PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial,[1][2][3][4][5] free-to-air television network based in Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia.[6][7][8][9] PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educational programs to public television stations in the United States,[10][11][12][13] distributing shows such as Frontline, Nova, PBS NewsHour, Masterpiece, Sesame Street, and This Old House.[14]
This article is about the American broadcaster. For other uses, see PBS (disambiguation).Type
- Nationwide U.S.
- Canada
- Northern Mexico (OTA only)
PBS's member public television stations[1]
November 3, 1969
October 5, 1970
- Hartford N. Gunn Jr.
- John Macy
- James Day
- Kenneth A. Christiansen
National Educational Television (1952–1970)
Watch live (US only)
PBS is funded by a combination of member station dues, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, pledge drives, and donations from both private foundations and individual citizens. All proposed funding for programming is subject to a set of standards to ensure the program is free of influence from the funding source.[15] PBS has over 350 member television stations, many owned by educational institutions, nonprofit groups both independent or affiliated with one particular local public school district or collegiate educational institution, or entities owned by or related to state government.[4]
As of 2020, PBS has nearly 350 member stations around the United States.[16]
Operations[edit]
Even with its status as a non-profit[8][2] and educational television network, PBS engages in program distribution, providing television content and related services to its member stations, each of which together cooperatively owns the network.[1] Unlike the affiliates for commercial TV networks, each non-profit PBS member station is charged with the responsibility of programming local content such as news, interviews, cultural, and public affairs programs for its individual market or state that supplements content provided by PBS and other public television distributors.
In a commercial broadcast television network structure, affiliates give up portions of their local advertising airtime in exchange for carrying network programming, and the network pays its affiliates a share of the revenue it earns from advertising. By contrast, PBS member stations pay fees for the shows acquired and distributed by the national organization. Under this relationship, PBS member stations have greater latitude in local scheduling than their commercial broadcasting counterparts. Scheduling of PBS-distributed series may vary greatly depending on the market. This can be a source of tension as stations seek to preserve their localism, and PBS strives to market a consistent national lineup. However, PBS has a policy of "common carriage", which requires most stations to clear the national prime time programs on a common programming schedule to market them nationally more effectively. Management at former Los Angeles member KCET cited unresolvable financial and programming disputes among its major reasons for leaving PBS after over 40 years in January 2011, although it would return to PBS in 2019.[61]
Although PBS has a set schedule of programming, particularly in regard to its prime time schedule, member stations reserve the right to schedule PBS-distributed programming in other time slots or not clear it at all if they choose to do so; few of the service's members carry all its programming. Most PBS stations timeshift some distributed programs. Once PBS accepts a program offered for distribution, PBS, rather than the originating member station, retains exclusive rebroadcasting rights during an agreed period. Suppliers, however, retain the right to sell the program's intellectual property in non-broadcast media such as DVDs, books, and sometimes PBS-licensed merchandise.
Governance[edit]
The board of directors is responsible for governing and setting policy for PBS, consisting of 27 members: 14 professional directors (station managers), 12 general directors (outside directors), and the PBS president.[66] All PBS Board members serve three-year terms, without pay.[66] PBS member stations elect the 14 professional directors; the board elects the 12 general directors and appoints the PBS president and CEO; and the entire board elects its officers.[67]
Reception[edit]
Critical response[edit]
PBS has been praised by critics for its variety of programming.[78] Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter marked PBS' airing of Downton Abbey as a turning point for the network's reputation and program variety.[79] He also wrote, "It's PBS's time to shine"[80] and said that the network "is an endless bounty of riches...Ain't this great?"[79] Stevenonymous of BuzzFeed wrote, "PBS isn't just TV anymore."[81] David Zurawik of The Baltimore Sun wrote, "If you want a reason to believe in PBS...here it is."[82] Mekeisha Madden Toby of TheWrap wrote, "There is a lot to love...on PBS."[83] Kristen McQuinn of Book Riot wrote, "PBS is awesome in every way."[84] Caroline Framke of Variety wrote, "There's still no beating PBS."[78] Alyssa Rosenburg of The Washington Post wrote, "PBS is a unifying thread...through our cultural fabric."[85] Margaret Renkl of The New York Times wrote, "By aiming to unite...PBS might save us yet."[86] Margie Barron of Entertainment Today wrote, "PBS remains a beacon...that inspires."[87] The Marketing & Research Resources survey, said that PBS is the "#1 most trusted media 19 years in a row."[88] In 2021, the network had 14 News & Documentary Emmy Award nominations, more than any other organization.[89] Matt Roush of TV Insider wrote, "PBS is and always has been a bright light."[90]
On-air fundraising[edit]
Since 53% to 60% of public television's revenues come from private membership donations and grants,[91] most stations solicit individual donations by methods including fundraising, pledge drives or telethons, which disrupt regularly scheduled programming. This has been perceived as potentially annoying since regularly scheduled programming is often replaced with specials aimed at a wider audience (such as music specials aimed at the Baby Boomer generation and financial, health and motivational programs) to solicit new members and donations; during fundraising events, these programs are often interrupted within the broadcast by long-form segments (of six to eight minutes in length) encouraging viewers to donate to their PBS member.[92] Underwriting spots are aired at the end of each program, which differ from traditional commercials in several ways.[93] Each spot must be approved to meet several guidelines.[94] The main guidelines state that underwriting spots cannot be qualitative in any way, nor can they have any call to action.[95]
Controversies[edit]
Accusations of political/ideological bias[edit]
A 1982 broadcast of the United States Information Agency program Let Poland be Poland about the martial law declared in Poland in 1981 was widely viewed in the U.S., but met with skepticism on the part of eastern European broadcasters (communist countries at the time) due to concerns that the program's "provocative and anticommunist" tone was intended as propaganda.[96][97]
In 1999, at least three public television stations were caught selling or trading their mailing lists with the Democratic National Committee. Under IRS regulations, nonprofit organizations are prohibited from participating in political actions. Officials from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting condemned the practice and conducted an investigation into the matter. The stations involved were in New York, Boston, and Washington.[98]
Individual programs aired by PBS have been the targets of organized campaigns by individuals and groups with opposing views, including by former United States Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings in 2005.[99]
Nonetheless, in every year since 2004, surveys of Americans have shown PBS to have been consistently ranked as the most trusted institution in comparison to commercial broadcast and cable television, newspapers, and streaming services, and in January 2021, Americans valued tax dollars spent on PBS behind only military defense and oversight of food and drug safety.[100]
Warning, Alert and Response Network (WARN)[edit]
PBS provides an alternative path for Wireless Emergency Alerts to wireless carriers through its Warning, Alert and Response Network (WARN). The alerts are transmitted through the PBS satellite network on the AMC-21 satellite to PBS stations, who then broadcast the messages over their transmitters for reception by wireless carriers at their cell sites.[113]
The WARN network is funded by a grant through National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).[113]
