Post-Rukeyser, A Public TV Net Struggles Mightily

Maryland Public Television just hasn’t been the same since it fired Louis Rukeyser from the popular “Wall $treet Week” program two years ago. Since letting Rukeyser go with the stated goal of taking the program in “a new direction,” MPT’s paying subscriber rolls have dropped by 15%, and there is an undeniable credibility problem with viewers. The appointment of a new private-sector businessman to run the network is providing some hope that a turnaround may be in the works, but others worry that knowledge of how to wield a sharp budget knife is only the first skill set that MPT needs in order to stay relevant.