Courtesy of Nine Network
Most of us grew up hearing the popular phrase, "Programming made possible by viewers like you." Who could forget Reading Rainbow, Arthur, or Thomas & Friends? Those shows were brought to you by public networks like the Nine Network.
I decided to take a look back at my childhood and reach out to some of Nine's key figures to talk about what's happening with the St. Louis network. Patricia Kistler, the Nine Network's Vice President of Programming, was kind enough to offer her time and answer my questions. Check it out!
Patricia Kistler, VP of Programming, Courtesy of Nine Network
Tell me a little about yourself and your role at Nine Network.
I am a St. Louis native, SLU grad and have been with the station in various capacities for over 30 years. (My sister-in-law’s mother was a Goedeker—the late Mildred Tichacek). I purchase the programming for our four channels. Two of them—WORLD (9.3) and CREATE (9.4)—are packaged channels that we “tweak” and brand locally. I program our primary channel, 9.1, and our kids’ channel, 9.2. The programming department also handles most of the operational and legal aspects of running a TV station.
What are some goals Nine would like to achieve this year?
We will soon realize one of our long-term goals, the completion of the Public Media Commons, a first of its kind interactive public space that will be the centerpiece of Grand Center’s Art Walk. More on that to come this fall!
Why do you feel your mission is important?
The Nine Network’s mission is to bring St. Louis together as we connect our region to the world and the world to St. Louis. It’s important that we can give the great things going on in St. Louis a wider audience that reaches across the country and the world. We do receive email from people in other countries who comment on a “Living St. Louis” segment that they’ve seen online. St. Louis stories that we produce for “Arts America” are shared with other PBS stations and broadcast all over the country. By the same token, where else but on Nine would St. Louisans be able to see productions from the Met in New York City, underwater explorations from the middle of the Pacific Ocean, inside the Vatican library, or discover how butterflies migrate 2,000 miles across North America?
How is Nine impacting the local community?
Our community engagement initiatives have extended Nine’s reach and the value of our programming beyond a television broadcast. We use new platforms and new ways of connecting with people to positively impact the community and effect change. With Your Stories: St. Louis Remembers World War II, we led an effort to collect and preserve the stories of veterans. Facing the Mortgage Crisis directed people to resources to help them save their homes. American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen brings focus and solutions to the dropout crisis. Water Matters raises awareness of the importance of water to the health of our lands, people and economies. These initiatives and more make a measurable impact on our community.
Courtesy of Nine Network
You have multiple how-to programs. Which one is most popular?
America’s Test Kitchen is the most popular cooking series. Host Chris Kimball seems to be very popular with our viewers. They also like gardening shows. P. Allen Smith’s series always do well—even in winter months. Other popular genres are home improvement and decorating (For Your Home).
Christopher Kimball and the cast of the Daytime Emmy-nominated America's Test Kitchen use a common-sense, practical approach to solve everyday cooking problems and help viewers save time and money. Photo credit: Christopher Churchill
Are any changes coming to the how-to program lineup? Possible new shows?
Speaking of “home improvement,” one of our most-watched series, This Old House, is changing time slots. It is moving from Saturdays at 6:30 pm to Saturdays at 5:00 pm so it can run adjacent to Ask This Old House. The change begins June 28.
We are very excited about a new once-a-month LOCAL cooking series called Feast. It’s scheduled the first Saturday of the month at 2:00 pm, then the following Monday at 1:00 pm—and several times during the month on CREATE. It features local chefs, food producers, covers the latest trends and includes cooking demonstrations. Cat Neville is host of the series and editor of the magazine on which the series is based.
Tell me about Nine Create? How is Nine Network making this channel available to St. Louis?
Our lifestyle channel is very popular. It is available 24 hours a day, over the air and on Charter.
What’s the best way for people to get involved?
Nine welcomes volunteers to help in many different capacities. Anyone interested can call our volunteer coordinator, Brittany Farmer, at (314) 512-9031.
Feast: Photo Credit: Jonathan Gayman for Feast Magazine
How can the public donate to Nine?
Everyone is well acquainted with the Nine Network’s on-air membership drives! Our next one is coming up in June. At any time, folks can call our membership department to donate—(314) 512-9199 or (800) 729-9966—or go online at www.nineNet.org and click “support.”
Is there anything else you’d like the public to know?
When you watch Nine and hear the tagline that the programming is made possible “by viewers like you,” it’s absolutely true. The support of the community is vital, and we greatly appreciate the trust and generosity of our community.
I want to give a huge thanks to Patricia for answering my questions and Terri Gates for making this interview possible.
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Inside the Nine Network of St. Louis by Liz Carroll