Business Connection; 0200

Business connection is made by MDC to serve all of our diverse communities and is made possible by the generous support of our members. Thank you and Charles Robinson for this disconnection. One of the state's largest building projects is cool morning in Baltimore. We're going to take a look at one company that's literally on the ground here. That's coming up. The governor last night you know now is preparing to take office. Just who will remain in place in Annapolis. And a violent and I'll tell you why coming up. And I'm Jeff sulk and we'll have those stories and we'll meet the new president of PBS show on tonight's business connection. Business connection starts now. Hello I'm Jeff Salk and welcome to business connection it was not that long ago that in most

households television consisted of a handful of stations that could be received over the air. Now most people receive hundreds of cable channels for PBS which was one of four stations way back when. This has been a difficult competitive environment as just one of the many challenges facing the new head of PBS PBS president Paula Kerger joins us now from Arlington to talk about it. Thank you very much for being with us. Thank you it's wonderful to be with you. You have been on the job there since March. But you didn't come from outside the industry. No I've spent the last almost 14 years in this industry and it's really been extraordinary. And I understand that there's even some family history in public broadcasting your grandfather was involved in launching the station. That's right. A public broadcasting is actually a part of my birthright. My grandfather was one of the founders of the BJC. And so not only do I have roots in public broadcasting but I have roots in public broadcasting in this

community. And so I grew up listening to public radio and watching a lot of public television and so it seemed in some ways almost destiny that I would come into this. Well sure things have changed a bit how how would you briefly assess the state of public broadcasting. Well it is an interesting time in as you said in the end that your introductory comments there was a time when there were four channels and we were one and we had a very large and robust audience but the entire media industry has changed tremendously. And not just because we live in a 500 channel environment it's also changed because we're now looking at lots of different ways of distributing content whether it's their broadcasts whether it's through cable or satellite but also whether it's through on demand type of technologies whether it's through streaming video whether it's through iPods and there's just a whole host of ways to push content out and to reach people that are interested in the work that you're doing. And for us in public television this is an extraordinarily exciting time because the work that we do lends itself so well to so many of these new platforms and the ability to send our content out so it reaches new

audiences it makes this I think the most exciting time in our history. Why is that what is it about the content that PBS produces that stations produce that maybe lends itself better than some other types of programming to these different types of transmission. Well think about for example some of the great work of filmmaker Ken Burns and think about the potential if you're a child studying the Civil War for example in school being able to access his work any time you want to see it or think about someone at home trying to make the perfect soufflé trying to access Julia Child's work or think about. The someone that isn't able to get out and go to see performances or travel to New York to see the Metropolitan Opera to be able to watch it in high definition and not only see the beautiful images but hear the sound as it was intended in the opera house. All of those are projects that we're involved in right now the end of January we'll be broadcasting the Metropolitan Opera as Magic Flute.

Julie Taymor it's a new production and we'll be doing it in high definition so those that have high definition sets will be able to watch it and enjoy every moment of the Opera broadcast and those that have traditional sets will be able to enjoy it as well in their living rooms and I think that's part of what we're thinking about as we think about new technologies different programming that fits different types of platforms and and being able to really serve the public in a way that I think the founders of public broadcasting. I hadn't even envisioned and that's why I think this is such an exciting time for us. I saw that there was some material available on iTunes. Well let's watch the initial response like. Because one thing you know when it's being downloaded is how many times it's been downloaded. We do know that and I think it's surprising because I think a lot of people have an assumption about new media that it is only a young audience that is using those kind of platforms and I think for the for example with iTunes The News Hour is traditionally one of the top hundred downloads on a consistent basis.

BILL MOYERS series from earlier this year on faith and reason was in the top 20. And so we're getting a lot of interest on iTunes both on the audio as well as on the video on the video side. Two of the top titles and we've only been up on video on iPod on the iTunes platform for a little more than a month and Scientific American Frontiers and Nova are both at the top of the list and so I think that that gives you a sense of. The fact that a lot of people are accessing content in that way that are not necessarily the 16 to 18 year olds that I think most of us assume are the only ones that have those little white ear plugs tied to their heads. So it is she it is all about content and I want to take a look at a PBS promotional reel that has some brief clips and give us a feel for what's on TV during this current season. Sure.

This is the first thing you notice in that spot is the tremendous diversity of programming across many genres. The question is from a competitive standpoint and for a business audience is that of the advantage or is there a risk of trying to be too many things to too many people. Well I think it's an absolute advantage. We really I think there is one common thread to all the programming that we produce and that's high quality. And so I think a lot of people are drawn to public television as a place to watch programming around topics that they are interested in.

But I think it's also a place that draws a lot of people that come just because of the serendipity of the kind of work that we do so that when you turn on public television any given night you may see a fabulous music performance or you may see an amazing historical documentary or you may see a science special that opens your mind and in a whole new way and I think that's what makes us so so different a distinctive. Sometimes it's a challenge because if you're the History Channel you know what you're promoting and if you're a viewer you know that if you turn on the History Channel you're going to get a history documentary for us having such a broad cross-section of work that we do. It challenges us to think about the way that we're positioning ourselves we don't have enormous amounts of money to invest in advertising and so we really look at multiple ways to get our word out and to reach out to to many different audiences and we're doing that through traditional ways of promotion as well as some of the new platforms like YouTube for example where we've been running some promotional material

to actually quite great response. And then you get a big blockbuster like the Ken Burns series called World War 2 That's coming up next year that you're going to tell me about that. What do we expect from that. That's going to be an extraordinary documentary it's 14 and a half hours long. And what it can has done in this work and he has said by the way that this is his greatest work now I think every filmmaker always refers to the last work as their greatest work. But I think in this case I've seen pieces of this documentary and it is extraordinarily gripping. It is slightly different than some of his previous work in that he uses a lot of. Photographs he uses a lot of letters but he also uses a lot of video and video that he has accumulated from home video to newsreel footage some of which has not been seen before and he tells the story of World War 2 from the perspective of four different communities in this country so he's talking about the war both from the United States perspective as well as from the perspective of those that we're fighting overseas. I

think that when you consider the fact that World War 2 veterans are dying at a rate of a thousand a day that this is an extraordinary opportunity for us to tell a story for those who are quickly leaving us it's a part of our history that is just slipping between our fingers and we're losing this series within public television as a way to try to not only tell the story on a national basis but also tell local stories as well I think it's going to be one of those defining moments for Public Broadcasting and we're looking forward to it broadcast in September of next year. What's happening with the issue of some profanity there that's in that piece. And of course the FCC crackdown on profanity in prime time has a decision been made on what to do. You know we have you know we are talking. A lot about the fact that I think what had been intended and I certainly understand the perspective that led to some of the crackdown on some of the broadcast work I think I understand what the

intent was I think for Public Broadcasting we've been we've been caught and in some of our documentaries I mean our documentaries are not sensational I think that's one thing that no one would ever accuse public television of being. But on the same time we do want some of our filmmakers that we do want our filmmakers to be able to tell their stories and some of those stories do require language that may be a bit strong for some. And for those times we want to be able to put disclaimers around the programs as we always have done and let viewers know that the nature of the content in fact in the in the case of the World War 2 documentary that some of the war footage is actually quite powerful as well. And so we're hopeful that by the time we broadcast the program next year that there will be. A clear understanding that this is the kind of work that should be on television and I think it belongs to be it's it is it is an important work and it's important work not only as an historical document but I think it just tells a lot about this this country at a time when people made great sacrifice and I think that that's a very important story and it one is one that deserves to be

told and it needs to be told in the words of those who lived at the time. We're down to just half a minute but I did want to ask you to give us the brief headline on what a Democratic Congress means not only for the profanity issue but but for PBS funding. We've always had broad bipartisan support in public television and that's one of the things that makes us so strong and does a survey every year and in fact we. Are found to be not only the most trusted in terms of a particular news coverage but also in terms of investment of federal dollars the public views public television second only to national defense and in terms of the best use of federal dollars. And so I'm very optimistic as we move forward that will continue to make our case for funding and we look forward to working with the new Congress as it comes in in that regard. Paula Kerger president of PBS joining us from Arlington thanks very much for your time we appreciate thank you for having me.

And now tonight's business headlines are office holiday parties undergoing a make over and the scoop on nanotechnology. Heather Harlan from the Baltimore and Washington Business Journals has those stories and more. Thank you. With Democratic governor elect Martin O'Malley preparing to make sweeping personnel changes in state government. It is unclear whether Republicans with lucrative contracts will remain employed at the top of the list as Helen Bentley the former GOP Congresswoman who reaps $100 an hour as a consultant for the Maryland Port Administration. Bentley is considered an ally of outgoing Republican Governor Bob Ehrlich. It was on his watch that the Port of Baltimore was renamed for Bentley and that the consultant earned healthy fees each year. Bentley Bolden $67000 from the MPAA this year through October 25th. That's down from about one hundred fourteen thousand dollars in 2005 and ninety eight thousand dollars in 2004. And a new report forecasts the high cost of construction materials will ease slightly in the next few months. According to the Associated General

Contractors of America prices of construction materials will see a 2 to 4 percent increase in the near future instead of the double digit hikes common during the past couple of years. In other business news. So just what is nanotechnology. A group of industry experts are making plans for a nationwide nanotech Institute in the Washington area to educate others about the emerging field. Even as nano particles begin to appear in everything from freezer bags to bed linens and as the nanotech market is predicted to top one trillion dollars in four years the public understanding of the molecule smallest mites remains dim. Finally Tis the season for the holiday office celebration. But event planners say the clichéd office Christmas party is slowly being replaced with more creative and family friendly options like Carolyn bowling and charity outings. Even still with low unemployment most companies are finding ways to reward workers this month. According to research firm Challenger Gray and Christmas 79 percent of U.S. companies are planning some

kind of holiday party. And nearly one in three companies plan to increase their party budgets this year for business connection I'm Heather Harlan with the Baltimore and Washington Business Journal's back to you. Thanks Heather Well the holiday shopping season is in full swing and joining us now with an update from the trenches is Thomas Aquinas president of the Maryland Retailers Association. Tom it's good to see I think. Thanks for having me. What are you hearing so far. So far so good we go to a very strong start with Black Friday and I think continued things continued the following day on Saturday and things will produce pretty good all through today so I think it's going to be a pretty good season for Merrill's merchants. We heard Black Friday wasn't so hot for Wal-Mart is that of a localized thing do you think or is that an indication that something else is going on. I think it's a national thing with Wal-Mart just with Wal-Mart just Wal-Mart. They are very big but as Wal-Mart go the retailers through the Eico So I think other retailers are doing very well this holiday season despite Wal-Mart's problems.

I guess you know people are always looking for the best deal in the end the least crowded parking lot. Those are the two things and and we hear from people that they're increasingly avoiding malls and maybe that's a localized thing but but the big box stores seem to be drawing more attention. A lot of people are always predicting the death of malls but they're still around they'll be with us for a long time but certainly the big box stores who tend to have their own types of centers often very adjacent to malls have certainly grabbed a lot of the holiday sales. What we saw this year is special Black Friday is a lot of you like all your main streets in your small towns and urban neighborhoods had a very good Black Friday Normally you don't really see their big holiday shopping starting until or if a few weeks into the season so I think that's a very hopeful sign was there for the most part small locally owned stores and so we were very glad to hear that news. I wonder if Black Friday was a it was a bigger deal if it seems like there was a time when you saw fewer sales in that peak Christmas shopping season the month of three weeks before Christmas and then you saw big after Christmas sales but really after. If

you were shopping on Black Friday you were going to pay full price and that's really no longer the case and you see more people waiting hoping for that big last minute sale. It's sort of a cat and mouse game and surly entries get a lot more promotional last 10 or 15 years. We're always told shoppers is if you want to wait you may get a lower price but you won't get the selection you may want. Suppose you're buying clothing or apparel or something like that so there is sort of a cat a cat and mouse game there were between the merchant who wants to protect his margins his prices and and the shopper is holding out to see if the merger will lower their prices. What's the impact of Internet shopping on your membership it is certainly grown and grown as truly as mainstream. Accounts for about 8 percent of total retail sales in the country I think is probably a little higher in Maryland because most studies shows people of higher education and income level shop more on the Internet. It's expected that this holiday season Internet sales will grow about 25 percent and about forty seven percent of the people will make at least one of their purchases on the Internet so

that more and more people are doing it and just about every type of merchandise is now available on internet so and you find most stores actually are selling both from their store front as well as from the online site. What's it mean for a smaller retailer because you're competing against the big national chains that the national online retailers that have the snazziest websites and have some pricing power. But then again anybody can set up a website and it's pretty easy for a mom and pop store to do it this way and we have encouraged for a number of years in a lot of your independent stores are selling it. It broadens their mortgage if you're a local store where you saw a very unique type of merchandise. Suddenly your market becomes almost worldwide if you will. And with your proven in electronics and shipping and things like that even an independent merchant who has a very unique type of merchandise has his or her market has expanded tremendously because of the online sales. Now we see you around the halls of Annapolis on occasion. Curious what's your agenda for the next legislative session.

Well of course Raul expecting you know a lot of changes will have a new governor and we're going to see a tremendous number of changes in the makeup of the legislature about 25 percent turnover. So I think things go a store a little slow I think. Most business organizations like mine are going to take a little wait and see attitude. One of the bills that we may be pursuing this year is you know we've had a sales tax holiday on a few occasions in Maryland. We'd like to make that permanent and expand the type of merchandise which is covered right now. The two previous holidays been limited to clothing and shoes. We like to spend at the all kinds of merchandise and raise the threshold level significantly but maybe limit the number of days so that's one of the things we'll probably pursue this this this session. We certainly saw a lot of conflict over the past few legislative sessions. Now the experiment with two party government is coming to an end. But still there's the potential for conflict whenever the legislature is in session.

Well Jeff you've been there as long as I have and you know you with one part of your story a lot of reasons for disagreement. And we'll certainly see that the the of the two institutions the House and the Senate they want to stake out their tour to respect your views of the new governor. And there are geographic differences that that pop up and some philosophical differences even within the Democratic Party so there will be a lot of debate and fireworks this session. All right last question for a man wearing a Santa Clause time. You done your Christmas shopping. I started actually started going for this evening as well. All right Tom thanks so much for joining us we appreciate it thank you. One of the largest development projects in the state is taking place on Baltimore's east side. Charles Robinson looks at how one minority firm is getting its share of this multimillion dollar project. The sight of bricks and metal are exactly what construction is looking for. The construction firm was awarded the contract to level more than 500 properties on Baltimore's East Side for plans Jones the owner of

the NJ being selected as vindication of minority firms can do the job and other minorities give other minorities because we have a track record already and it can't be that minorities can do the same was awarded an 8 million dollar contract which I believe is it is not the largest one of the largest contracts given to a 100 percent minority owner. P NJ is also reaching out to other minority firms and local residents who need work. Every project we go to we try to help the community we try to work at the community we try to give work to the people from the community and it feels good that I can give them work and we can make this place look better you know I was looking to fool you just look better and you stand here and look across and you can see this all this open area and you look up further you see buildings coming up and you know the community is going to grow and on at the Rive and it will be work for everyone. The first phase of this project involves demolition and debris removal. Now it's

time to move on to the construction part. Boppin chief operating officer for East Baltimore Development and believes this is just the beginning for a small minority and women owned businesses. But there will also be opportunities for those who want to try their hands in business. There are a lot of people who want to go in the business. They don't have all the skill sets the wherewithal. We're hoping and what we can do there is to bring several. And and we can debate them and they can stay in for a period of time nine months and there be a certain amount of energy from all of the various businesses located there driving all of this development is research being done at Johns Hopkins Hospital put it over literally transform a community that are made.

For business connection. And that's our program you can reach us anytime with your comments and questions online at NPT dot org. Tomorrow at this time on State Senate President Mike Miller Joyce is to look at the upcoming session and his decision not to seek reelection to the Senate. Now for all of us here thanks for watching business connection. And all of our diverse community members. Thank you.