PBS to audition shows on the ‘Net

Call it American Idol voting meets the NPR crowd: PBS says it will use the Internet to “audition” three potential science shows, with online viewers voting in the winner. According to the PBS science Web site:

Here’s the experiment: PBS will broadcast three new science programs on Wednesdays in January. Only one program will become a regular series on PBS. We want you to help us decide. Watch the programs on your PBS station or, beginning January 1st, come back to watch all three programs on pbs.org and tell us what you think!

Whether or not the bookish PBS audience will vote with the enthusiasm of Idol text-messagers remains to be seen. A story on Current.org profiles the shows, which will be available online Jan. 1 and will be shown broadcast-style starting Jan. 3.