I agree with you to an extent - but only since they started broadcasting the Public, Media, and Education channels.

Previously, NTV had one channel, and imho its job was to report nothing but the facts and act as a vehicle for the media more than the public.

Now, however, it has the means to do some public programming separate from the media stuff. Now good programs cost money, and I'd ask you where you want that money to come from.

But, fwiw, come next Sunday with the Phoenix landing - will I be listening to the Nasa TV public channel with the commentary, or will I be listening to the Media channel with nothing but the flight control loops? It's the later. I want Nasa raw and unplugged, so to speak. Perhaps the role of entertaining space related media is one the media itself should fill, and NASA simply provide the ingredients.

Think of it this way. The supermarket isn't a kitchen. NASA is the supermarket. Discovery/NOVA etc is the kitchen. And yeah - NASA tried it's own ready-meal recipies from time to time, but to be honest, they're never as good as what comes out of the proper kitchen :)

Doug