Dear MASTERPIECE Viewers,
You may have seen in the news today that the White House signed an executive order overnight directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop funding public media. Neither PBS nor CPB believe this order is legal, but if it stands, it would negatively impact the public media system, including programming.
As loyal fans of MASTERPIECE, I wanted to reach out to you directly to share my thoughts about our series and how you might help.
In this time of uncertainty, I’ve been reflecting on the mission of MASTERPIECE, and the enduring value of our programs that are watched by millions of viewers each week, as they have been for 54 years.
Through timeless narratives and memorable characters, MASTERPIECE dramas entertain and enrich us with thought-provoking storylines and themes that connect us all. For me, MASTERPIECE is like great literature; it can be life-affirming and transformative.
For many of you, All Creatures Great and Small has been just that. When the series won the prestigious Christopher Spirit Award, it was cited as “a show that reminds us of life’s most important lessons — the bonds of community, the power of humor, the hope and resilience required to overcome struggles, the sacrifices we are called to make for a greater good, and the love that allows us to see the best in the people around us.”
Not all shows can achieve a sense of shared values and experience, but my goal is to find those stories that do. Our programs are based on exceptional novels (The Forsyte Saga and Great Expectations), original works (Downton Abbey), beloved mysteries (Endeavour and Grantchester), as well as prize-winning historical fiction (Wolf Hall and The Long Song), and powerful true stories (Mr Bates vs The Post Office).
As we face this challenge with federal funding, we hope that you will consider contacting your Congressional representative to voice your support for public media funding and MASTERPIECE by clicking this link.
Please know that I am personally committed, as are my colleagues at MASTERPIECE, to create a path forward for the series so that we may continue to bring you the shows you love.
Warmest Regards,
Head of Scripted Content and Executive Producer, MASTERPIECE
