Frontline - Money Well Spent

nospam@example.com (Paul Reinheimer) — Sun, 10 May 2009 20:26:51 -0400

Over the past few months I’ve purchased several episodes of Frontline on iTunes via my Apple TV. I’ve enjoyed each and every one of them immensely. This is honestly some of the most intelligent television programming I’ve seen in recent memory.

I find watching traditional news rather exhausting: they seem to endlessly both sensationalize with big scares, and trivialize with witty phrases and puns. All that and the scant forty-four minutes allotted for news, weather, sports, and inane banter only allows a casual skim of each topic, as opposed to an in depth investigation.

Frontline episodes tend to be about as long as they need to be. Most run at one hour (56 minutes, as opposed to 44), with others at an hour and a half, or two hours. They’re packed with intelligent narration, well researched and supported statements - just great programming. Every episode I’ve seen I’ve found myself discussing the topics contained within after the show, and in the ensuing days and weeks.

Frontline makes their episodes available for free at PBS.org, but they’re honestly a steal at $1.99 a pop. I’m also happy to pay for programming I enjoy, especially since it seems as though PBS is receiving a chunk of the money I’m spending.