Maryland Public Television

Robert J. Shuman, a former cable TV executive known for his skill in raising and managing money, will be named today as the new president of Maryland Public Television, a move designed to help the network thrive in an era of dwindling government financing.Shuman, 51, of Potomac, moves to MPT after six years at Civic Network Communications Inc., a Washington company that uses television to provide career development training for community leaders.He fills a job left vacant by the firing last October of Raymond K. K. Ho.One of the founders of the Learning Channel, Shuman also brings to the job an extensive background in educational and community television.

Fourteen-year-old Caitlyn Fernandes of Dayton has dreams of one day being an actress, but when she landed a role in a television special that will air this week on Maryland Public Television, it wasn't the bright lights that attracted her attention. It was the dolphins. Filming for the show, "The Great Aquarium Treasure Hunt," took place after hours over several days at the National Aquarium in Baltimore . For the Glenelg High School freshman, it was a dream come true. "I'm really into animals, so seeing all of the aquatic life was my favorite part," she said.

MARYLAND PUBLIC Television is the fourth largest producer of programming for public TV nationwide, creating such well-regarded series as Louis Rukeyser's "Wall Street Week." Yet never has a show born in Maryland opened with the kind of hype surrounding "Kratts' Creatures," a new series for pre-teens."Kratts' Creatures" might best be described as the old Marlon Perkins adventure series made hip for the MTV generation. It follows brothers Chris and Martin Kratt as they cross the globe via backpack, surfboard and mountain bike to explore the animal kingdom.

Brian Roberts of Forest Hill has been named executive producer of MotorWeek, Maryland Public Television's long-running national automotive series. In his new role, Roberts will oversee all aspects of the daily production of the PBS show that airs weekly in 92 percent of public television markets nationwide. "Brian Roberts is a tremendous asset to the MotorWeek team, keeping all the day-to-day production elements on track so that new episodes can be delivered each week," MotorWeek's creator and host John Davis said in a press release.

Maryland Public Television said Wednesday that Steven J. Schupak, its senior vice president, has been named chief content officer. Schupak, who joined MPT in 2003, oversees the development, production, licensing and national distribution of the station's programs, among other responsibilities. Schupak is responsible for the station's local productions, including "Outdoors Maryland" and "State Circle. " During his tenure, MPT has earned 26 Emmy Awards and other industry honors for its productions.

WHEN RAYMOND K. K. HO was fired two years ago from Maryland Public Television, one of the knocks against the controversial president was that he splurged on shows with a national or international focus, but neglected the folks at home.Monday will bring the latest example of a new era at MPT when it rolls out a weeknight news program called Newsnight Maryland. It is the most ambitious venture to date under Mr. Ho's successor, Robert J. Shuman.The show symbolizes the change at the top of the state's public TV station, from Mr. Ho, who had the air of a tent-revival preacher, to Mr. Shuman, a more contemplative executive from Potomac who founded The Learning Channel on cable.

For the last two weeks, I have done everything I could to get people to watch "The Learning," an illuminating documentary about the lives of four Filipina teachers who are recruited to teach in Baltimore City Schools. I have blogged, and here's a link to that. I have gone on WYPR radio to talk about it, and here's a link to that. I am upset that Maryland Public Television is airing at 10:30 tonight (Sept. 25) on its digital channel 22.2 only. It debuted Tuesday night on public televisions  stations nationwide.

Don't let your feelings one way or the other about New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie stop you from thinking dispassionately about what he has to say about the perils of state-run public television systems like the one we have in Maryland. Christie, a conservative, has been trying to get his state out of the public television business in an effort to cut ballooning state government costs. Maryland has most or all of the same kinds of money problems. And like New Jersey, Maryland is one of the states where the state, not a non-profit citizens group, holds the license, provides funds and controls content on the statewide public television operation.

Beginning Nov. 2, parents will be able to watch PBS with their children in the afternoon, then hustle on down to the library that night and help them read more about it.If spending more time with the characters and concepts introduced daily to kids on public television is a good thing, then Maryland Public Television's new "Ready to Learn Library Reading Project" is just what the doctor -- or the educator -- ordered.Presented during a luncheon at Baltimore's Clarion Hotel Wednesday as a groundbreaking partnership between MPT and Maryland's public library systems, the project will place reading stations at branches in Maryland's 23 counties and Baltimore City.

Just days before the debut of the new version of Wall Street Week With Fortune, the people out at Maryland Public Television's Owings Mills studios say they're too busy to be nervous. "I don't start getting jitters until a half-hour before we go on the air," says John T. Potthast, MPT's senior vice president for content enterprises, as he sits inside a bustling control room. A graphic artist nearby is manipulating images on one of 24 television screens before him, superimposing a series of faces over the head of a strapping male model from the cover of a fitness magazine - first actor David Hasselhoff, then MPT President and CEO Robert J. Shuman, then that of a golden retriever.

When Maryland Public Television debuts "The Heart of the Civil War" on Sept. 11, it will showcase many Carroll County sites. The hour-long documentary features areas like Westminster and Uniontown and battlefields that were critical to both sides in the war between the states. The film includes footage of the most crucial territories where Confederate and Union forces battled for strategic advantage in Carroll, Frederick and Washington counties. The story focuses on Maryland residents enmeshed in the famous battles, whose sites still draw hundreds of tourists annually.

"The Maryland Harvest," a new documentary exploring the partnership between Maryland farmers and chefs, debuts Tuesday night at 9 p.m. on Maryland Public Television. You can watch a teaser for the documentary here . Produced by Hoopla, Inc. and hosted by Al Spoler, "The Maryland Harvest" follows the seasons as it chronicles several chef-farmer partnerships. Among the chefs are Spike Gjerde (Woodberry Kitchen), Cindy Wolf (Charleston) and David McCallum (Tilghman Island Inn)

With "fracking" once again in the news, Maryland Public Television is airing a timely examination of the controversy around the controversial method for extracting natural gas. At 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday (3/21), MPT broadcasts " Fracking: Weighing the Risks ," looking at the pros and cons of drilling for gas in Marcellus shale deposits in Appalachia.  The 40-minute documentary portrays the divisions within western Maryland, where some farmers yearn for royalties from gas wells to help them stay on the land while others fear that drilling could destroy their water supply, their property and their health.

Maryland Public Television said Wednesday that Steven J. Schupak, its senior vice president, has been named chief content officer. Schupak, who joined MPT in 2003, oversees the development, production, licensing and national distribution of the station's programs, among other responsibilities. Schupak is responsible for the station's local productions, including "Outdoors Maryland" and "State Circle. " During his tenure, MPT has earned 26 Emmy Awards and other industry honors for its productions.

A Virginia man was injured and cited with trespassing after he tried to parachute off the Maryland Public Television radio tower in Crownsville. A second man was also cited for trespassing. According to the Anne Arundel County police department, Robert Scott Morgan, 25, of Fairfax, Va., sustained injuries when his parachute did not fully open before he hit the ground after jumping off the radio tower shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday. The incident occurred in the 1600 block of Hawkins Road in Crownsville.

For the last two weeks, I have done everything I could to get people to watch "The Learning," an illuminating documentary about the lives of four Filipina teachers who are recruited to teach in Baltimore City Schools. I have blogged, and here's a link to that. I have gone on WYPR radio to talk about it, and here's a link to that. I am upset that Maryland Public Television is airing at 10:30 tonight (Sept. 25) on its digital channel 22.2 only. It debuted Tuesday night on public televisions  stations nationwide.

When it comes to guessing which PBS stations produce the most programs,the big ones shouldn't be tough to figure.Boston's WGBH? Of course. It's got "Masterpiece Theater," "Mystery" and "Frontline," not to mention "The American Experience."New York's WNET? Makes sense. First, it's in New York, where everything's big. And second, it's responsible for "Great Performances."Washington's WETA? Naturally, considering it's got Ken Burns among its stable of stars.But don't forget Maryland Public Television.

The direction of public television in Maryland could be decided Monday when the state commission that runs the network meets to resolve a bitter, behind-the-scenes battle over the future of its controversial president, Raymond K. K. Ho.Mr. Ho, whose performance has been under scrutiny for months, may have forced the hand of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission by going public with a series of accusations against Gov. Parris N. Glendening and commission Chairman David H. Nevins."The Monday meeting is certainly a turning point in the history of Maryland Public Television," said Mr. Ho, who has been MPT's president for nine years.

Baltimore's only televised debate among incumbent Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and all her challengers will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. Aug. 29 and be hosted by Maryland Public Television at its Owings Mills Studio, according to a campaign spokeswoman for the mayor and a news executive at WBFF (Channel 45), which has agreed to stream the debate online and carry it on tape delay. MPT had not yet confirmed the details, but a spokesman for the public brodacsting outlet said they would have an announcement later today.

Don't let your feelings one way or the other about New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie stop you from thinking dispassionately about what he has to say about the perils of state-run public television systems like the one we have in Maryland. Christie, a conservative, has been trying to get his state out of the public television business in an effort to cut ballooning state government costs. Maryland has most or all of the same kinds of money problems. And like New Jersey, Maryland is one of the states where the state, not a non-profit citizens group, holds the license, provides funds and controls content on the statewide public television operation.