By: David Bauder, AP Television Writer
NEW YORK, NY (AP).- PBS plans to run arts programming on Friday nights for nine straight weeks starting in October to highlight a subject where it can offer something different, network executives said Monday. The programming will include a special on women rock ‘n’ rollers, an exploration of American roots music narrated by Steve Martin called “Give Me the Banjo” and the San Francisco ballet performing “The Little Mermaid.” Although “American Idol” and similar performance shows remain popular on broadcast TV, there are relatively few outlets that show the breadth of arts that PBS is planning, PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger said. Cable networks that once were devoted to the arts, such as Bravo and A&E, now focus primarily on other programming. “We constantly look at what areas are being underrepresented,” Kerger said. “From my perspective, the arts is really at the top of the list.” The