"The main purpose of The Academy is to recognize excellence in television. The challenge long term is we have more television and more organizations producing television. It's a fact of life today that we face these multiple cable outlets and satellite transmissions and all kinds of things. The Academy looks forward to how to best cope with that and the judging structure."

    About This Interview

    In his three-hour interview, Dr. James L. Loper (1931-2013) talks about his early influences in broadcasting and his first work in the field as a weekend announcer at KTAR, NBC's radio affiliate in Phoenix, AZ. He describes his rise through academia, earning his doctorate in 1967 from the University of Southern California. He details the creation of public television station KCET, the history of channel 28, its initial programming, and the funding of the station. Loper then discusses his work at KCET, serving as the station's vice president and general manager (in 1967), president and GM (through 1971), and president and CEO (through 1982, when he left the station). He recalls the federal government's decisions regarding public television throughout the 1960s, and comments on the landmark Carnegie Commission Report, the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, the creation of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the emergence of PBS. He talks about the programming that was shown on PBS and the network's satellite distribution (which pre-dated the use of satellites by the commercial networks). He also outlines the contributions to public broadcasting of such figures as FCC chairman Newton Minow, CPB president Hartford Gunn, and NET president James Day. Finally, Loper recalls his long tenure with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and tells of the creation of the Academy Foundation's Archive of American Television. He also comments on his then-current work at the Annenberg School at the University of Southern California. Michael Rosen conducted the interview on September 19, 2003 in Pasadena, CA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of James L. Loper

    James L. Loper on getting KCET on the air

    04:05
    Thumbnail of James L. Loper

    James L. Loper on National Educational Television

    02:25
    Thumbnail of James L. Loper

    James L. Loper on the Public Broadcasting Laboratory 

    02:53
    Thumbnail of James L. Loper

    James L. Loper on PBS programming and the mission of PBS

    03:33
    Thumbnail of James L. Loper

    James L. Loper on the introduction of Sesame Street

    04:00
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early life and influences; on radio he listened to growing up

    09:51

    On early network radio programming; on early television and Dave Garroway; on getting his first job in television

    49:34

    Chapter 2

    On developing instructional television; on the early history of public television

    16:23

    On the importance of the Educational Television and Facilities Act of 1962; on The Committee for Educational Television; on getting KCET on the air

    12:24

    Chapter 3

    On KCET getting on the air and its early programming; on KCET's early equipment; on getting into programming and National Educational Television

    15:01

    On early fundraising for KCET; on KCET's early location; on the Public Broadcasting Laboratory and the beginnings of PBS

    15:53

    Chapter 4

    On the formation of The Corporation for Public Broadcasting; on Hartford Gunn

    13:18

    On how the Corporation for Public Broadcasting affected KCET; on the introduction of Sesame Street; on obstacles to creating PBS

    16:26

    Chapter 5

    On Mister Rogers Neighborhood; on his education; on the consolidaiton of the PBS network and broadcast standards

    15:30

    On Hartford Gunn's role in running PBS; on Masterpiece Theater and other PBS programming; on satellite distribution of PBS programming

    14:08

    Chapter 6

    On leaving KCET; on becoming Executive Director of The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; on putting The Emmy Awards on FOX

    13:49

    On increasing membership in The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; on the Academy Foundation and The Archive of American Television; on attempting to get an exclusive deal for The Emmy Awards with ABC

    14:39

    Chapter 7

    On the main purpose of The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; on how The Academy can remain relevant; on teaching and his proudest achievements 

    59:59

    Masterpiece Theatre

    James L. Loper on Masterpiece Theater and other PBS programming

    02:51

    Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

    James L. Loper on Mister Rogers Neighborhood and the Sears Foundation

    03:13

    Sesame Street

    James L. Loper on the introduction of Sesame Street

    04:00

    Emmy Awards

    James L. Loper on moving the Emmy Awards to FOX and the license fee for the Emmys

    00:43

    James L. Loper on a 1993 boycott involving the Emmy Awards

    01:40

    Network Creation

    James L. Loper on getting public television station KCET on the air

    03:59

    James L. Loper on developing instructional television

    03:48

    James L. Loper on the beginnings of the PBS Network of stations

    02:32

    James L. Loper on PBS programming and the mission of PBS

    03:33

    James L. Loper on obstacles to creating PBS and dealing with Washington D.C.

    03:11

    Public Television

    James L. Loper on Hartford Gunn's early role in running PBS and standards in programming

    08:12

    Technological Innovation

    James L. Loper on how KCET received its early programming and equipment

    02:55

    James L. Loper on satellite distribution of PBS programming

    01:07

    Television Industry

    James L. Loper on getting public television station KCET on the air

    03:59

    James L. Loper on developing instructional television

    03:48

    James L. Loper on the beginnings of the PBS Network of stations

    02:32

    James L. Loper on PBS programming and the mission of PBS

    03:33

    James L. Loper on obstacles to creating PBS and dealing with Washington D.C.

    03:11

    James L. Loper on Hartford Gunn's early role in running PBS and standards in programming

    08:12

    War

    James L. Loper on how World War II affected his family

    01:06

    World War II

    James L. Loper on how World War II affected his family

    01:06

    Executives

    James L. Loper on becoming a programmer at KCET and gauging viewership

    04:24

    Television Executive

    James L. Loper on becoming a programmer at KCET and gauging viewership

    04:24

    Awards Shows

    James L. Loper on moving The Emmy Awards to FOX and the license fee for The Emmy Awards

    00:43

    Children's Programming

    James L. Loper on the introduction of Sesame Street

    04:00

    James L. Loper on Mister Rogers Neighborhood and the Sears Foundation

    03:13

    James Day

    James L. Loper on early government involvement in PBS and Jim Day

    03:11

    Dave Garroway

    James L. Loper on the first time he saw television and his admiration of Dave Garroway

    04:38

    Hartford Gunn

    James L. Loper on Hartford Gunn

    03:35

    James L. Loper on Hartford Gunn's early role in running PBS and standards in programming

    08:12

    Hank Rieger

    James L. Loper on Hank Rieger

    01:06

    Fred Rogers

    James L. Loper on Mister Rogers Neighborhood and the Sears Foundation

    03:13

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