History Main / ViewersLikeYou

The TropeNamer is Creator/{{PBS}}, whose stations and original programs used to be funded almost entirely by viewers. (Some stations still are.) For this reason, most PBS programs still end their acknowledgements with "Made possible by financial support/contributions to your PBS station from... viewers like you." (Since November 1, 1999, they've been following this with "Thank you". [[note]]) If they skip right to that, it's a sign production of the program has ended and viewers are just paying for the airtime. It's implied that's what contribution money from viewers is earmarked for to start with. [[/note]]Odds are, fewer viewers donate than not. People usually donate to PBS not because it helps keep the station running, but because neat "gifts" get thrown in (albeit for far more than the free-market rate), and because it's the PBS equivalent of UsefulNotes/{{Ratings}}: [[UsefulNotes/{{Sweeps}} the sorts of programs that bring in heavy donations during pledge drives are the sorts of programs that the station will renew]]. Most of the grant money comes from airtime-hungry corporations, not-for-profit foundations, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ("A private corporation funded by [[strike:taxpayers]] the American people").

The TropeNamer is Creator/{{PBS}}, whose stations and original programs used to be funded almost entirely by viewers. (Some stations still are.) For this reason, most PBS programs still end their acknowledgements with "Made possible by financial support/contributions to your PBS station from... viewers like you." (Since November 1, 1999, they've been following this with "Thank you." [[note]] If they skip right to that, it's a sign production of the program has ended and viewers are just paying for the airtime. It's implied that's what contribution money from viewers is earmarked for to start with. [[/note]]Odds are, fewer viewers donate than not. People usually donate to PBS not because it helps keep the station running, but because neat "gifts" get thrown in (albeit for far more than the free-market rate), and because it's the PBS equivalent of UsefulNotes/{{Ratings}}: [[UsefulNotes/{{Sweeps}} the sorts of programs that bring in heavy donations during pledge drives are the sorts of programs that the station will renew]]. Most of the grant money comes from airtime-hungry corporations, not-for-profit foundations, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ("A private corporation funded by [[strike:taxpayers]] the American people").

* Later episodes of ''WebVideo/TheGamingHistorian'' end with a female announcer stating this trope after Norman says his SigningOffCatchPhrase (and also when he doesn't end that way).
-->'''Female announcer:''' Funding for Gaming Historian is provided in part by supporters on Patreon. Thank you. *cue end credits*

[[quoteright:280:[[Creator/{{PBS}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/viewerslikeyou_9547.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:280: [[ThankingTheViewer Thank You!]] ]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]
* Creator/{{NPR}} ("Listeners like you")
* Creator/{{TBN}} (Trinity Broadcast Network).
* [=LinkTV=] (Only on [=DirecTV=], Dish and the web)
* EWTN (a Roman Catholic network, foundress Mother Angelica used to encourage viewers to "keep us between your gas and electric bills", a donation slogan that's been picked up by other hosts on the network since Mother's passing.)
* Most Christian television and radio, and religious media in general for that matter, with [[ChurchOfHappyology one big exception]].
* Canadian provincial television ([=TVOntario=] and BC's Knowledge Network).
* PBS shows do this. In 1999, a mandate was issued which requires ThankingTheViewer. ''American Masters'' happened to be already doing so at least a year prior, and some shows are really creative about it.
* Averted by BuccaneerBroadcaster Radio Caroline in the 1970s. When they tried to supplement their meagre commercial revenue with an appeal for listener donations they didn't get any. They did manage to stay on the air, though.
* WCRB, a classical music radio station out of Boston that is affiliated with that city's local Creator/{{PBS}} station, WGBH.
* Many charities or other nonprofit organizations, perhaps with help from a local TV or radio station. (This could be anything from a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public,_educational,_and_government_access public access/PEG channel]] to a local network affiliate.)
* This trope is [[InvokedTrope the entire point and intention]] of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grassroots Grassroots movements]]. The idea is that since the campaigns are exclusively funded and powered by the majority of people within a given society, said movements gain direct political influence and become/generate representatives -- all for that majority's sake.
[[/folder]]

* Later episodes of ''WebVideo/TheGamingHistorian'' end with a female announcer stating that this show "Is made possible through our Patreon supporters. Thank you." after Norman says his SigningOffCatchPhrase.

* The ''WesternAnimation/MarthaSpeaks'' episode "Martha's Chair" has [[GrumpyOldMan Mrs. Demson]] see the "Viewers Like You" segment while watching ''Series/AntiquesRoadshow''. She then rudely replies "[[SarcasmMode You're welcome!]]"

The TropeNamer is Creator/{{PBS}}, whose stations and original programs used to be funded almost entirely by viewers. (Some stations still are.) For this reason, most PBS programs still end their acknowledgements with "Made possible by financial support/contributions to your PBS station from... viewers like you." (Since November 1, 1999, they've been following this with "Thank you.") Odds are, fewer viewers donate than not. People usually donate to PBS not because it helps keep the station running, but because neat "gifts" get thrown in (albeit for far more than the free-market rate), and because it's the PBS equivalent of UsefulNotes/{{Ratings}}: [[UsefulNotes/{{Sweeps}} the sorts of programs that bring in heavy donations during pledge drives are the sorts of programs that the station will renew]]. Most of the grant money comes from airtime-hungry corporations, not-for-profit foundations, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ("A private corporation funded by [[strike:taxpayers]] the American people").

The TropeNamer is Creator/{{PBS}}, whose stations and original programs used to be funded almost entirely by viewers. (Some stations still are.) For this reason, most PBS programs still end their acknowledgements with "Made possible by financial support/contributions to your PBS station from... viewers like you." (Since November 1, 1999, they've been following this with a pause, and then "Thank you.") Odds are, fewer viewers donate than not. People usually donate to PBS not because it helps keep the station running, but because neat "gifts" get thrown in (albeit for far more than the free-market rate), and because it's the PBS equivalent of UsefulNotes/{{Ratings}}: [[UsefulNotes/{{Sweeps}} the sorts of programs that bring in heavy donations during pledge drives are the sorts of programs that the station will renew]]. Most of the grant money comes from airtime-hungry corporations, not-for-profit foundations, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ("A private corporation funded by [[strike:taxpayers]] the American people").

* Parodied in one ''[[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Simpsons]]'' episode where a show Homer is watching on PBS is interrupted by a request for donations and won't continue until a certain goal is met. Homer then goes to extensive means to raise enough money to reach the goal. At the end of that episode, we see Rupert Murdoch broadcasting his own telethon to fund Creator/{{Fox}}.

The TropeNamer is Creator/{{PBS}}, whose stations and original programs used to be funded almost entirely by viewers. (Some stations still are.) For this reason, most PBS programs still end their acknowledgements with "Made possible by ... viewers like you." (Since November 1, 1999, they've been following this with a pause, and then "Thank you.") Odds are, fewer viewers donate than not. People usually donate to PBS not because it helps keep the station running, but because neat "gifts" get thrown in (albeit for far more than the free-market rate), and because it's the PBS equivalent of UsefulNotes/{{Ratings}}: [[UsefulNotes/{{Sweeps}} the sorts of programs that bring in heavy donations during pledge drives are the sorts of programs that the station will renew]]. Most of the grant money comes from airtime-hungry corporations, not-for-profit foundations, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ("A private corporation funded by [[strike:taxpayers]] the American people").

The TropeNamer is Creator/{{PBS}}, whose stations and original programs used to be funded almost entirely by viewers. (Some stations still are.) For this reason, most PBS programs still end their acknowledgements with "Made possible by ... viewers like you." (Since 1999, they've been following this with a pause, and then "Thank you.") Odds are, fewer viewers donate than not. People usually donate to PBS not because it helps keep the station running, but because neat "gifts" get thrown in (albeit for far more than the free-market rate), and because it's the PBS equivalent of UsefulNotes/{{Ratings}}: [[UsefulNotes/{{Sweeps}} the sorts of programs that bring in heavy donations during pledge drives are the sorts of programs that the station will renew]]. Most of the grant money comes from airtime-hungry corporations, not-for-profit foundations, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ("A private corporation funded by [[strike:taxpayers]] the American people").

* EWTN (a Roman Catholic network, with their very odd "[[PhantasySpelling Religious Catalouge]]" program)

* Wiki/{{Wikipedia}}

The TropeNamer is Creator/{{PBS}}, whose stations and original programs used to be funded almost entirely by viewers. (Some stations still are.) For this reason, most PBS programs still end their acknowledgements with "Made possible by ... viewers like you." (Lately they've been following this with a pause, and then "Thank you.") Odds are, fewer viewers donate than not. People usually donate to PBS not because it helps keep the station running, but because neat "gifts" get thrown in (albeit for far more than the free-market rate), and because it's the PBS equivalent of UsefulNotes/{{Ratings}}: [[UsefulNotes/{{Sweeps}} the sorts of programs that bring in heavy donations during pledge drives are the sorts of programs that the station will renew]]. Most of the grant money comes from airtime-hungry corporations, not-for-profit foundations, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ("A private corporation funded by [[strike:taxpayers]] the American people").

[[caption-width-right:280: [[ThankingTheViewer Thank You!]]

* ''Heavily'' parodied on the ''MysteryScienceTheater3000'' 8th-season episode ''[[MysteryScienceTheater3000S08E22OverdrawnAtTheMemoryBank Overdrawn at the Memory Bank]]''. Since the show's writers/cast chose not to go all-in on recently-departed star Creator/RaulJulia, the next best target was public television pledge drives. So Pearl, having found her way to Castle Forrester an episode prior after escaping [[AncientGrome Ancient Rome]], started a pledge drive to go play the slot machines.

* WCRB, a classical music radio station out of Boston that is affiliated with that city's local {{PBS}} station, WGBH.

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* WebVideo/{{RadioDeadAir}} home of WebVideo/WhatTheFuckIsWrongWithYou

* Many, many [[YouTube YouTubers]] do this.

[[AC: WesternAnimation]]

* ''ComicBook/Batman66'': [[ParodiedTrope Parodied.]] In one story, False Face creates a tv series about Batman and Robin and plans to use it to kill the real heroes on live tv. He says it's thanks to "viewers like you" when he announces their upcoming demise.

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The TropeNamer is Creator/{{PBS}}, whose stations and original programs used to be funded almost entirely by viewers. (Some stations still are.) For this reason, most PBS programs still end their acknowledgements with "Made possible by ... viewers like you." (Lately they've been following this with a pause, and then "Thank you.") Odds are, fewer viewers donate than not. People usually donate to PBS not because it helps keep the station running, but because neat "gifts" get thrown in (albeit for far more than the free-market rate), and because it's the PBS equivalent of UsefulNotes/{{Ratings}}: [[{{Sweeps}} the sorts of programs that bring in heavy donations during pledge drives are the sorts of programs that the station will renew]]. Most of the grant money comes from airtime-hungry corporations, not-for-profit foundations, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ("A private corporation funded by [[strike:taxpayers]] the American people").

* PBS. In 1999, a mandate was issued which requires ThankingTheViewer, something which ''American Masters'' happened to be already doing for at least a year prior.