After nine years as president of the Public Broadcasting System, Utahn Bruce L. Christensen is resigning Sept. 1 to become dean of the Brigham Young University College of Fine Arts and Communication.
"My nine years at PBS have been filled with wonderful experiences," Christensen said. "Public television is certain to become an increasingly valued institution in this country, and I look forward to a continuing role in that growth."The switch from Big Bird to Cosmo the Cougar will allow Christensen, 50, to return to his native state and be near two children who now live in Provo.
PBS Chairman Ted Capener praised Christensen as "a true pioneer in telecommunications" who has "brought a stronger, more vital public television to the brink of the 21st century."
Gerald Baliles, who will succeed Capener in June, added, "Many try to foresee where television and public telecommunications will be tomorrow. Bruce, to this nation's credit, has been out there forging the future."
Among accomplishments in his tenure: establishing the Adult Learning Satellite Service, which provides telecourses to 1,900 colleges; creating The Business Channel, which provides telecourses and video resources to 4,000 colleges; and creating PBS Home Video, which sells PBS programs via video and audio cassettes and laser discs.
PBS also announced just this week it will launch a 24-hour educational cable channel that will feature lectures and debates from leading universities, museums and libraries.
Also in development is "Math-line," an array of services designed to increase math achievement of the young, and "Ready to Learn Service," which will focus on preparing youngsters for school.
Christensen and PBS also weathered occasional attacks from some in Congress who complained its programming was too liberal.
Christensen was born in Ogden and raised in Clearfield. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and a master's degree from Northwestern Uni-versity.
He began his career in 1965 as a reporter for KSL-TV in Salt Lake City. He later worked for WGN in Chicago. In 1972 he became manager of KBYU-TV/FM at BYU and in 1979 switched to manage KUED-TV and KUER-FM at the Uni-versity of Utah.
In 1982, he moved to Washington to head the National Association of Public Television Stations, and became president of PBS in 1984.