PBS is a media enterprise that serves 355 public noncommercial television stations and reaches nearly 73 million people each week through on-air and online content. Bringing diverse viewpoints to television and the Internet, PBS provides high-quality documentary and dramatic entertainment, and consistently dominates the most prestigious award competitions. PBS is a leading provider of digital learning content for pre-K-12 educators, and offers a broad array of other educational services. PBS' premier kids' TV programming and Web site, PBS KIDS Online, continue to be parents' and teachers' most trusted learning environments for children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org Web sites on the Internet.


PBS: An Overview

PBS in Brief

* PBS is a private, nonprofit corporation, founded in 1969, whose members are America's public TV stations.

* PBS provides quality TV programming and related services to 355 noncommercial stations serving all 50 states, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa.

* PBS oversees program acquisition and provides program distribution and promotion; education services; new media ventures; fundraising support; engineering and technology development; and video marketing.



PBS Member Stations

* 168 noncommercial, educational licensees operate 355 PBS member stations.

* Of the 168 licensees, 86 are community organizations, 56 are colleges/universities, 20 are state authorities and six are local educational or municipal authorities.


PBS Programming Activities

* The National Programming Service (NPS) is the major package of programs that PBS distributes to its member stations. It features television's best children's, cultural, educational, history, nature, news, public affairs and science programming.

* Programs distributed on the NPS are produced by PBS stations, independent producers and sources around the world. PBS does not produce programs.


PBS.org

* www.pbs.org www.pbs.org is one of the most trafficked dot-org websites in the U.S.*** and home of comprehensive companion Websites for more than 1,800 PBS television programs and specials, as well as original Web-only content, podcasts, blogs, streaming video and real-time learning adventures. Visitors to www.pbs.org can delve further into the subjects they most enjoy - from news to history and the arts to science and technology.


The Public Television Audience

* PBS is averaging a 1.4 primetime rating during the 2006-2007 season.**

* 73 million people in almost 46 million households watch public television during an average week, while most American households (63%) and nearly 125 million people tune into public television in a month.

* PBS' audience is twice as large as many of the commercial channels available today