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Note: Public Broadcasting Services is a broadcaster in Malta. It is unrelated to the U.S. broadcaster of this article.
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is a non-profit public broadcasting television service with nearly 350 member TV stations in the United States. PBS headquarters are in Alexandria, Virginia. PBS was founded in 1969, at which time it took over many of the functions of its predecessor, National Educational Television (NET). PBS commenced broadcasting in October 1970.
Introduction
PBS is not a broadcast network in the traditional sense. Unlike the commercial television broadcast model, in which affiliates give up portions of their local advertising airtime in exchange for network programming, PBS member stations pay substantial fees for the shows acquired and distributed by the national organization.
This relationship means that PBS member stations have greater latitude in local scheduling than their commercial counterparts. Scheduling of PBS-distributed series may vary wildly from market to market. This can be a source of tension as stations seek to preserve their localism and PBS strives to market a consistent national lineup.
List of PBS affiliates
Sources of funding
The largest source of revenue for U.S. public television stations comes from donations by individual viewers. In addition to these member fees, PBS receives federal government money through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). PBS-distributed programs may be funded in part by corporate sponsors and non-profit groups such as the Annenberg Foundation. Depending upon their location and licensee, local stations may also be funded in part by state governments, colleges and universities. They can sell small portions of their airtime in the form of underwriting, which differs from traditional advertising in terms of restrictions on language and product usage.
Programming
PBS' evening schedule emphasizes fine arts (Great Performances), drama (Mystery! and Masterpiece Theatre), science (Nova and Scientific American Frontiers), public affairs (Frontline) and independent films (P.O.V. and Independent Lens).
PBS has distributed a number of highly regarded children's shows such as Sesame Street, "Zoom!", The Letter People, Barney and Friends, Shining Time Station, Thomas & Friends, Reading Rainbow and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Popular animated series have included Clifford the Big Red Dog, Arthur, Liberty's Kids and The Magic School Bus. The service has also imported British kids' series including Teletubbies and Boohbah.
Member stations do not rely solely on PBS for their programming. Another major U.S. distributor is American Public Television (APT). In addition, stations acquire syndicated programming such as The McLaughlin Group. They also produce a variety of local shows, many of which subsequently receive national distribution through PBS or APT.
They are known for rebroadcasting British television dramas and comedies (acquired from the BBC and other sources), and much of the exposure of audiences in the United States to British television (particularly comedies) comes through PBS to the point where it has been joked that PBS means "Primarily British Series". However, a significant amount of sharing takes place. The BBC and other media outlets in the region such as Channel 4 often cooperate with PBS stations, producing material that is shown on both sides of the Atlantic.
Other shows
Criticism
PBS has been the subject of some controversy.
- Some conservatives dislike its perceived liberal bias and its tax-based revenue and have periodically but unsuccessfully attempted to discontinue funding of CPB. Although state and federal sources account for a minority percentage of public television funding, the system remains vulnerable to political pressure.
- Certain liberals dislike how much of its funding comes from corporate sponsorships and some are uncomfortable with shows such as Wall $treet Week which they see as promoting a corporate outlook without any corresponding series featuring opposing views from labor unions.
- Individual programs, particularly those dealing with the subject of homosexuality, have been the targets of organized campaigns by those with opposing views.
- It was founded to provide diversity in programming at a time when all television was broadcast (as opposed to today's coaxial cable or satellite transmission methods) and most communities received only three or four signals. Today most households subscribe to cable TV or have satellite dishes that receive tens or hundreds of signals, including varied educational and children's programs. However, public television proponents insist that the service is intended to provide universal access, particularly to poor and rural viewers. It is also argued that many cable and satellite productions are of lower quality.
- Most stations solicit individual donations by methods including pledge drives or telethons which can disrupt regularly-scheduled programming. Some viewers find this a source of annoyance.
- Criticism by left wing groups has been made at CPB and PBS for making room for conservative commentators Tucker Carlson, a co-host of CNN's Crossfire and an upcoming show with Paul Gigot, an editor of the Wall Street Journal editorial page.
New networks
PBS has also begun at least two new TV networks: PBSYou and PBS Kids. Both are available on many digital cable systems, as well as DirecTV via satellite. It is possible now that with the transition to terrestrial digital television broadcasts, both may be available as alternate channels on some local stations in the near future.
See also
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