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<title>Bob Chitester</title>

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</style><table class="infobox biography vcard"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above" style="font-size:125%;"><div class="fn">Bob Chitester</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><div class="infobox-caption">Bob Chitester and <a href="Milton_Friedman" title="Milton Friedman">Milton Friedman</a> during the pre-filming of the 1980 series <i>Free to Choose</i></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Born</th><td class="infobox-data"><span style="display:none">(<span class="bday">1937-10-30</span>)</span>October 30, 1937<br><div style="display:inline" class="birthplace"><a href="Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a>, U.S.</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Died</th><td class="infobox-data">May 8, 2021<span style="display:none">(2021-05-08)</span> (aged 83)<br><div style="display:inline" class="deathplace"><a href="Erie%2C_Pennsylvania" title="Erie, Pennsylvania">Erie, Pennsylvania</a>, U.S.</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Education</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="University_of_Michigan" title="University of Michigan">University of Michigan</a>, <a href="Bachelor's_degree" title="Bachelor's degree">B.A.</a> and <a href="Master_of_Arts" title="Master of Arts">M.A.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

<p><b>Bob Chitester</b> (October 30, 1937 – May 8, 2021) was an American television executive and producer, best known for creating the 10-hour, ten-part series starring economist <a href="Milton_Friedman" title="Milton Friedman">Milton Friedman</a> called <i><a href="Free_to_Choose" title="Free to Choose">Free to Choose</a></i>.

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Biography">Biography</h2></div>

<p>Bob Chitester was born in 1937 in rural <a href="Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a>, son of a <a href="Lineworker" title="Lineworker">lineman</a> named Palmer R. Chitester. Chitester attended the <a href="University_of_Michigan" title="University of Michigan">University of Michigan</a> for both his B.A. as well as M.A. degrees in media, radio and television.<sup id="cite_ref-Bloomberg_P.R._on_B.C._passing_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Bloomberg_P.R._on_B.C._passing-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Chitester created the first public television station in Erie, Pennsylvania, in the late 1960s, and called it <a href="WQLN-TV" class="mw-redirect" title="WQLN-TV">WQLN</a> for "Question and Learn." In the mid-1970's, Chitester became interested in making a counter series to the program hosted by <a href="Left-wing_politics" title="Left-wing politics">left-liberal</a> economist <a href="John_Kenneth_Galbraith" title="John Kenneth Galbraith">John Kenneth Galbraith</a>, which was called <a href="The_Age_of_Uncertainty" title="The Age of Uncertainty">The Age of Uncertainty</a> and first aired in 1977.

</p><p>Chitester approached recent Nobel laureate economist <a href="Milton_Friedman" title="Milton Friedman">Milton Friedman</a> in 1977 about making a program of this type, and Friedman agreed, with filming beginning <abbr title="circa">c.</abbr><span style="white-space:nowrap;"> 1978</span> and culminating in the production of a 10-hour show titled, <i><a href="Free_to_Choose" title="Free to Choose">Free to Choose</a></i> which went on to be one of <a href="PBS" title="PBS">PBS</a>'s most watched programs. <i>Free to Choose</i> was accompanied by a best-selling book of 1980 of the same name.

</p><p>In Chitester's later years, he went on to found the <a href="Free_To_Choose_Network" class="mw-redirect" title="Free To Choose Network">Free To Choose Network</a><sup id="cite_ref-Tribute_to_Bob_Chitester_–_FTCN_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Tribute_to_Bob_Chitester_–_FTCN-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> (FTCN), and created a high number of programs intended for public television distribution as well as release on platforms such as <a href="YouTube" title="YouTube">YouTube</a>.

</p><p>An article from <i><a href="The_Wall_Street_Journal" title="The Wall Street Journal">The Wall Street Journal</a></i> praised Chitester's work in creating <i>Free to Choose</i>, and in particular in launching economist Milton Friedman to stardom.<sup id="cite_ref-The_Man_Who_Made_Milton_Friedman_a_Star_–_WSJ_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-The_Man_Who_Made_Milton_Friedman_a_Star_–_WSJ-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Wall Street Journal went further in stating that the influence that the <i>Free to Choose</i> program had on the Reagan administration was immense, as well as the effect the program had on the public-at-large by popularizing <a href="Capitalism" title="Capitalism">capitalism</a> and <a href="Free_market" title="Free market">free market</a> ideas to millions<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> of television viewers well in to the 1980s:

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</style><blockquote class="templatequote"><p><i>Bob Chitester's 1980 PBS series 'Free to Choose' helped make capitalism popular.</i></p></blockquote>

<p>Chitester was known as a lone independent thinker in his beliefs as a general manager of a public television station, "Mr. Chitester was probably the only PBS or <a href="NPR" title="NPR">NPR</a> station manager who didn't believe public radio and television should receive <a href="Subsidy" title="Subsidy">subsidies</a> from American taxpayers."<sup id="cite_ref-The_Man_Who_Made_Milton_Friedman_a_Star_–_WSJ_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-The_Man_Who_Made_Milton_Friedman_a_Star_–_WSJ-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p>At the age of 83,<sup id="cite_ref-Bob_Chitester:_The_Champion_of_Freedom_Who_Made_Milton_Friedman_a_Household_Name_–_Rainer_Zitelmann_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Bob_Chitester:_The_Champion_of_Freedom_Who_Made_Milton_Friedman_a_Household_Name_–_Rainer_Zitelmann-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> following a 7-year battle with cancer,<sup id="cite_ref-Erie's_Robert_Chitester,_battling_cancer,_makes_closing_argument_for_free_markets_–_GoErie_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Erie's_Robert_Chitester,_battling_cancer,_makes_closing_argument_for_free_markets_–_GoErie-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Chitester died in <a href="Erie%2C_Pennsylvania" title="Erie, Pennsylvania">Erie, Pennsylvania</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Erie's_Robert_Chitester,_who_brought_Milton_Friedman_to_the_masses,_has_died_at_83_–_GoErie_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Erie's_Robert_Chitester,_who_brought_Milton_Friedman_to_the_masses,_has_died_at_83_–_GoErie-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Awards">Awards</h2></div>

<p>Bob received the Sir Antony Fisher Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 from the <a href="Atlas_Network" title="Atlas Network">Atlas Network</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Filmography">Filmography</h2></div>

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<ul><li><i>Free to Choose</i>: Original 1980 10-hour, 10-part series starring Milton Friedman – Executive producer</li>

<li><i>The Power of Choice: The Life and Ideas of Milton Friedman</i> – 2007</li>

<li><i>The Ultimate Resource</i> – 2007</li>

<li><i>The Power of the Poor</i> – 2009</li>

<li><i>Turmoil & Triumph: The George Shultz Years</i> – 2010 – starring Secretary of State under <a href="Ronald_Reagan" title="Ronald Reagan">Ronald Reagan</a>, <a href="George_Shultz" title="George Shultz">George Shultz</a></li>

<li><i>Europe's Debt: America's Crisis?</i> – 2012</li>

<li><i>Free or Equal</i> – 2015</li>

<li><i>Testing Milton Friedman: Equality of Opportunity</i> – 2012</li>

<li><i>Globalization at the Crossroads</i> – 2011</li>

<li><i>Economic Freedom in Action: Changing Lives</i> – 2013</li>

<li><i>Walter Williams: Suffer No Fools</i> – 2014</li>

<li><i>Unlikely Heroes of the Arab Spring</i> – 2013</li>

<li><i>Power to the People</i> – 2015</li>

<li><i>India Awakes with Johan Norberg</i> – 2015</li>

<li><i>Trailblazers: The New Zealand Story</i> – 2017</li>

<li><i>The Real Adam Smith: Morality and Markets</i> – 2016</li>

<li><i>School Inc. Episode 1: The Price of Excellence</i> – 2016</li>

<li><i>Is America in Retreat?</i> – 2017</li>

<li><i>Work & Happiness: The Human Cost of Welfare</i> – 2017</li>

<li><i>The Price of Peace</i> – 2018</li>

<li><i>Sweden: Lessons for America?</i> – 2018</li>

<li><i>A More or Less Perfect Union Episode 1 – A Constitution In Writing</i> – 2020</li>

<li><i>Thomas Sowell: Common Sense in a Senseless World</i> – 2020</li></ul>

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<ul><li><a href="Thomas_Skinner_(television_executive)" title="Thomas Skinner (television executive)">Thomas Skinner (television executive)</a></li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>

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</style><cite id="CITEREFHawkins2021" class="citation news cs1">Hawkins, Marjory (10 May 2021). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2021-05-10/free-to-choose-network-founder-chairman-bob-chitester-dies">"Free To Choose Network Founder & Chairman Bob Chitester Dies"</a>. <i>Bloomberg</i>. Bloomberg<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">7 June</span> 2022</span>.</cite></span>

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<li id="cite_note-Tribute_to_Bob_Chitester_–_FTCN-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Tribute_to_Bob_Chitester_–_FTCN_2-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.freetochoosenetwork.org/about/team/b_chitester.php">"Bob Chitester, Founder & Chairman"</a>. <i>www.freetochoosenetwork.org</i>. Free To Choose Network<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">7 June</span> 2022</span>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-The_Man_Who_Made_Milton_Friedman_a_Star_–_WSJ-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-The_Man_Who_Made_Milton_Friedman_a_Star_–_WSJ_3-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-The_Man_Who_Made_Milton_Friedman_a_Star_–_WSJ_3-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFMcGurn2020" class="citation news cs1">McGurn, William (30 October 2020). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-man-who-made-milton-friedman-a-star-11604073953">"The Man Who Made Milton Friedman a Star"</a>. <i>Wall Street Journal</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">7 June</span> 2022</span>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.centerforindependentthought.org/news/in-memoriam-bob-chitester-1937-2021">"In Memoriam – Bob Chitester (1937–2021)"</a>. <i>Center for Independent Thought</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">7 June</span> 2022</span>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-Bob_Chitester:_The_Champion_of_Freedom_Who_Made_Milton_Friedman_a_Household_Name_–_Rainer_Zitelmann-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Bob_Chitester:_The_Champion_of_Freedom_Who_Made_Milton_Friedman_a_Household_Name_–_Rainer_Zitelmann_5-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFZitelmann2021" class="citation web cs1">Zitelmann, Rainer (6 June 2021). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://fee.org/articles/bob-chitester-the-champion-of-freedom-who-made-milton-friedman-a-household-name/">"Bob Chitester: The Champion of Freedom Who Made Milton Friedman a Household Name"</a>. <i><a href="Foundation_for_Economic_Education" title="Foundation for Economic Education">Foundation for Economic Education</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">7 June</span> 2022</span>.</cite></span>

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<li id="cite_note-Erie's_Robert_Chitester,_battling_cancer,_makes_closing_argument_for_free_markets_–_GoErie-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Erie's_Robert_Chitester,_battling_cancer,_makes_closing_argument_for_free_markets_–_GoErie_6-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFMartin2020" class="citation news cs1">Martin, Jim (2020-11-16). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.goerie.com/story/news/2020/11/16/robert-chitesters-final-days-making-case-free-market/6052592002/">"Erie's Robert Chitester, battling cancer, makes closing argument for free markets"</a>. <i><a href="Erie_Times-News" title="Erie Times-News">Erie Times-News</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">7 June</span> 2022</span>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-Erie's_Robert_Chitester,_who_brought_Milton_Friedman_to_the_masses,_has_died_at_83_–_GoErie-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Erie's_Robert_Chitester,_who_brought_Milton_Friedman_to_the_masses,_has_died_at_83_–_GoErie_7-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFMartin2021" class="citation news cs1">Martin, Jim (2021-05-10). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.goerie.com/story/news/local/2021/05/10/eries-robert-chitester-public-television-pioneer-has-died-83/5023954001/">"Erie's Robert Chitester, who brought Milton Friedman to the masses, has died at 83"</a>. <i><a href="Erie_Times-News" title="Erie Times-News">Erie Times-News</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">7 June</span> 2022</span>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.atlasnetwork.org/articles/in-memoriam-bob-chitester">"In Memoriam: Bob Chitester"</a>. <i>www.atlasnetwork.org</i>. Atlas Network. 10 May 2021<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">7 June</span> 2022</span>.</cite></span>

</li>

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2></div>

<ul><li><cite id="CITEREFBob_Chitester1978" class="citation web cs1">Bob Chitester (1978). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://hayek.ufm.edu/about-these-videos/">"The Hayek Interviews"</a>. Hosted by Universidad Francisco Marroquín<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">25 September</span> 2024</span>.</cite></li>

<li><cite class="citation book cs1">"Tape: Chitester date: Unspecified (1978)". <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/nobelprizewinnin00haye/page/n7/mode/2up?view=theater"><i>Nobel-Prize Winning Economist Friedrich von Hayek: Interviewed by Earlene Craver, Axel Leijonhufvud, Leo Rosten, Jack High, James Buchanan, Robert Bork, Thomas Hazlett, Armen A. Alchian, Robert Chitester; Completed under the Auspices of the Oral History Program of University of California, Los Angeles</i></a>. The Regents of the University of California. 1983. pp. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/nobelprizewinnin00haye/page/n895/mode/2up?view=theater">430</a>–493<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">27 September</span> 2024</span> – via <a href="Internet_Archive" title="Internet Archive">Internet Archive</a>.</cite></li></ul></div><div><div class="zim-footer">

This article is issued from <a class="external text" title="Last edited on 2025-07-26" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/?title=Bob_Chitester&oldid=1302643578">Wikipedia</a>. The text is available under <a class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0</a> unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

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