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WCFE is in a unique market. Across Lake Champlain to the east lies the city of Burlington, Vermont, home to another PBS affiliate: Vermont Public TelevisionVermont Public Television VPT is a network of public television stations throughout the state of Vermont, affiliated with PBS. It has been operational since October 16, 1967. VPT broadcasts from the following locations in Vermont: Burlington (WETK), Rutla. To the west lies WatertownWatertown is a town and city which is the county seat of Jefferson County, New York; it is located on US Interstate 81 approximately 75 miles north of Syracuse. Watertown is 25 miles south of the international 1000 Islands region, which is most famous for, New York, home to PBS affiliate WPBSNew York broadcaster WPBS-TV is one of two PBS flagship stations, the other being KPBS in California. At least that's how this article would begin if PBS were exactly like other major US networks such as ABC, CBS and NBC. PBS, however, is different each i. As a result, in much of WCFE's broadcast area viewers are actually served by two PBS affiliates. For years, WCFE has searched for a way to stand out.
One of its solutions has been to not broadcast certain various signature PBS television shows at the same date and time as the main network. For example, for a number of years WCFE did not broadcast PBS's Masterpiece TheatreMasterpiece Theatre (also known as ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theater and earlier Mobil Masterpiece Theater is the title of a long-running television series that premiered on PBS on January 10, 1971 and is produced by WGBH. The show has allowed a large number on SundaySunday is the day of the week between Saturday and Monday. It gets its name from Sunne, the Saxon Sun god, or Sunna the Scandinavian Sun goddess. Sunday is sometimes held to be the last day of the week (especially in modern Europe and South America), and evenings; it would also broadcast Wall Street WeekWall $treet Week W$W is a respected, long-running investment news and information TV program broadcast weekly on PBS in the United States. It has a host (or hosts) and guest experts participate in discussion on the stock market and focuses on forecasts. on SaturdaySaturday is the day of the week between Friday and Sunday. Its name is unique among the names of days, in that it is derived from the Roman god Saturn, while the other six names are derived from Saxon gods. By tradition derived from ancient Jews, Saturday instead of Friday, to name but two examples.
This practice has always been somewhat controversial amongst WCFE's members, especially those who do not live in overlapping broadcast areas. As a result, the station has reduced the practice somewhat, and has taken to airing a number of the most popular PBS shows at the same time as the main network.
WCFE has some 8,500 members (according to figures as of August 2004). Of these members, 4,500 live in Canada. The fact that more than half of its members are Canadian presents some challenges. First, WCFE has to take Canadian interests into account in its programming. Second, the Canadian presence has an impact in its fundraising activities. Not only does WCFE make an effort to include French-language elements in its fundraising for the Quebec market, but it must take into account that a part of the funds that it receives is in Canadian dollars. The fluctuations in the exchange rate between the Canadian and American dollar make budgeting difficult. In addition, in the past decade the decrease in the value of the Canadian dollar compared to its American counterpart have meant a decrease in revenues for WCFE. Fortunately, the Canadian dollar has gain ground since 2003, meaning a slight increase for WCFE.