It seems like every time you turn on your television these days you're bombarded with messages concerning public television. Some are just ads for private commercial mortgages or other services that touch on hot button issues for attention, but others advocate its benefits and ask for your moral support and some even ask for donations and financial support to keep public television alive. You may be wondering what the difference is between public television and regular television, or even why you should care. Here's some information that can help you figure it out.

What is public broadcasting?

The major difference between public broadcasting and commercial broadcasting is that public television is either partly or wholly supported by the public. Commercial broadcasters are aiming to make money off of their television stations, which is why you'll see commercials for an airport taxi, Toronto Stock Exchange broker, or new brand of toothpaste during your program. The aim of public networks, however, is the disbursement of knowledge among the population rather than to generate a profit.

Who are public broadcasters?

The main public television station in Canada is the CBC, or Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which is controlled and run by the government of Canada and available nationwide in both French and English. Positions at this network frequently turn up on Ottawa job searches for Federal Government positions. Other public broadcasters in Canada include provincial networks Knowledge (BC), TV Ontario, Saskatchewan's SKN network, and Tele-Quebec. Commercial cable companies are also required to operate local stations in their coverage areas - this is where you'll find your local talk shows and community events.

Who pays for public broadcasting?

You do. As a taxpayer, portions of your income taxes are used to fund programming on the CBC. If you live in a province with a provincial public TV network, your provincial taxes go towards its operation. CBC is also partially funded by advertising revenues (which is why you see ads for executive recruiting services during breaks). Some of its affiliates, like CBC Newsworld, are entirely funded this way. Local community channels which are not run by cable companies are funded through donations (both corporate and private) while the cable access channels are funded by the company's revenues.

What's the issue between local TV and cable companies?

Since local community television is available free of charge in its catchment area, broadcasters do not receive any money from cable companies who carry their programming. Viewers, however, pay a fee to the cable companies to have this programming available to them. This issue is that local television broadcasters want the funding that is collected from the viewers for their service by the cable companies so they can continue to interview a videographer in Toronto on their local talk shows.

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