1) BBCA is a branch of BBC; the only revenue it's bringing in is ad revenue. PBS is unaffiliated and has to buy the shows - which is more $$$ coming back to the BBC.
PBS isn't just buying the show, they're co-funding the show through a co-production deal through WGBH and Masterpiece. The fans I've seen on Twitter getting annoyed with BBC America for not showing Sherlock same day simply don't understand that it's not BBC America's to broadcast.
2) BBCA is a cable station available in only some markets, sometimes only in the "extras" package. PBS is an open network available to everyone with a TV. Bigger audience = more attention = more interest in the show (plus more pressure to buy the next season. See #1)
Exactly. Downton Abbey is pulling in twice the viewers on PBS that Doctor Who pulls on BBC America.
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PBS isn't just buying the show, they're co-funding the show through a co-production deal through WGBH and Masterpiece. The fans I've seen on Twitter getting annoyed with BBC America for not showing Sherlock same day simply don't understand that it's not BBC America's to broadcast.
2) BBCA is a cable station available in only some markets, sometimes only in the "extras" package. PBS is an open network available to everyone with a TV. Bigger audience = more attention = more interest in the show (plus more pressure to buy the next season. See #1)
Exactly. Downton Abbey is pulling in twice the viewers on PBS that Doctor Who pulls on BBC America.