Viewing page 126 of 136

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

8

series, three half-hour programs featured the creation of exhibits at the Smithsonian. Later a "What's New" special was done on the Anacostia Museum. In 1967-68, Smithsonian made two one-hour network specials with the National Broadcasting Company. In 1968-69, Office of Public Affairs' efforts on a proposed series titles "What in the World" were terminated when anticipated sponsorship failed to materialize. Similar negotiations with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for a series of four one-hour specials per year on Smithsonian-related interests also came to naught in 1968-69 because of MGM's inability to find a sponsor. Later, an agreement was worked out with the Columbia Broadcasting System News for a continuing series of at least two specials per television year on the Smithsonian, but only one program was produced and broadcast in each of 1971 and 1972, and broadcast was delayed by pre-emption. The Smithsonian finally exercised its option to cancel the agreement.

6. [[underlined]] Question: Why should the Smithsonian enter into a contract for a primetime commercial television series at this time? [[/underlined]]

[[underlined]] Answer: [[/underlined]] We believe that the Institution has a continuing responsibility to spread the knowledge acquired by its museum and research staffs to the greatest number of persons possible. Television obviously is one medium that provides us with a means to meet that responsibility. It also is an expensive medium. Neither the Federal not private budgets of the Institution offer us even a minor fraction of the "independence moneys" required to enter into a sustained, unsponsored television venture--even if we has the opportunity to do so. It has been estimated that it will require from $2,500,000 to $5,000,000 for an interested sponsor to support three, four or five Smithsonian special programs each