South Bank Show
It’s The Arts — Or, Rather, It Was The Arts
In fairness to the CBC, they’re hardly the only broadcaster that’s skimping on arts-‘n-culture programming. In the United Kingdom, ITV, the network whose format most resembles the CBC’s (a public-service broadcaster with commercials) is canceling England’s longest-running arts program — sorry “programme” — The South Bank Show, a series that does a soft-sell documentary profile of some arts or pop-culture figure every week, with first-rate directors and production values. Usually one profile a week, but sometimes more; you can see the complete episode list at Epguides.com.