Talk:Maine Public Broadcasting Network

Article Bias
From what I've read about the MPBN-Skoglund episode, I suspect that the paragraph on that subject in this article may have been written or heavily edited by the MPBN management. I recommend that the article be tagged for lack of neutrality. Xerlome (talk) 04:23, 10 December 2011 (UTC)

I have tagged the article for lack of neutrality. Coverage of the Skoglund issue clearly includes statements not independently verified and can be reasonably attributed to MPBN insiders. Some of the statements I have not found reference to on the web. The tone and point of view expressed in the paragraph are notably pro-MPBN. Had the paragraph been written by an impartial writer, based on information available on the web, the views of Skoglund and others would be reflected. I suggest that the paragraph needs to be rewritten or else removed. Xerlome (talk) 20:30, 12 December 2011 (UTC)

I'm going to go through and fix up the controversy section a bit. The paragraph about the classical music hosts in 2000 seems a bit unnecessary and I have not been able to verify it at all. I'm considering breaking the next three paragraphs into subsections, based on the fact that they are completely different subjects. I'll keep the Sugartime and Opera sections if I can cite them. Finally, I'd like to shorten the Skoglund section and make sure that other points of view are included. Dzhargal (talk) 14:21, 22 April 2014 (UTC)

Seems to me you made it worse. Xerlome (talk) 17:17, 17 May 2014 (UTC)

I have corrected some errors in the section on The humble Farmer. 1) Skoglund uses small 'h' in "humble". 2) Since Skoglund never mentioned Bush, the statement in the article that he was comparing Bush to Hitler or Mussolini is an opinion and therefore violates the Wiki neutrality policy. I clarified that it was MPBN that regarded Skoglund's remarks to be about Bush. 3) Since the Nov. 2006 show was not aired, I removed "on-air". Xerlome (talk) 06:50, 22 May 2014 (UTC)

I have made more corrections and added citations, all explained in "history" notations. I added references for the texts of the commentaries in question so readers can see for themselves rather than judge by the interpretations of others. I stuck to the facts and avoided bias on both sides. I will follow up as necessary. Xerlome (talk) 20:47, 23 May 2014 (UTC)

I removed the bias tag, now that the paragraph in question is based only on supportable statements with citations. Xerlome (talk) 15:42, 24 May 2014 (UTC)

Date WMEA went on air?
This page states that the Biddeford TV station, WMEA, went on the air in 1984. But I have copies of TV Guide from 1981 that lists this channel (although with the call letters of WMEG). I also have a seen a copy of TV Guide from 1977 that states channel 26 in Biddeford as carrying the same programs as WMEB-TV Channel 12 in Orono. 67.80.138.183 00:27, 5 July 2007 (UTC)Jim True

Skoglund controvery
The page says that his program was due to air on 3 November 2007, but was not broadcast. Can't be right, this is only August now. What date should it be? Colonies Chris 11:50, 1 August 2007 (UTC)

It's 3 November 2006. It's the only way the timeline makes sense and is collaborated by the Bangor Daily News and by Skoglund's website. Dzhargal (talk) 17:48, 17 April 2014 (UTC)

Website, ownership, and sources
I would like to add a point about the lack of citation. Many of the statements, while true, are not documented elsewhere. Some of the contributors to this website are current or former employees of MPBN, and they may be in fear of losing their jobs, hence they have not been more public in citable sources. I tend to believe their contributions as they have little to gain by telling the truth. On the other hand, there are definitely members of the management who participate in the crafting of this page, with the obvious intent to protect the corporate image.The Media Librarian (talk) 08:26, 19 April 2008 (UTC)

Just a few quick critiques here:

1: The website has changed. The current location is http://www.mpbn.net/

2: As noted daily on the broadcasts, MPBN is owned by "Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin Colleges and the University of Maine System"--the latter of which is not the same as "The University of Maine" (which was once UMO, "The University of Maine at Orono"). (The University of Maine System is much like the SUNY system in New York State, for comparison.) I will not make that page change myself (nor any other) as my employer is one of those noted part owners. You (the editors) shouldn't have any trouble verifying this, as it is explained (in part) on the MPBN website.

3: Whilst I too think that the Controversy section provides an important look at the character of change in public broadcasting and an important discussion of "Free Speech vs. Management"--to leave it as the only substantial discussion of MPBN is somewhat misleading. Also, it is completely lacking in cited sources. I'm fairly certain that there is appropriate material available to cite which helps support this line of discussion--and plenty more available to anyone whom wishes to fill this out a bit.

216.220.255.210 (talk) 01:28, 15 February 2008 (UTC)

Location of Studios?
I was an engineer for WCBB TV from 1976 through 1978. At that time the studio was on Lisbon Street in Lewiston, Maine and the transmitter was in Litchfield. I see nothing mentioned in the article, but what became of the studio facility in Lewiston. Did that become the studio for the entire MPBN and the original studio on the Oreno campus got scrapped is is now classroom/lab space? Also, when I worked at WCBB TV, we had master control operations at the transmitter building in Litchfield (projectors, switches, video tape recorders, etc) and only studio equipment in Lewiston. What is the situation now? Is the Litchfield transmitter building now the master control for all of MPBN TV? Can someone who is still active with MPBN please do a write up on the physical and engineering scene at MPBN? I am now in Portland, Oregon and am quite removed. Are Roland Desjardins, Harold Goss, James Ledger, and Rodger Bardon still on the engineering staff? Thank you Allyn (talk) 20:33, 22 March 2015 (UTC)
 * Not sure there's sourced information about the previous CBB to include in the article. As to your questions, I believe master control is in Bangor now but they still have studios in Lewiston. MrRadioGuy P T C E 18:00, 31 March 2015 (UTC)

MPBN Changed To Maine Public
On September 21st, MPBN changed it's name to Maine Public. The new branding comes with a new logo and updated website. The press release on the Name change is located here: http://mainepublic.org/post/maine-public-broadcasting-network-introduces-new-name-and-brand-presence

The Wikipedia article should be updated to show the name change and new logo. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Bobbyk2000 (talk • contribs) 13:08, 4 October 2016 (UTC)

Updates Needed
I work for Maine Public, and there are a bunch of selected edits I'd suggest to update the page to reflect our re-branding and out-of-date information. What is the best way to do this so that I'm not editing the page myself? Avonir (talk) 17:04, 8 March 2019 (UTC)