Phil's Friday Facts: 08/28/26

Phil Meyer, CEO of SOPBS, here.

Welcome to Phil's Friday Facts, where I share station news, programming highlights and industry trends.

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Here's Your First Look At All Creatures Great & Small Season 7

All Creatures Great and Small returns on January 17, 2027 at 9pm.

All Creatures Great and Small Season 7 returns viewers to the beautiful Yorkshire Dales in 1946. With the war finally over, Skeldale House is full once again and livelier than ever as our beloved characters reunite under one roof and look ahead to a hopeful new chapter. James is excited about new developments in veterinary medicine, but a new vet in the area threatens the status quo. The world at large may be changing, but inside this slice of Yorkshire, the Dales will always offer the same perfect escapism. Packed with warmth, humour and community spirit, the season brings more heartwarming tales of people and animals alike. Read more here.

August Is Make-A-Will Month

Get peace of mind: Take just 20 minutes to create or update your legally‑binding will.

We are pleased to partner with FreeWill to provide this free service to our donors, to assist individuals in planning for their future and crafting the next chapter in their life stories.

Go here to get started.

Meta Reaches $17 Billion Settlement With States Over Teen Social Media Addiction

Meta said the new safeguards will only apply in the United States, with most in place for 10 years.

Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion and add stronger child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states, state attorneys general announced Wednesday. Read the PBS News Hour story here.

Besides the money, which will be paid out over a decade, Meta has agreed to strengthen its age estimates to keep kids under 13 off its platforms and teens in age-appropriate accounts, enact a hard limit of two hours a day for users under 18, block kids from the apps from midnight to 6am, and hide "like" counts, among other changes. While acknowledging the changes go further than Meta has ever gone when it comes to child safety, critics and children's advocates cautioned it will not solve its myriad problems overnight. Read the follow-up story here.

SPOTLIGHT Member Magazine Is Available Online

Station news, programming highlights, and primetime listings.

The September/October issue of SPOTLIGHT was dropped at the Post Office this week. Current SOPBS Members at the $45 level or higher receive the 40-page member magazine every other month.

You can view the SPOTLIGHT archives here, as well as browse the current issue, available now.

ICYMI: Fired Stars And Stripes Staffers File Lawsuit Against Pentagon, Hegseth

The suit asks the court to halt their terminations as unlawful and seeks an immediate restraining order.

The Pentagon’s firing last week of three employees of the newspaper Stars and Stripes was done out of retaliation over unflattering coverage of a Navy deployment and in violation of the protected right to free speech, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday in Washington. Read the Stars and Stripes story here.

Program Highlights

This week's best and brightest.

Passport Pick: Bergerac. Bergerac is a broken man, battling his demons and on leave after the death of his wife. A modern reimagining of the iconic Jersey-set detective series starring Damien Molony as Detective Jim Bergerac.  Binge all six episodes here. As a Passport Member of SOPBS, your support gets you exclusive access to content like this.

Friday, August 28 at 9pm   N E W

Great Performances: Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert 2026

The Vienna Philharmonic performs an open-air concert from the gardens of Austria's Schönbrunn Palace; bass-baritone Bryn Terfel performs arias from Falstaff and Tevye's song from Fiddler on the Roof.

Saturday, August 29 at 7pm

2026 SOU Student Film Showcase   N E W

OREGON CONTENT

Celebrate the local award-winning and nominated films from the 2026 Southern Oregon University Student Film Festival. Featuring a selection of six films, introduced by the filmmakers themselves.

Sunday, August 30 at 4pm

SCHEDULE CHANGE

Dolly Parton: Here I Am

The life, career and music of Dolly Parton are reflected in interviews with friends, companions and the artist herself, mixed with clips of Parton's performances.

Monday, August 31 at 10pm   N E W

POV: Arrest the Midwife

The arrest of trusted midwives ignites an unexpected rebellion, as Amish and Mennonite women break from tradition and emerge as fierce political activists joining the broader fight for reproductive justice.

Tuesday, September 1 at 9pm

Billy the Kid: American Experience

Henry McCarty, aka Billy the Kid, captures national attention with his reckless violence.

Wednesday, September 2 at 10pm   N E W

Resolve to Solve With Miles O'Brien: Preserving Nature in Argentina and Antarctica

Conserving an Argentinian landscape where jaguars, river otters and other keystone species were hunted to extinction; and an expedition to Antarctica’s rapidly collapsing Thwaites Glacier, where scientists are exploring one of the most controversial proposals in climate science.

Thursday, September 3 at 8pm   N E W

OREGON CONTENT   PICK OF THE WEEK

Us As We Are: The Year of Grief and Grievance

Follow Southern Oregonians as they protest, lobby, and run for political office. Viewer Discretion is advised.

Click here for the full schedules for all four SOPBS Channels.

Community Events 

Look for our weekly installment of On The Calendar on Mondays on our Facebook Page. On The Calendar is produced in conjunction with Jefferson Public Radio.

Click here to submit your community event.

Did You Know? The PBS Ready To Learn Initiative Improved Learning In Kids

Education Development Center (EDC) has released a report highlighting the long-standing impact and effectiveness of the Ready To Learn (RTL) initiative, a federal investment in early childhood education that has helped children and families nationwide access high-quality educational content and learning opportunities through public media for more than 30 years. Read the Executive Summary here.

They Said It

“If you see someone without a smile, give 'em yours." — Dolly Parton

"Don't dream it, be it." — Tim Curry

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