet in informal settings such well-known IPTV personalities as Terri Hale and Travis Graven (as well as Terri’s husband John), hosts of the network’s ongoing Festival fundraisers; Dan Wardell and Abby Brown, co-hosts of “KIDS Clubhouse Adventures;” former Festival host Jennifer Konfrst (now in Iowa politics); Margaret Fehn, as recently-retired Friends executive; Dean Borg and Delaney Howell, former and current hosts of “Iowa Press” and “Market to Market;” Chuck Czech, manager of local programming such as the short “Greetings from Iowa” fillers about movers and shakers from around the state; Kelly Kramer and Scott Siepker, hosts of “Iowa Outdoors;” Charity Nebbe of the “Iowa Ingredient” cooking series; and Bill Riley, Jr., longtime host (in the tradition of his late father) of the annual IPTV State Fair Highlights.
A real highlight of the evening was being introduced to Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS, who came to Iowa from her home base in the Washington, D.C. area for this historic occasion; along with Molly Phillips, executive director and general manager of IPTV and her husband, Steve.
After a time of refreshments and conversation with these delightful individuals, guests were directed to the Maytag Auditorium, where Michael Gartner, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former publisher of the Des Moines Register and former president of NBC News, introduced a well-documented multi-media presentation about the network’s first 50 years. This was preceded by a vocal piano solo by Graven saluting the late Fred Rogers, longtime host of the very popular children’s series, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood;” and followed by Gartner’s conversation with Kerger about the future of public television.
Kerger stated she has visited 49 of the 50 state PBS organizations, “all of which are good,” she says, “but a handful of which are outstanding ... and Iowa is one of those.” Need anything more be said about the high quality of diverse programming being offered on Channel 11 and its translator stations throughout the state?
Many of you already agree with me, and viewership of PBS programming is the highest in the country in parts of Iowa. If there are those of you who feel they are being short-changed by substandard programming on the other networks and what is being shown on pay-TV, I urge you to dig deeper into what IPTV has to offer on a variety of levels. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Meanwhile, I left my visit with a better understanding of why these staff people and technicians are proud of their well-deserved kudos from thousands of satisfied viewers, and that indeed they should be. In addition, I urge you to consider making a financial investment in this programming, either on an on-going monthly basis (there are generous thank-you gifts), or in your future financial plans so generations to come can appreciate IPTV’s legacy of quality for years to come.